Great turn out from Bike Manawatu for Race 2 of the Kapiti Winter Series

Despite the current ‘cost of living challenges’ facing all community events, Bike Manawatu is 100% committed to ensuring the 51st year of the Novice Tour – once again provides a safe, fun, competitive cycle racing event.

We will adopt a high-quality assured approach in implementing the Local Roading Authority’s/Cycling New Zealand’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) standards which ensure best practices and rider and spectator safety.

If the level of community funding secured is not sufficient to contract in external road management service providers with the ability to stop/go traffic, the Novice Tour will proceed on a ‘local club racing’ model, whereby our team of trained/experienced road marshals will, where necessary, pause racing in order to give way to traffic and ensure rider safety.

Although funding external road management services with the ability to stop/go traffic is ideal, if this is not feasible – we are confident that the event’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) will provide a competitive, fair, enjoyable and importantly safe racing environment.

Irrespective of which model of traffic management/racing is finalised, as with all CNZ/Bike Manawatu events, normal road rules will apply and a full rider briefing confirming the event rules will be provided to all riders prior to the start of each race.

Kapiti turned on another stunning day for us for race 2 of their Winter Series, and we had a great turnout from Bike Manawatu – it’s great to get some racing in the legs, and support another clubs event.

We had 2 riders in A grade with Philipp Vranek in 5th place and Andrew Hill making a successful move from B Grade to A Grade, in 8th place.

B Grade again had the biggest field from Bike Manawatu with 8 riders, and it was great to speak with the Kapiti officials who not only thanked us for supporting their series, made the comment that there was a sea of green jerseys.

The drama in B Grade started well before the race, Johan Oelofse discovered that he had forgotten his cycling shoes – we decided to approach the Kapiti Marshalls on the off chance that a local member would have a spare pair they could loan him, and Phil Cocker drove to his home in Paraparaumu to get a pair of shoes so that Johan could race. While there is some healthy rivalry between the 2 clubs when we are out there racing, this goes to show what a good bunch we all are, supporting each other – thanks Phil, we really appreciate it.

Johan went on to take the win in B Grade, with Zac Hintz a close 2nd and Darren Murdie in 7th place. While the points haven’t been updated yet, it sounds like there is a 3 way tie for the leaders jersey, and as Johan won race 2, he goes in to race 3 wearing the leaders jersey

In C Grade, Wayne Fage added to a solid performance in Race 1 by finishing with the bunch in 8th place.

We also had junior riders in D Grade.

Congratulations to everyone that raced yesterday.

We now take a break next weekend, and racing resumes on 6 August.

Click here to view results from Kapiti’s website

Photo credit c/- Kapiti Cycling Club Facebook Page