Inaugural Manawatu Cyclocross race

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.

Sunday morning at Massey University is the inaugural Manawatu Cyclocross race at Massey University. Run in conjunction with the Manawatu Mountain Bike Club and Massey University, it’s the first time an official cyclocross race has been held, in recent memory at least, in the Manawatu. Racing will start at 9 am, so please be at the end of Workshop Rd on the Massey Campus by 8:30 am to register. The Striders Half Marathon is also on Sunday morning, so if you are going to drive there, enter from Old West Rd and follow the signs for parking. Best if you simply ride up to Massey though!

If you don’t have a cyclocross bike, bring a mountain bike (probably best) or road bike with big fat tyres. Much of the course is on grass, but there will be some gravel and some dirt. There will be a few short sharp up-hills and downhills to work through and some obstacles to negotiate.

It will be lots of fun!

If you’d like more information, contact Steve Stannard on 021809597.

See you on Sunday!

Steve.