Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge 2022

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.

Saturday saw the running of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge for the first time since 2019.
It was great to see so many Bike Manawatu members and supporters there.
It was a tough day with cold, windy and sometimes wet conditions. Reduced numbers in the 99 Bikes Round The Lake also make things difficult as there were very few bunches and the majority of riders were in groups of 2-3 riders.

Some notable results from our members were Ethan Craine finishing in 9th place in the 160km Round the Lake race, Jessie Coxon was the first female over the line in the 55km length of the lake race, but due to timing finished in 2nd place, 2 seconds behind the winner. Tim Lloyd finished 8th male in the same event
Colin Anderson and Stuart Doidge both rode in the 2 lap Enduro event – the largest on offer this year.

In the Mountain bike events, Caleb Botcher was 1st and Joe Skerman 3rd in the 85km Huka Challenge, while his wife Kym Skerman was 5th female in the same event, Tyler Mumby was 2nd in the 60km Huka Steamer. Jonty Skerman was 3rd in the 30 km Huka Teaser.

Another success was Gavin York completing his goal of cycling round Taupo to fundraise for the Alzheimers Society.

Well done on completing your first lap and for your fundraising efforts – if anyone would like to contribute, here is the link https://laketaupocyclechallenge22.grassrootz.com/alzheimers-manawatu/gavin-s-lake-taupo-challenge?tab=updates&fbclid=IwAR2x2QX3Y5RLiyFaj7p-9nbpAzH_JdbGKLSCI4EYXBsIIcue5QEG2jydJ_M&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Congratulations to all to competed on Saturday
https://www.cyclechallenge.com/results

rbt