MARIST CLUB SPIN BIKE CHALLENGE

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.

This year it was 18 year old rugby player, Mikka, who came out of nowhere to blitz everyone in the Marist Sports Club Spin Bike annual challenge, held on Saturday Night in the Marist clubrooms. He managed to secure the quickest speed on the night of 96.9km/hr in a burst of speed more akin to the likes of Mark Cavendish in a Tour de France stage sprint. Although there was some debate about the accuracy of the speedo from the closet UCI commissaires amongst the Bike Manawatu supporters, it was the same setting for all riders claimed the event organiser, Matthijs van Wagtendonk. In one feat of physical toughness another rugby contestant, Leyton, chose to remove his shoes and the only thing covering his feet were his socks. Now those who ride will know just how uncomfortable that can be, but surprisingly he managed to reach just over 83km/hr, which was one of the better times on the night.

In what was a reasonable size crowd at the clubrooms, Steve Challies, acting as the MC, really had his work cut out for him as he attempted to entice rugby and netball players to have a crack. Like previous years the majority of contestants were supporters from Bike Manawatu rather than Marist club members. While there was an obvious reluctance by many to accept the challenge, the Te Kawau Rugby club saw the event as an opportunity to entertain their home crowd and as a result, an invitation has been extended by the Te Kawau Rugby Club.

Beating all-comers in the female category was Janneke van Wagtendonk, who really showed her strength to take the open and vet title with a top end speed of 72.9km/hr. The junior female category was won by Emma Kendall and the junior boys category was won by Josh Kendall.