MASTERS SUNDAY RACING – DONALDSON CUP

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.

In response to requests from some Masters members, we are trialling a race on a Sunday morning. Sunday 23 October is the date for the Donaldson Cup which is a 45 km handicap race for Masters aged 35 and over. Registration is at 9.00 am at Feilding High School, North Street, Feilding. From the start on Makino Road, riders cycle all the way along Makino Road to the turn-around at the junction of Prices Line and Reu Reu Road at the bottom of the hill and return to the start. Riders will be graded to try to give everyone a fair chance of winning.

Come and have a go at racing. It’s a great opportunity to practice riding a bit harder in preparation for the Tour de Manawatu or Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.