Sunday 13 March saw six riders from the Manawatu head down to Masterton for the 40km national time trial championship. The event is raced in the same five year age grades used at national events.
It is an out and back course running 20km south from Masterton to a few kilometers past Gladstone and back. It is slightly downhill out and slightly uphill on the return journey. The best wind direction is a tail wind coming back up the false flat. On Sunday the riders were faced with a head wind, so it was a matter of getting to the turn as quickly as possible and trying to limit time losses coming back.
There were only 5 sub 60 minute rides. Just to prove how easy the ride was, the best time for the day was 53:08min … but that was professional Scott Lyttle who races for Team Pure Black and is way too young to be a veteran. The results for Manawatu riders were: Barry Gilliland, 58:48min (gold 55-59 grade); Tom Pirie, 61:43min (bronze 50-54 grade); Mike Burt, 62:46min (silver 55-59 grade), Michael Bradley 63:45min (fifth 50-54 grade); Joceyln Goodwin, 65:42min (gold 45-49 grade), and Catriona Pirie, 85:41min (silver 50-54 grade).
That is the last 40km TT for this summer. Next up is the 80km TT around Lake Wairarapa on 27 March 2011. Any takers for that?