National Veterans 40km Champs
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 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?
