Preparation for Club Racing.
As we all wait for Covid announcements from the Government Bike Manawatu is pleased to inform you that our personnel have been working on a Race calendar.
Covid has been tough on everyone, and we have all had to change what, when and how we carry on with life.
Thanks to Michelle Turner for kick starting the Zwift races which has been extremely popular.
For many of our members, cycling is their main social contact. So to have to rethink that side of their lives has been hard for some.
During Level three Bike Manawatu has submitted Traffic Management Plans (TMP’s) for events starting Sunday May 17th and running every Sunday for 4 weeks.
We have received protocol from Cycling New Zealand which lines up with Ministry of Health guidelines for requirements for our events.
Please note that everything is very fluid at this time. Once we hear announcements from the Government this coming Thursday, and again the much anticipated Monday 11th press conference, we will have a better understanding about what we can and can’t do.
We also wait for an announcement from CNZ about the Age Group Nationals (AGN) due to be held July 17th-19th.
What we do know is that there is no School cycling until the Ministry of Education has given clearance and that is expected in July.
So in our on going “Scaling up of club racing” to suit all abilities and ages we will start on Sunday 17th of May with a Time trial at Kairanga.(TMP pending)
This will allow room for the inevitable slow release back to Level 1 race activities in regards group numbers etc.
The following weekend, depending on Covid restrictions, there will either be a Hill Climb at Forest Hill or a Road Race at Akers Road.
We have TMP approval for both venues on this day.
Sunday 31st we propose to run a Time Trial at Rongotea. This is planned to be an individual and a 2up competition so “grab your partners”.
June is planned to start with either a Road Race at Taonui or a TT at Kairanga on the 7th
From there we will look at holding another Road Race at Taonui, then as a build up to the AGN we intend to run the WCNI road Race championships and a TT championship.
Once again Covid restrictions on groups and Travel will dictate these events.
Today, Jorge Sandoval has announced the calendar for the Trust House series starting September 27th.
The races this year are graded, not age group. This is a massive step forward as far as we are concerned. It allows our members to race in an Ability Bracket rather than age group.
This means the racing is open to Junior, elite, senior, masters and veteran…both male and female.
More info to come but in the meantime go to www.cyclingseriesnz.co.nz.
Our thanks to Pat Howard at PNCC and Martin Skinner at MDC for there ongoing work approving our TMP’s so we can hold these events.
In the meantime, While we await the announcements and while the TMP’s are being processed, keep fit, get your winter race gear sorted (including your tail lights) for what is going to be a compressed season of racing.
Stand by, get ready
Tim