Saturday racing

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.

If you want to be included on the email list for early notification for Saturday racing please click here.

Your name and contact details will be recorded and each week you will be sent an email giving you details if the race to be held on Saturday.

If you are on this email list you will be able to click on the email to preregister for the race which will save you having to go to the calendar and then registering.

Open day will be held on Saturday 28th July. This will be a mass start from Ashhurst. The results from this event will be used to determine grades and handicaps for the rest of the series.

“The Bone Collector” was run for the first time last year and was a hit for all of those that participated. It is a lap race where the first rider in the team completes one circuit of the course and when passing the start line after completing one lap will collect the second person (bone) in the team. The 2 riders then complete another lap together. When they pass the start line they collect the third rider (bone) and complete another lap. The fourth rider is collected after another lap and all four riders complete the final lap and cross the finish line together. Teams are to consist of at least 1 under 17 rider, at least 1 female rider and at least one rider over 35.

A series of 3 handicap races will be held starting with the Essex Cup on 25th August. Points will be awarded over the 3 races and prizemoney allocated according to points received over the 3 weeks.

So as you can see there is an exciting calendar of races planned from now until Christmas so if you don’t want to miss out on any of the action click here for your weekly email reminder.