Silver for Michaela at Elite Road Nationals
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.
Congratulations to Michaela Drummond for an outstanding ride at the 2017 Elite Road Nationals in Napier last week. Michaela claimed the silver medal in the Under 23 Women’s race having only just moved up into this category and will turn 19 this year.
The Under 23 Women’s race was combined with the Elite Women, over a 112km course with a circuit in the hills of Taradale then returning to four laps of the inner city circuit including a tough climb up the Napier hospital hill and a final 13km flat to the finish.
Michaela was so close to winning gold, getting away with three elite riders, Rushlee Buchanan, Georgia Williams and Kate McIlroy but started to cramp with two laps to go re-joining the main bunch, but still managing to sprint to take second place.
After a very successful year in 2016, winning two Junior World Track Championship medals, the Elite Oceania Women’s Scratch race and the Australian Madison Championships, Michaela will head to the US to ride for the professional team, “Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling” this year.
For full results of Elite Road Nationals can be found here
