Most of NZ has been glued to watching the excitement of the Americas Cup in Bermuda. Spare a thought for our own Manawatu and NZ Olympian and elite Cyclist Simon van Velthoven who switched from track racing to be an Emirates Team New Zealand member to help win the Americas Cup. For Simon to experience boat racing at this elite level at its best and worst when our boat tipped over and he found himself hanging must be phenomenal. Simon is a committed Olympic athlete and his mental strength and discipline will be an asset to the team now that they are at the business end of the Americas Cup. Together with his fellow Olympian Team mates on the boat, these boys have what it takes to win Cup and bring it home.
From Sunday, the head to head battle between Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle USA and there two brilliant helmsman Peter Burling and Jimmy Spittle is going to be thrilling non-stop action that will stop our nation. We wish another proud Manawatu’s icon Simon van Velthoven all the best.
WCNI TT Results
Time trail racing is tough and last Sunday the West Coast North Island Time Trial champs were held in Ohau with a number of our club members from under 13 years through to masters and elite graded riders for medals.
We congratulate all members for their effort in representing the club and those that won medals
Under 15 Boys; Dra’s Caldwell- Silver, Ben Irvine- Bronze
Under 17 Boys; Micheal Richmond-Gold
Under 19 Girls; Libby Arbuckle- Gold.
Under 19 Boys; Dylan Simpson- Gold
Masters3; Glenn Kirk-Gold
Masters5; Nigel Doyle-Gold
Elite; Mitchell Kinghorn.
Our Club Riders Overseas
If you are interested in following the progress of our overseas club riders on how they are tracking Facebook is often a great way to do that. We know that these young men and women are living the dream and appreciate the support of club members. They are doing themselves proud but won’t forget where all the hard work started here riding in the Manawatu. Check out Robert Stannard, Alex West and Michaela Drummond who are competing currently in Europe and the States.
Robert Stannard is racing in the U23 Giro d’Italia as part of the Australian Mitchelton-Scott team and is sitting at 8th on general classification with one stage remaining as I write this and secured a well-deserved 3rd placing in stage 5a. A huge result in such a prestigious event.
Tour de France.
When: July 1st to July 23rd.
We are approaching the shortest day in NZ (21 June) and the Tour de France beginning on the 1st of July.If you are grinding away doing your winter base training or you have something else much more exciting you are aiming at on your bike, what better way to get your motivation up than tune into to all that is unfolding for the upcoming Tour de France.
The club will offer a venue for you to join together and watch the last two hours of some of the key stages in the race so watch out for details in next week’s Newsletter.
“Happy Hour”
When: Friday 30th of June
Where: Lonestar
Time: From 5.30pm