Steve Stannard wins Wellington-to-Auckland Cycle Challenge

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.

From the Manawatu Standard:

Fresh off a gruelling week in the New Zealand Cycle Classic in Manawatu last month, Massey University’s Steve Stannard won the Wellington-to-Auckland Cycle Challenge, which finished in Pukekohe on Saturday.

After taking the yellow leader’s jersey on the first day, Stannard relinquished it for only one day before he got it back and kept it for the rest of the tour. He finished in the bunch in the final stage, more than a minute ahead of the second-placed rider. To top off his successful week, he won the King of the Mountains category, which had been his original target.

Apparently Steve was doing it by himself with no help, having to ride from start to finish and then in between to the next start point. Quite an amazing ride for him!