Trophee de vent et Grimpeur

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.

Translation “trophy of the wind and climber”. Well that is what it will be for this year for the brave and hearty that tackled the course today.

From my vantage point at the finish line I had a lovely view after first clearing branches from the road down across the river to spy on the riders as they returned on the shortened course from Highland Home.

And with my camera on zoom it is amazing what you can see on the other side of the valley , even picking up action on the bridge over the Pohangina River. Look carefully and you will notice the lean on the trees, testament to the fact that the wind was venting.

So rather than a graded race, all riders completed the same distance and a handicap race was run instead.

It is great to have people to come out to help so thanks to Dennis Martin who was turn marshal at Raumai and to Katherine Stannard who was turn marshal at Highland Home.

All riders should know that all of our club races are run according to Bike NZ rules and if these are not complied with or if you need a reminder about what those are they will be included in the race briefing each week until all riders remember them.

“Riders taking or accepting outside pace or assistance shall be disqualified by the Commissaires.

“Outside pace” shall be defined as riding behind or on either side of non-competitors or of a moving vehicle in such a way that in the opinion of the Commissaires the rider secures an advantage over other competitors. “

This was a club race and no prizemoney was at stake. But continued behaviour like this will see further action being taken.

The riders concerned know who they are. Please be warned.

Results

	Start time
Robert Stannard	9 mins 30	1:16:33
Alex West	9 mins 30	1:16:34
Neil Martin	7 mins 30	1:16:53
Hayden Washington-Smith	9 mins 30	1:17:23
Matt Watts	3mins 30	1:17:30
Mitchell Kinghorn	7 mins 30	1:17:39
Peter O’Sullivan	3mins 30	1:17:49
Winston Briggs	7 mins 30	1:20:24
Damien Lardner	7 mins 30	1:20:53
Glenn Kirk	7 mins 30	1:22:13
Dylan Simpson	0	1:24:22
Steve Stannard	0	1:26:29
Thomas Stannard	0	1:26:31
Lizzie Stannard	3mins 30	1:28:35
Toshi Yamauchi	3mins 30	1:29:58
Chris Pinkney	3mins 30	1:30:27
Nigel Doyle	3mins 30	1:34:16
Nate Levin	9 mins 30	DNF