WCNI Road Race Champs Postponed
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.
Bike Manawatu has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation.
After careful consideration and based on the information that we have at hand and the rapid pace at which this situation is escalating we have made the tough decision to postpone the West Coast North Island Road Race Champs scheduled for Saturday 28th March.
We assessed our race – and given we would we riding in bunches, and the impact it may have on the welfare and health of our members, riders, event organisers, volunteers, officials, spectators and the general New Zealand public, we made what we feel is the socially responsible decision to postpone the event pending a suitable replacement date.
We apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment this decision may cause, and we are currently unsure when we will be able to host this event, but rest assured we will do our best to put this and other events back on our cycling calendar as soon as possible.
We realise this is a period of uncertainty and appreciate our cycling community’s support.
Levin Cycling Club has also made the decision to postpone their West Coast North Island Individual Time Trial and Criterium champs scheduled for April 5th due to the impact of COVID19.
Take Care everyone
