It is a big week for our Elite track cyclists as Southland riders Eddie Dawkins, Natasha Hansen, Corbin Strong, Kirstie James, and Nick Kergozou take on the world’s best at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin, starting on Thursday 27 February.
Our local track cyclists are also gearing up for the Vantage Age Group Track National Championships, which will be hosted at the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome next week. This means there will be some changes to the track schedule, so please keep an eye on the website (and further on in the newsletter) for updates.
For those who prefer the open road to the boards, this weekend brings the Vital Signs Fight for Yellow two day tour, which promises to be an excellent event once again
With that, let’s get into the rest of the news!
Vital Signs Fight for Yellow
Entries have now closed for the Fight for Yellow Tour with 60 riders from throughout the South Island converging on Southland this weekend to take part. A reminder to all competitors to please pay your entry fee by this Friday – the bank account is in your entry confirmation email.
All riders and officials will be expected at the race briefing at 8:30am in Wyndham on Saturday. No time trial bikes or aero helmets are allowed in the Stage 1 Time trial – the same bike and helmet is to be used throughout the tour.
We could still do with some volunteers over the weekend. Whether it is one stage, one day or the whole weekend we would appreciate your assistance. Please email Julian Ineson at [email protected]
Visit the Fight for Yellow Facebook page for more information.
Race report – Bennetts Footwear Repairs graded race
The weekend's Bennetts Footwear Repairs graded race over 69 kilometres took riders out to Dipton for a race around a challenging but fair circuit, featuring a nice sting in the tail with a tough climb likely to break up whatever groups remained. However, the couple of kilometres from the top of the climb to the finish line left the tantalising prospect of a concerted chase effort bringing back any solo riders, if enough of a group was left together to cooperate in the chase.
All the riders rolled out of the start together for a two kilometre neutral start, but once the flag dropped and the race got under way the bunch sped along at above 40kph
The action started once the turn onto state highway 94 was made, with Mike White ripping into it and starting the selection in the field behind. By Mossburn the field was split into three groups, each working together well, but the detente was not to last with attacks coming thick and fast as soon as the road titled upwards. As the groups splintered on the climb, it came down to individual strength, and at the pointy end of the race, nobody was stronger than Hunter Gough as he rode away for an impressive win in A grade, ahead of Mike White and Navarh Brotherston.
Brook Armishaw looked good for the win in in B grade, but a never say die effort by Aaron Sinclair brought him back within sight of the line, giving Sinclair the win ahead of Armishaw, with Hayden Rankin in third.
Tom Kerr put in an impressive ride to hang with the big dogs until late in the race, which earned him a well deserved win in C grade, ahead of Tyla Green and Wayne Murchland.
D grade competed over a 34 kilometre course, with Nicole Avery taking the win over Frankie Thomson.
New Club kit
Have you seen the new club kit out on the road and track? Envious much? There has been enough interest to open up a new order for club kit (the dark blue and green kit, not the Cycling Southland kit you wear for nationals) – just click here to place your order. Orders close 3 March, with delivery scheduled for around 8 May.
We also have a brand new L club jersey (short sleeve) at the office that was an incorrect size on the previous order, so if anyone is interested, contact [email protected]
Also visit the Road & Track Cycling Southland Facebook page as there are a couple of other cyclists who have incorrect sizes they would like to sell.
Track schedule
With the National Championships in town next week, the track schedule will look a little bit different. All sessions on Monday 2 March will go ahead as per usual, but on Tuesday 3 March Lunch roll will be the only regular session, with other time slots being set aside for visiting team training. From Wednesday 4 March the track will be used exclusively for Nationals, with a return to the regular schedule from Monday. However, please consult with your coaches as squads may take a break post Nationals.
Club Stopwatches
If you have any of the club stopwatches is your possession, please return it to the office, as we will need these for the upcoming national championships.
Wednesday Worlds
Wednesday Worlds will (weather permitting) take place Wednesday, with sign in at Tisbury Hall from 6pm for a 6:30pm start.
A big thank you to Pearl Harris-Blain and Wayne McEwan who stopped to help Jack McLeod when he suffered a crash at Worlds last week, and also to Sid Cumming for dropping him off at home after the race.
Last week’s results:
A Grade: H Gough, N Brotherston, H Keast
B Grade: G Marsh, J Miller, M Erwood
C Grade: J Wilson, H Thompson, T McRae
D Grade: F Edwards, F Thomson, G Manson
Junior division grant
The grant for Age Group Track Nationals is open for applications. Please apply in writing to request the grant to [email protected]
Applications close on 28 February.
Eddie Dawkins’ Sprint School
Ever wanted to be coached by a legend? Eddie Dawkins is looking to extend the work he does with sprinters beyond his Cambridge base, and is gauging interest from track sprinters in Southland and surrounds who would like to join an Invercargill-based track training group with workouts and programmes devised by him. If that sounds like you, give Eddie a shout and he can keep you up to date as the concept develops.
Licence Renewals for 2020
As we are now in 2020, your 2019 Cycling New Zealand licence is no longer valid, and you need to be licenced to be allowed to race. Licence renewals can be done online through the Cycling New Zealand website - click join or login. If you have any problems the team at Cycling NZ will be able to assist you or contact Janine in the Cycling Southland office.
Returning Skinsuits
Could anyone who hired a skinsuit from Cycling Southland last year and has not returned it yet please get these back to the office (in a clean condition) as we expect quite a number of requests to come in as we get closer to track nationals.
Volunteers for Age Group Track Nationals
A big thank you to everyone who put their hands up to volunteer at Nationals. If you indicated that you are willing and able to help, but have not yet received an email confirming when and where you will be helping out, please email the office.
Cyclofit volunteer
We are looking for someone to volunteer and help those attending Cyclofit on Fridays 9am -10am and also as a backup for our current volunteer Peter as required, this could be on a Monday or Wednesday. If you are available to help on Friday’s on a regular basis or occasionally could you please contact Janine – [email protected] and let her know your availability.
Track bookings
Please ensure that all track bookings go through the office – email [email protected] to ensure that the track is available and can be booked through the stadium’s systems, as this is a health and safety requirement and also influences the timing of maintenance and cleaning of the track.
And just like that, we’ve reached the end of another edition of On Your Bike – have a great time racing Fight for Yellow over the weekend, and all the best to those getting ready for Age Group Track Nationals.