It was the hardy enthusiasts who fronted for the Cycling Southland Tisbury-Waimatua Circuit Teams road teams race held on Saturday afternoon in a very cold seven degrees and breezy conditions – but at least the rain held off for the duration of the event.
Just over half of the registrations for the race turned up with 20 riders signing on for the two 18km laps of the circuit. These riders were split up into four teams of five riders. Riders were advised that the team with the four out of the five best placed riders to complete the course would be declared the winners.
Unfortunately, the race split up early due to the strong crosswind up to the Tiwai turn-off. Also Neil Familton and Hamish Keast had the misfortune to puncture shortly after the turn. Five riders had withdrawn after the first lap with only eight riders making up the main bunch, with the remaining riders strewn around the circuit.
The end of the second lap finish saw Tom Sexton from the Orange team cross the line first followed by Josh van den Arend of the Green team with Jack Pedler also of the Green team in third place.
The Red Team of Steve Keast, Red Burnett, Andrew Lienert, Dave Simpson and Geoff van Dam were declared the winners as they were the only team that had not only four but five riders complete the course with each of the other three teams only having three riders each finish.
Thanks to Robin Criglington, Lindsay Jones, Dave Beadle and Keith Wilson for their assistance.
Unfortunately the earlier Individual Time Trial was cancelled due to the weather that prevailed at the time and which appeared to have set in. The main concern was that as we had not secured covered premises for the riders to shelter in for their warm-up protocols and upon completion of their effort. There would have been a 25 minute time span from the first to last rider away and the welfare of the competitors was the major concern.
Report courtesy of Race Manager Ray Robinson