Wanganui
One thing you can guarantee when racing in Wanganui is hills. They love hills. The longer and steeper the better. The fact you are riding close to the coast facing the Southwest generally guarantees wind and any clouds mean rain. Racing in Wanganui is challenging and fun and Nationals provides the best racing you can get.
In my grade 50 – 54 we had 40 tough old brutes for the road race. Most of whom I knew from past years. The racing was close and hard. No learners here to worry about. The guys attacked the whole way around like we were Under 17's. The last 5 km consisted of a 3.5km climb then 1.5 km flat run into the finish. Being relatively light the last hill was not a problem but the attacks of the previous 60 km had taken its toll and the legs were not able to deliver a medal in the sprint to the finish.
In the Masters 3 Mark Crowther was fuming after his finish. 2 Ramblers (Hawkes Bay) riders got away and every time a chase group started rotating two other Rambler riders would come through, slow down and stop the group working together. A bunch contested the sprint for third and unfortunately it was not a Tauranga jersey.
