G Grade Racing

Due to help from generous volunteers G Grade will revert to mentored training races for the first few races of the Summer Series. The distances will be shorter than advertised in the Summer Race Programme, so G Graders wishing to ride the advertised distances (and RACE for all of it) are invited to ride in F Grade.

This Saturday, G Grade will ride to Dartmoor and return (20km).

Thursday Series

Yesterday evening, the first Thursday Swamp Road ITT for the series was held. With 35 riders, the ride was hotly contested with 7/100 of a second deciding fastest time for Brendon Vesty ahead of Jeremy Vennell.

Next week: Te Mata Peak Hill Climb

NEXT WEEK: Waimarama Junior Cycling Camp

Yes, it’s time for our juniors to take their bikes to Waiamarama again. 14th-17th December.

This is an annual training camp which focuses on skills training and development of a supportive team mentality. In the past, experienced cyclists have run short workshops on skills, nutrition and bike maintenance. Coach, Ivar Hopman, runs a tight ship but never-the-less insists on fun (a mandatory requirement of the 4 days).

There is a small cost, but Ramblers subsidises this experience for our juniors. Thank you to Pub Charity for their support.

If you are interested, please contact Ivar 06 835 7058 / 021451588 or ivar.hopman@teamcoach.net.nz

Entries close today for Elite National Championships

Entries close today for the RaboDirect Criterium Elite Road National Championships (6-8th January 2012, Christchurch)


Copy and paste this link in to your browser to enter
https://sitedesq.imgstg.com/eventsregform/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_event_detail&EventID=11026&OrgID=6346

No late entries will be accepted for the RaboDirect Elite Road National Championships.

Unlike previous years, you need to enter yourself via the online system, not through your centre. If you are part of a NZ domestic trade team please contact your team for entry.

To enter, login with the same username and password that you use to apply for licences.

If you have any questions about the online entry for the event please contact BikeNZ on 09 630 5780 or admin@bikenz.org.nz

Tonight: BMW Northshore Grand Prix and RaboDirect Criterium National Championships

If you are in Auckland this evening and want something to to do, you can be a rider or a spectator in Takapuna. The Jerry Clayton BMW North Shore Grand Prix is hosting the RaboDirect Criterium National Championships, and the 9th edition of this iconic Takapuna event will play host to some of the fastest athletes in the country.


All the best to Ramblers Serena Sheridan, Westley Gough and Jeremy Yates.

Excerpt: Press Release

Olympic hopeful Kaytee Boyd will look to defend her 2010 Championship title against the likes of BikeNZ Track teammate Rushlee Buchanan along with the experienced Serena Sheridan.

The SUBWAY Pro Cycling line-up led by Peter Latham & Westley Gough will bring a wealth of experience to Hurstmere Rd. Latham, a two-time previous winner of the event and Gough will both carry fine form off a recent intensive training camp with the BikeNZ Track Team.

Perennial strong man Jeremy Yates (Mico-Protrain) along with Oceania Track Champion Myron Simpson (Jerry Clayton BMW) & Chris Macic (Jerry Clayton BMW) will certainly be in the fight to wear the silver fern as RaboDirect Criterium National champion for 2012.

Entries remain open until racing starts in 5 grades - U17 Girls, U17 Boys,Age Group/Masters (non-championship), Elite Women & Elite Men.

Racing from 5.30pm - Hurstmere Rd - Takapuna - North Shore - Auckland

More marshalls are required from 4.30pm to ensure the event runs safely... so if you are there to watch or support but would like to help, please contact peter@smartsport.co.nz
 http://www.smartsport.co.nz/

Membership Renewal Reminder

Please ensure your have rejoined Ramblers and have paid your fees by the end of January.

Your transponder will NOT be entered into the 2012 database until confirmation of fully paid membership is received.

Riders who have not renewed their membership by February may find themselves unable to start a race.

You can renew online (details in previous enews). If you renew online, please check that your contact details are current.

You can renew manually by visiting the RCC club website for an application form http://www.ramblers.co.nz/membership.asp


Where possible, please give a street address as well as a postal address as this helps with administration of mail-outs (which are sometimes hand-delivered).

Once your application has been confirmed (including payment), you will be entered into the Ramblers race and timing database.

Wanganui Track Cycling Summer

Wanganui has extended a welcome to all visitors to join them on the track over Summer. For a full event calendar, please copy and paste this link into your browser.

http://www.sportsground.co.nz/files/Site/864/6/Pdf/111125092111FAJKPVBC.pdf

2012 B.R Turfrey Tour de Beautiful CHB

A reminder that registrations for the Tour de Beautiful (Sunday 22nd January 2012) are now open.

Registrations and ride details can be found online through this link http://www.cyclingchb.co.nz/events/79-roger

Le Femme Fun Ride: 25 February 2012

This is a Womens Only ride and will be held in conjunction with the NZCT Womens Tour that will be held in the Manawatu at the end of February.

There are 2 courses to suit different fitness levels: 25km short course 48km long course.

For more information please copy and paste this link into your browser http://www.bikemanawatu.co.nz/index.php/club-news/707-womans-ride-new-and-exciting-event.

Entry fee $40 includes electronic timing, race pack and lunch.

Late entry fee of an extra $10 will apply after 18th February 2012.

Online entries opening soon.

BikeWise Challenge: Register your team online!

You can register your organisation for the Bike Wise Challenge 2012 online at http://www.bikewise.co.nz/



If you have enquiries or need assistance, call the BikeWise freephone 0508 BY BIKE (0508 29 2453) or email at bikewise@nzta.govt.nz

Upcoming Events

9th December: RaboDirect Criterium National Championship, Auckland

10th December: Rice Mountain Classic

11th December: Telstra Clear Cycle Challenge, Auckland

11th December: Levin Track Carnival

27th-31st December: Tour de Vineyards, Tasman District

2012

6th-8th January: RaboDirect Elite and U23 Road National Championships


11th January: Milford Mountain Classic

13th-15th January: Hub EMC Tour 2012, Hastings

14th January: Round the Mountain, New Plymouth

21st January: GWALOOP, Gisborne/Wairoia

21st January: Tour de Ranges, Auckland

21st-22nd January: WVCC 2Day Challenge, Martinborough

22nd January: BR Turfreys Tour de Beautiful, Central Hawkes Bay

25th-29th January: NZ Cycle Classic, Palmerston North

28th January: NZ Cycle Classic Gran Fondo, Palmerston North

4th-6th February: Rabodirect Elite Track National Championship (includes Madison and U19 Omnium), Invercargill

11th- 12th February: Bev May Tour

12th-18th February: Wellington to Auckland 7 day Cycle Challenge

18th February: Art Deco Bicycle Belles Ride

18th February: The Rev, Hamilton

18th February: Moonshine Trail, Southland

22-24 February: "To Walk and Cycle" Conference, Hastings

22-26th February: NZ Women’s Tour, Manawatu

25th February: Le Femme Fun Ride, Manawatu

28th February - 3rd March: Rabodirect Age Group Track National Championship, Invercargill

3rd March: Karapoti Classic, Wellington

11th March: Tremain Coorporate Triathalon, Napier

11th March: Kawhata Challenge, Waikato

11th March: Bush Cycle Challenge, Magatinoka

15th-18th March: BDO 4 day Tour, Northland

15th-16th March: Oceania Road championships, Southland

17th-18th March: Ultimo Cycling CHB Junior Tour

24th March: Grape Ride, Malborough

7th-9th April: TeA Junior Tour, Te Awamutu

14th-15th April: CRI Junior and Women’s Tour

3rd-6th May: RaboDirect Road National Championship, Hastings

20th May: Laskey Cycles Manfeild 6 hour challenge

14th-22nd April: Tour of New Zealand

June-Sept (precise date to be confirmed): Oceania Masters Road Championships, Fiji

Three medal haul for New Zealand cyclists in World Cup

New Zealand has taken gold in the men's pursuit at the UCI World Cup in unusual circumstances, while claiming silver medals in two other races on an eventful second day in Colombia.

After running second to world champions Australia in yesterday's qualifying in the men's pursuit, the New Zealand quartet were awarded the gold medal after their opponents crashed out on the first straight.

The Australians were not awarded a restart and therefore the New Zealand team of Jesse Sergent, Sam Bewley, Aaron Gate and Marc Ryan won the gold medal.

No doubt the New Zealand team would have preferred to race as they prepare towards the big season ahead.

Earlier the women's team pursuit won the silver medal after world champions Great Britain proved too strong in the final. The Brits set the early pace to open up a gap of more than a second before the kiwi trio of Alison Shanks, Lauren Ellis and Jaime Nielsen clawed their way back. But the kiwis dropped Nielsen two laps from the finish with the Great Britain trio moving away for the win.

"We started in the first six laps really focussing on our own pace and setting out what we know we can do and then race them for the last six laps," said Lauren Ellis. "It was only the last two laps really that didn't go to plan. We still went out there to execute the best ride we could, and sometimes it is not always perfect."

Ellis said while there were no excuses, the group found this week tough after competing in the Oceania Championships last week before facing the 30-hour trip to Colombia.

"We raced on the Thursday night then flew our Friday. It's a long way over here. We got in on Sunday and then to race on Wednesday and Thursday is tough.

"It's just the start of our season and we are all in good shape and looking ahead now."

Manawatu sprinter Simon van Velthooven continued his powerful form to grab the silver medal in the men's 1000m time trial. He powered home in 1:01.160, which 3/100ths of a second outside the national record he set in last week's Oceania Championships.

Frenchman Francois Pervis took out the gold in 1:00.075 but van Velthooven put up his hand for a potential medal in next year's world championships in Melbourne.

The rest of the sprint team had less good fortune after former triple world junior champion Sam Webster crashed during the second lap of the team sprint after a puncture during qualifying. Teammate Eddie Dawkins was left with no room to manoeuvre and crashed also. It was initially thought the team were not allowed a re-run, but in face Webster's injuries, while not too serious, ruled him out of the competition.

The leading German team broke the world record in a time of 42.914, which was 35/100^th of a second inside the old mark set by Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics, beating another German trio in the final.

New Zealand's starter Ethan Mitchell had the BikeNZ trio on a fast pace with the third quickest time for the first lap of 17.463s.

It has also been a mixed start for Shane Archbold in the men's omnium. He was third fastest in the flying lap in 13.173, which was another personal best after his 13.192 at last week's Oceania Championships.

He lost two laps to finish 22^nd in the points race and was one of three riders disqualified for racing infractions in the elimination race.

Results:

Women's team pursuit, 3000m gold medal ride: Great Britain 3:31.835, 1; New Zealand (Lauren Ellis, Jaime Nielsen, Alison Shanks) 3:37.072, 2. Bronze ride: USA 3:44.274, 3; Lithuania 3:55.010, 4.

Men's omnium:

Flying lap: Bryan Coquard (FRA) 13.128, 1; Zach Bell (CAN) 13.155, 2; Shane Archbold (NZL) 13.173, 3.

Points race: Ho Kwok (HKG) 64, Eloy Teruel Rivira (ESP) 56, Lasse Hansen (DEN) 52. Archbold 22^nd.

Elimination race: Coquard 1, Michael Freiberg (AUS) 2, Gijs van Hoecke (BEL) 3. Also: Archbold dsq.

Men's 100m time trial: Francois Pervis (FRA) 1:00.075, 1; Simon Van Velthooven (NZL0 1:01.160, 2; Filip Ditzel (CZE) 1:02.009, 3.

Men's team pursuit, 4000m, gold medal ride: New Zealand (Jesse Sergent, Marc Ryan, Sam Bewley, Aaron Gate) 1, Australia dnf, 2. Bronze medal:

Men's team sprint: Germany 43.311, 1; (World Record); Team ERD (Germany) 44.230, 2; Venezuela 43.991, 3. New Zealand dnf.

For further information contact:

IAN HEPENSTALL

Media Liaison, BikeNZ High Performance

Sports Media NZ Ltd

World class ride for Shanks in world cup victory

New Zealand cyclist Alison Shanks produced another world class performance to win the individual pursuit at the UCI World Cup in Colombia today.

Shanks, who slashed her own previous best at the Oceania Championships last week, recorded another 3m 28s ride at the partially outdoor velodrome in Cali.

She defeated Great Britain's Wendy Houvenaghel, part of the world team pursuit champion trio, with a superb display, clocking 3:28.994.

The Otago rider was delighted with her second 3:28 effort, especially replicating her best time after the arduous travel and heavy early season racing schedule.

"Not only was it a good ride, it was evenly executed. I wanted to firstly go out and beat Wendy and win the gold medal but to do so and record such a fast time as well and it's day three after the team pursuit ... I am stoked," said Shanks.

"Cali is also a fast track but there's a bit of wind so you have to be smart how you ride it. It shows I am fit and it's a great way to kick off the season."

The New Zealander, usually a conservative starter, was on top throughout in the 3000m final, ahead by 0.5sec at the 1000m mark and had the race under control to be two seconds clear at the 2000m.

Shanks topped qualifiers in the morning session with a 3:32.184 with Houvenaghel more than a second behind and six seconds back to the next fastest.

"This morning Wendy went out fast and was still ahead at the 2km mark. We thought she would do the same tonight. I knew I was strong to bring it home in the last km but as it turned out I was ahead for most of the race and so I am absolutely stoked with the ride I put together tonight."

Shanks said it did not make up for the disappointment of their loss in yesterday's team pursuit where they were beaten by the Houvenaghel –led Great Britain team.

"I think we have learned a lot from that. In the team pursuit you have to push the boundaries to go faster and that's what we have to do in Olympic year. When you are riding on those limits, sometimes they don't come off but you have to keep pushing the boundaries and hope on race day it comes together.

"We've learned a lot from that. We will take things from it and move forward."

Joanne Kiesanowski has enjoyed her first event win on the first day of the women's omnium. The Christchurch professional was eighth in the flying lap, lowering her personal best for a second time in a week to 14.655s. She was 13^th in the points race before recording a breakthrough victory with a brilliant ride in the elimination race, holding off world medallist Tara Whitten (CAN) in the final sprint.

Manawatu's Simon van Velthooven finished 13th in the B final of the men's keirin. The Oceania champion was closed out of any real racing real estate. Earlier he was relegated in the semifinal for not holding his line, after finishing third across the line.

It proved a disappointing competition for world omnium silver medallist Shane Archbold who along with two other riders was disqualified during the points race yesterday and under the rules, was unable to contest the rest of the programme.

The World Cup finishes tomorrow.

Results:

Women's 3000m individual pursuit, gold medal ride: Alison Shanks (NZL) 3:28.994, 1; Wendy Houvenaghel (GBR) 3:33.698, 2. Bronze ride: Kalitovska Lesya (UKR) 3:35.983, 3; Sarah Kent (AUS) 3:41.566, 4.

Qualifying: Shanks 3:32.847, 1; Houvenaghel 3:33.633, 2; Lesya 3:38.068, 3; Kent 3:38.835, 4.

Women's Omnium, flying lap: Sarah Hammer (USA) 143.279, 1; Huang Li (CHN) 14.361, 2; Tara Whitten (CAN) 14.455, 3. Also: Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL) 14.655, 6.

Points race: Whitten 30 points, 1; Hammer 28, 2; Malgarzata Wojtyra (POL) 23, 3. Also: Kiesanowski 4, 13.

Elimination: Kiesanowski 1, Whitten 2, Passcale Jeuland (FRA) 3.

Points after three events: Whitten 6 points, 1; Hammer 7, 2; A Trebaite (LTU) 19, 3. Also: Kiesanowski 22, 6.

For further information contact:

IAN HEPENSTALL

Media Liaison, BikeNZ High Performance

Sports Media NZ Ltd

Kiesanowski finishes 8th in World Cup omnium

Christchurch cyclist Joanne Kiesanowski has finished eighth in the omnium on the final day of the UCI World Cup in Colombia.

Kiesanowski had three solid performances on the second day, finishing 12^th in the individual pursuit, 11^th in the scratch race and 12^th in the 500m time trial.

Her effort was highlighted with the win in the elimination race on the first day.

World champion Sarah Hammer (USA) took out the omnium from Canada's Tara Whitten.

Meanwhile sprinters Eddie Dawkins and Sam Webster bowed out of the men's sprint in the round of eight. The pair qualified in the competitive field with Dawkins (Invercargill) 10^th fastest in 10.268 and Webster 13^th fastest in 10.326.

Dawkins lost in the round of eight to Germany's Rene Enders and Webster went out to Trinidad's Njisane Phillip.

The next round of the World Cup is next month in Beijing.

Results:

Women's omnium, round 4, individual pursuit: Tara Whitten (CAN) 3:30.222, 1; Sarah Hammer (USA) 3:30.494, 2; Laura Trott (GBR) 3:33.180, 3. Also: Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL) 3:44.269, 12.

Scratch race: Hammer 1, Li Huang (CHN) 2, Min Lee (TPE) 3. Also: Kiesanowski 11.

500m time trial: Trott 35.378, 1; Austine Trebaite (FRA) 35.813, 2; Mel Hsiao (TPE) 36.087, 3. Also: Kiesanowski 36.813, 12.

Overall points: Hammer 14, 1; Whitten 28, 2; Trott 29, 3. Also: Kiesanowski 57, 8.

Men's sprint qualifying: Eddie Dawkins (NZL) 10.268, 10; Sam Webster (NZL) 10.326, 13.

Round of 8: Dawkins lost to Rene Enders (GER), Webster lost to Njisane Phillip (TRI).

For further information contact:

IAN HEPENSTALL

Media Liaison, BikeNZ High Performance

Sports Media NZ Ltd