Cycling: Gardens premium perch for elite fans

Julian Dean

Just as World War II gunners took vantage posts for commanding views, fans will have a strategic focal point to see leg-pumping professional riders on Bluff Hill in Napier in this weekend's New Zealand Road Cycling Championship.

It is the sixth time the Big Save-sponsored event has been staged in Hawke's Bay but the first time the course encroaches the inner-city area.

Championship organisers, with the supported of the Napier City Council, have developed an exciting road course that will embrace an initial long loop into the rolling country near Taradale before returning for several laps of a spectacular 13km inner-city lap of Bluff Hill.

The focal point is based in the botanical gardens for best views and to create a fun environment.

"In all cycle races around the world, when you have a hill climb then you find lots of people to support," said event ambassador Julian Dean.

"They have a lot of fun and get out on the sides of the road to create a special environment."

The gardens will offer music, coffee and food while a big screen with live streaming of the race and commentary will keep everyone up to date.

Parking is limited but a free shuttle bus will cart fans to and from the garden.

A temporary bus stop outside Taylor Dry Cleaning in Shakespeare Rd is the pick-up point, before the bus heads down Tennyson St, up Milton Rd, along Napier Tce and stops near the top of the gardens. It returns to the bus stop via Goldsmith/Battery/Shakespeare roads.

"The fans can make plenty of noise, get dressed up and have a lot of fun, as well as witness the riders turning themselves inside out getting up the climbs," said Dean.

Riders who fail to pace themselves on the Shakespeare Rd end of the hillclimb or descend on tight corners, regardless of how good hill climbers they may be, will be left stranded from the pack.

CHAMPS DETAILS

Start and finish at Church Rd Winery, Taradale, today:

TIME TRIAL

10am: Elite female 23.5km (one long loop).

10.40: U23 male 40km (one long loop, one short 17km loop).

11.40: Elite male 40km (one long loop, one short 17km loop).

13.30: Podium presentations.

ROAD RACES

Start/finish at Marine Pde, War Memorial Conference Centre tomorrow:

10.00: Women 117km - 55km rural loop (Puketapu) incl 7km neutralised to Tamatea plus 4.5 loops of Napier Hill city circuit.

14.30: Podium presentations.

Start/finish at Marine Pde, War Memorial Conference Centre on Sunday:

9am: Under-23 & elite men's road race 180km - 80.5km rural loop (Puketapu) including 7km neutralised to Tamatea plus 7.5 loops of Napier Hill city circuit.

14.30: Podium presentations.