Cycling: Festival caters to all cyclists

Harold the Giraffe of the Life Education Trust will be out and about during the Wanganui Festival of Cycling this weekend. Photo/Supplied

Top riders to get weekend off to action-packed start

The juggling of schedules for the prestigious John Bull Cup opened up this weekend for a full-on two days of cycling fun, for both the serious and fun-loving through to the young and old.

The Wanganui Festival of Cycling begins today with the Grand Prix on the Wanganui Oceania Circuit in Brunswick.

Spokesman Stu Bruce said the Grand Prix had been moved to April to attract the best of the riders from the North Island, many of whom are in training for the Bike NZ Road Cycling Club National Championships, being held in Cambridge in May.

"By moving it we saw it would be fantastic to link it into a festival ... to cater to all cyclists."

So while the top riders will all be in the hunt for the 86th edition of the John Bull Cup, that will only be the start of the action as Sunday will see a host of family fun rides around the scenic Whanganui River sites and Cooks Gardens.

"We're catering to everyone on the Sunday," said Bruce.

"It's not just Wanganui, it covers the region with these two cycling events.

"We've hoping families will grab those bikes that have been sitting in the shed for the last two years, since it seemed a good idea to get one for that Christmas."

As well as the velodrome at Cooks Gardens being open all day for the public to have a rare chance to test themselves on the famous track, there are the Grand Fondo events - a 125km ride beginning at 9am, as well as the 30km short ride at 11am.

Both will finish at Durie Hill school, followed by an easy roll back to Cooks Gardens.

There is also Kiwi Kids Cycling within Cooks Gardens from 11.30am, which Bruce promises should be quite the spectacle as there is a parents' race included.

Then at 2pm is the start of the Life Education Family Fun Ride a 9km course using the town's bridges and cycle trails of Kowhai Park.

Bruce would like to see the event show that two-wheel sports remain great for fitness, not to mention the sense of accomplishment from completing a journey something you don't get on a treadmill.

"At Kowhai, people often do the walking, [but] you can also ride around the river."

All the proceeds from entry fees from this race will go towards the Life Education Trust, who Bruce said do a great job when they need around $120,000 a year to keep operating.

"There's not a better cause out there."

There are spot prizes such as the Suzuki NZ scooter valued at $2699, along with vouchers from Wanganui Pak 'n Save.

Before tomorrow's fun times, all the action will be dead serious today for the Grand Prix.

The 66km races for the C grade, Under 17s and women's C grade will start in Brunswick at 9.30am, as will the under-15s with a mass start.

The John Bull Cup for A Grade riders will begin at 12.30pm, racing 110km.

B Grade will cover 88km while the under-15s will have a second 22km handicap race, also starting at 12.30pm.