Ross ready for his 49th Tour
The Tour of Southland begins on October 28. Reporter are connected to the tour. looks at people in the south who
The countdown for this year’s Tour of Southland has more meaning than usual for race director Bruce Ross.
With almost half a century under his belt, Bruce Ross has decided that next year, his 50th year of involvement with the Tour of Southland, will be his final year.
But before then, he’s kneedeep in putting the final touches to this year’s tour, which starts on October 28.
Sitting in his office at Cycle Southland, surrounded by race planning documents and a whiteboard covered in team names, he quipped that when he was first given the race director job he thought it would be for a year.
At 17, he was the youngest member appointed to the tour committee.
He took on the tour director position at the age of 32, and he never imagined he’d be in the same role at the age of 65.
But, he says he wouldn’t have it any other way.
‘‘I enjoy the challenge. It’s one of those things if you don’t enjoy it and you don’t have that passion than it’s time to give it up.’’
This year 114 riders will race between October 28 to November 3, with most teams coming from New Zealand and one from Germany.
As tour director, Ross oversees everything and says the planning can become time consuming.
‘‘There’s 18 team sponsors so they all have to be confirmed and negotiated, etc and of course the riders and their accommodation, especially in the last 3-4 months, there’s a lot of work at home at night.’’
Spending most of his time preparing for the tour and the rest of his time as event manager for Cycling Southland, Ross acknowledges that he wouldn’t have got through without the support from his family.
‘‘My wife and twin daughters learnt from a young age that if they wanted to see their dad they would have to get involved as I was away from home a lot and I know I couldn’t have done my job without them.’’
The tour marks 62 years, and it continues to be popular.
Ross says it’s because of the continued support from sponsors and volunteers which encourage people to keep coming back.
‘‘I’ve seen the race finish in atrocious weather, riders coming into Gala St with hail marks pelted on their legs and people half an hour later talking about next year’s tour, so we must be doing something right.’’
When asked about his favourite tour, he said it was hard to pick just one, but last year stood out because of the tight race.
‘‘The fact that we got right down to the last stage of the event and still the result was unknown you could not script that any better.’’
With a huge role to fill after he leaves, Ross says it is important that his replacement has the same passion and drive he has, to ensure the tour continues to be successful.
And as for where Ross will be after his last year as tour director, he says he’s not ready to give it all up just yet.
‘‘I’ll still be around to help out on the corner or something to take photos.’’