Masters on track with cycling fest

Masters cyclists looking for more events have organised a two-day festival.

Waikato cycle enthusiast Dale Ertel said interest in cycling among the masters age group had been high since Avantidrome opened in Cambridge 2014 and the Masters Games was held there in 2017.

‘‘Most of Cycling New Zealand’s input is into youth but appears to have forgotten about the masters age group,’’ Ertel said.

In response to more events, a group of eight masters cyclists from across the Waikato have announced a two-day track carnival at the Avantidrome for September.

This event has two trophies to be won.

It included the Sprint Cup consisting of Match Sprints, 500TT, 500 Derbys, Keirins and Team Sprints.

Then there was the Endurance Cup which consisted of Scratch, Points, Elimination, Snowball Points and Mystery Scratch.

‘‘Each event is a medal event by itself, but if they are competing for either of the cups, then the points gained throughout qualifying and the final results will accumulate,’’ Ertel, from Matamata, said.

‘‘Interest is high with riders from Wellington and Canterbury enquiring what time the event would finish as they’re booking return flights already.

‘‘If everyone who indicated interest enters, we may have to turn some competitors away.’’

Cycling New Zealand chief executive Andrew Matheson said he welcomed the new event but refuted any suggestion his organisation had forgotten the masters age group.

‘‘It is the responsibility of the national federation (Cycling New Zealand) to ensure the delivery of events at a national championship level which we do across the codes of road, track, mountain bike and BMX,’’ said Matheson.

‘‘In all our events across all codes, we include master categories for riders wishing to race at this level.

‘‘It’s not the role of the national federation to provide regular nonchampionship competitions.

‘‘We welcome the initiatives of organisations including commercial event promoters and our clubs, regions and centres who support this level of racing opportunities for all riders.’’