Team South – Day 1 – Sat April 14
Some 200 of us cyclists lined up this morning at the iconic signpost at Bluff, its arms pointing to distant places around the country including Cape Reinga where the North Island racers were also awaiting their start, and around the world.
The prize for the team that came the furthest goes to Champion Systems, a sports goods manufacturer in Shanghai. While some riders were on top of the line S-Works bikes one lady’s carried the team name. It was a very smart carbon fibre one. Purveyors of up market European and US bikes better watch out.
We had plenty of time to stand and chat. We were supposed to start at 10am. But someone had forgotten the big sign for the lead race car saying “Cycle Race”. We waited almost an hour while someone zoomed back into Invercargill and back to get it
We eventually got going into blustery weather. About three hours into the ride we changed direction, the wind became more favourable and the sun began to shine. Roundabout then, we spooked a very big mob of sheep in a long thin paddock beside the road. They tried to out-run us. It was a pure Tour de France tele-coverage moment, tho with sheep not horses pacing the riders.
The big push for Sarah and Rod came after Otautau when they had to cover fast the last 60km of the day to avoid the very fast-paced cut off time for the stage. Averaging around 30 k/h for an hour and a half they caught up with a local team, the Fat Bottomed Girls, and tucked in behind them to cruise into Mossburn.
What a great day! 144km, 6hr 51 mins on the road at an average of about 24 k/h with some good stops along the way and a moderate cumulative climb of 440m.
A great evening at our rented bach in Kingston is restoring us for the big climb over the Crown Range tomorrow.
Scott adds: Today I realised that with a short thumb, a mountain bike with knobblies, my trousers and backpack, I was the ‘motley’ to the Hikurangi Motley Crew.
This realisation came about at the morning line up as sleek bikes and tight teams all jostled for their place in the line. Yet the graciousness of our co-leaders Rod and Sarah in keep the pace at my level, and keeping the lead, allowed me to contain bike envy and concentrate on the biking.
So, perhaps I took ‘Tour’ too literally, there’s definitely a strong race ethic here. But what diversity even within our own wee team and I wish I could stay on. Rod and Sarah will be Hikurangi hosts all their way up the island and you couldn’t wish for more generous and fun cycling companions. Great weather, great landscape and what a buzz to see the Mossburn wind turbines – though I had bailed out after 80kms, and only saw them from the support vehicle.
