Elite Cyclists from across New Zealand will descend upon Cambridge on Saturday 23rd February to take part in the Avantidrome REV Cycle Festival ? one of the country?s premiere road cycling events.
Starting in Cambridge and passing through some of the Waikato?s most beautiful rolling countryside, including the famous French Pass and Scotsman Valley, the REV?s unique course and atmosphere attracts leading cyclists from across New Zealand ? with 2013 set to be no different.
The Highest Level
Having established itself as one of New Zealand?s best one day cycling events, cyclists of the highest level will be in attendance to compete for the illustrious first place. Two such cyclists hoping to defend their crown are 2012 winners Jeremy Vennell and Emma Crum, who came first in the REV Classic male and female categories.
Both Jeremy and Emma, who ride for Bissell Pro Cycling and Lointek (LTK) respectively, had a fantastic 2012, which included Jeremy being awarded overall Most Aggressive rider at the Amgen Tour of California and a 3rd place overall finish in the Elite NZ Road Championships. Emma?s accomplishments included winning Stage 4 of the UCI 2.2 Tour of New Zealand and the TelstraClear Challenge.
Reflecting on their personal experience at the REV, both Jeremy and Emma spoke highly about the event, particularly the level of competition which was on display.
?The level for a New Zealand Race was at its highest with Olympic and New Zealand riders that have proven themselves overseas as very talented cyclists? said Jeremy. ?Another big factor for the high level of competition was the fact that the festival took place towards the end of summer ? a time when you have riders at the peak of training ready for the season start overseas.?
?I really enjoyed it.? said Emma. ?I like big races like this which provide an opportunity to test yourself against the men as well as the other girls. It was also a great opportunity to ride against some really strong riders from the Auckland and Waikato area.?
Relentless
The REV is becoming famous for its diverse course, which includes a number of challenging hills, narrow roads and sharp corners. Speaking about the course, both Jeremy and Emma highlighted the French Pass as the toughest aspect of the race.
?The most challenging part of the course was definitely the climb up French Pass (particularly when trying to hang onto the back of the fast men!),? said Emma. ?You have to have a good position going down the hill so you need to start the climb from the front of the bunch.?
?The whole course is up and down?, added Jeremy, ?But the hardest part would have to be the French Pass. Comparing the course to other events I would say this course is relentless in its hills, but is made very enjoyable with is small roads and tight corners which keep you on your toes.?
Family Feel
With a number of race categories on offer as well as food, entertainment and activities all being made available throughout event day, the positive atmosphere which is becoming synonymous with the REV was something which both Emma and Jeremy were quick to notice.
?The atmosphere around the place was really good with lots of people bringing their families along for a picnic after the race,? said Emma. ?There were also a lot of Marshalls and staff around the course which made the whole event safer and more enjoyable for everyone who attended.?
?The whole event was well organised and easy to get around making it easy for all the riders to relax after the race and enjoy themselves with their friends and families,? added Jeremy.
Words of Wisdom
With thousands of cyclists set to tackle the REV on February 23rd, many of whom will be riding the course for the first time, Jeremy and Emma had a few words of wisdom to impart.
?The ride is one of the nicest and most interesting in New Zealand, so it is important to relax and enjoy it,? said Jeremy. ?Also, don?t use all the gas in your tank on the French Pass as there is still a long way to go after that!?
?Make sure you drink lots of water as it can get really hot and eat enough during the race,? added Emma. ?And for anyone riding an event such as this for the first time, practice riding with other people before the event so that you can ride safely and in a bunch. And enjoy yourself!?
Both Jeremy and Emma are hoping to defend their crowns at this year?s event, which looks set to be the most exciting, enjoyable and competitive REV Cycle Festival yet.
-END-
Contact
For more information about the Avantidrome REV Cycle Festival, visit www.therev.co.nz.
Or contact:
Catherine Bell, Marketing Co-ordinator?? 07 838 4344
Tanya Wakefield, Event Manager?? 07 838 4312
About the REV
The Avantidrome REV Cycle Festival is an event in the true spirit of cycling. Taking place in the Waikato?s most scenic rolling countryside, the REV has something for everyone. For keen experienced cyclists the REV Classic and REV 100 rides, 135km and 100km rides respectively, take you over the challenging (and rewarding) French Pass, through the famous Hobbiton and thoroughbred district of Matamata and home via the legendary Scotsman Valley. For those looking for something slightly less challenging, the REV Midi (55km) and REV Intro (18km) rides offer a fantastic cycling experience.? And for the kids is the free REV Mini ? a 2, 4 or 6km ride and cycling workshop teaching children all they need to know about cycling. Whatever your age or ability, the REV has something for everyone.
About U Leisure
U Leisure designs and delivers leisure experiences that enrich communities in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. We are committed to designing products and services that are engaging, sustainable and promote wellbeing. Thousands of people share in the experience of iconic events such The REV, The Great Race and Round the Bridges. We deliver strategic leisure services to the community and the University of Waikato including sports programmes, assistance to high performance students of the arts and sports, links with sporting alumni, and management of key recreation assets such as the Rec Centre, retail units, sport grounds and courts, and the University pool. See www.uleisure.co.nz for more information.
About Home of Cycling
The Home of Cycling is a new facility and has been designed and will be built to meet SPARC and Bike NZ?s criteria, therefore delivering on the high performance, development and the community cycling needs and ambitions. It will be a fully enclosed indoor facility, constructed to Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Category 1 homologation standard, and to the specific requirements of Bike NZ. The HoC will be a specialist centre for all disciplines and people in cycling. The centre will offer high performance, sport development, disabled cyclists, school and community access and programmes that will utilise all available access hours to the Avantidrome, including the space in the centre of the track. See www.homeofcycling.org.nz for more information.
Source: http://www.therev.co.nz/2013/01/elite-cyclists-get-all-revved-up/
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