CURRENT and former national champions and representatives, state title holders, talented Para-cyclists, part-timers and newcomers – all will be welcome when the NSW Cycling Women's Masters Road Premiership returns to Bathurst.
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An annual series which was first introduced in 2015, the road premiership will this year consist of eight events conducted at different venues across the state.
The Bathurst Cycling Club will host three of those races on the weekend of March 24-25.
While the A grade field will no doubt feature a number of quality, talented cyclists, NSW Women's Cycling Commission representative Marian Renshaw is urging all women – no matter their experience – to get involved.
“It’s one of the few times that women can race by themselves. It’s become more regular in Sydney, but in country areas it’s very hard to get good racing amongst women,” the talented Bathurst rider said.
“We’ve run races in Bathurst for four years now and every year we get good numbers.
“Every year I’d say 10 to 20 percent are new faces. Some of them stay and continue on to become very good cyclists, while a lot of women come purely and solely just for that weekend.
“We want to encourage those who don't normally race to come and try an event with plenty of support available and for other women cyclists to enjoy the weekend racing and make new friends and catch up with old acquaintances.”
While Masters cyclists are able to accumulate points across the course of the series – Bathurst Cycling Club’s Rosemary Hastings having taken out the 2017 D grade honours - under 17 and elite women can participate as well.
Riders can enter as many events as they like.
The first race of the Bathurst weekend will be a Kermesse – an event conducted over series of laps on a circuit. It will be staged on the old Vale motor sport circuit which has a spectacular view over Bathurst.
The riders will then have a 16 kilometre individual time trial in the afternoon starting at Perthville before a road race is staged on Sunday.
It will see cyclists race over distances from 36km (D grade) up to 65km for the A grade riders who will tackle the notorious Rockley Mount climb.
Renshaw is delighted that D2F Bathurst will sponsor Queen of the Mount prize money and some major podium places, while Velotec Sports will once again donate encouragement awards.
Renshaw will also stage a road skills clinic on Friday. It will run from 9am to 3pm and participants need to register on 0438 413 423.
