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Cure Kids and the Armstrong Prestige Festival of Cycling
For the weekend of the 3rd and 4th December, Christchurch will be host to one of the largest cycling events held in the South Island, the inaugural Armstrong Prestige Festival of Cycling. The Festival consists of two days of action - Day One is an all ages affair through the Port Hills and Lyttelton that everyone can enjoy, and that should warm the crowds up for Day Two's professional inner city race. This main event will be closely contested and definitely one not to miss. |
www.festivalofcycling.co.nz |
| When? |
December 3-4, 2005. |
| Where? |
Christchurch City |
| What? |
A celebration of cycling bringing together more than 1000riders, both elite and recreational. |
| Why? |
To promote cycle sport, both competitively and recreationally
To promote Christchurch City
To benefit Cure Kids New Zealand |
| How? |
The Armstrong Prestige Festival of Cycling will include the following features:
Armstrong Prestige 75km Harbour Ride – Saturday Dec 3rd
Armstrong Prestige City Criterium – Sunday Dec 4th |
Armstrong Prestige Harbor Ride
Saturday December 3rd
This 75km road cycling challenge features something for everyone. Open to all riders, the challenging but achievable concept takes in an icon route around Christchurch City’s hills and harbours.
Established as a race on the Christchurch club cycling calendar in 1930, the route has historical significance, with past winners including New Zealand champions, Olympians and Commonwealth champions. Commonwealth Games silver medalist Brian Fowler won the race 11 times in 19 years.
For the first time, however, the Armstrong Prestige Festival of Cycling will bring together enthusiasts of all age, ability and aspirations on this historic and iconic route. Organisers are expecting 1200 riders for the inaugural event.
From the race base at Centennial Park (Pioneer Stadium), riders start with 7km of relaxed riding through residential streets to Halswell, where they join Taitapu Road for a pleasant ride along the Port Hills to Motukarara. The route then heads up the gradual 6km climb up over Gebbies Pass (185m) before a thrilling descent into Teddington, which is approximately halfway and the change over point for relay riders. The following 16km takes in the picturesque and undulating northern shores of Lyttleton Harbour. At Lyttleton riders head uphill again for the 3.5km climb over Evans Pass (192m) before descending down to Sumner. The final 20km is back through the flat, fast streets of Christchurch to finish back at Centennial Park.
Armstrong Prestige City Criterium
Sunday December 4th
The exciting closed circuit criterium will bring the flavour of European cycling to Christchurch.
Based on a tight, 1km circuit around Oxford Terrace/Cambridge Terrace, this will be a major national event featuring many of New Zealand’s best cyclists.
The 2005 criterium is sanctioned by Bike NZ and is intended as a dress rehearsal for hosting the 2006 New Zealand Criterium Championship.
However, the criterium races will also be a fun-filled day of racing for riders of all experience, plus celebrity races, antique Penny Farthing demonstrations and Steve Gurney’s Crazy Commuter competition.
With the assistance of Christchurch City Council, Police and Bike NZ, this will be a safe and spectacular spectacle for the promotion of cycling and the promotion of Christchurch City.
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