Cycling Whanganui

Today we challenged our Youth riders to our version of the Giro d'Italia...two stages...one afternoon...that’s the Giro d’Papaiti! And they nailed it 💪

👏Casey was fastest in the Stage One TT, with Tanner and Tori stopping the clock on the same time. Stage Two’s mass start race was on from the gun, with Tanner timing his sprint to perfection to hold off Casey and a fast-finishing Henry.

👏On General Classification time, Casey took the overall honours from Tanner and Tori.

🩷With the GC handicap applied though, there was no denying Quinn would be taking home the pink jersey in her first Grand Tour after awesome combined stages from Bodhi and Marley too.

😎Rider of the Day was Ataahua for listening to the tips being shared, working on increasing her cadence, and unleashing a super strong sprint finish

🙌Harriet and Marley were drawn as this week’s Subway St Johns spot prize winners 🌯

🙏Huge thanks to our A Team for making the racing happen behind the scenes and on the day. You’re the best!

👍Cath

📣 Youth Roadies📣 Looks like we’re in for a cracker tomorrow for our final race day of the term ☀️🚴We’ve got a goodie lined up for you too!

👉Registration opens at 3.45pm & we'll kick off after the compulsory briefing and Subway St.Johns Spot Prize Draw at 4pm, racing out and back along Papaiti Road just past the Upok Bridge.

👉It’s not too late to get amongst it! You can find all the info and register here:
https://wanganuicycling.club/event/youth-road-racing-series-term-2-2026/

Hope to see a big crew there 😁
Cath

Awesome article on our awesome Patrick Johnstone 🤩

Pat Johnstone qualifies for Cycling World Championships in Japan

Pat Johnstone has won the time trial and the road race at the annual New Zealand Age Group Road National Championships for 70 to 74 age group for the past three years. This, again, qualifies him to compete at the World Championships in Japan in August.

Last year he competed in the Worlds, in Lorne, south of Melbourne, where he achieved a 3rd in the time trial and 4th in the road race. The time trial in Japan will be 15km and the road race 80km. As he competes in two different races, he needs to take two bikes with him.

Pat hasn’t always been a competitive cyclist. He was more interested in running and doing triathlons and because “I was useless in swimming” he turned to marathons, completing 10 to 12 of them with 2 hours 36 minutes his quickest time.
It was when the family moved to Longacre Road and he started teaching at Gonville School and then Rutherford Intermediate that he bought a bike. As he says, “I couldn’t leave Linda (his wife) at home with three young children without a car.”

He was able to transfer his high fitness levels to cycling and do the 20km ride each way to Rutherford with ease. When he transferred to Whanganui City College, he would ride to Okoia, up the hill across to Durie Hill and down to school. He would repeat this on the way back and sometimes “would cycle up Longacre Road to the top of the hill, another five and a half kilometres.” While he joined the local cycle club, he found that “serious cycling is not always time -friendly for families,” especially with their three children involved in local sports. But by around age 50, when the children had left home, he was able to compete more seriously including at Nationals.

He found the age group very competitive as it frequently included “a lot of broken-down runners – ex-harriers – turning to cycling as it was a good alternative – not weight bearing and not so injury prone.”

Pat also found that, unlike competitive cyclists, who have been in cycling much of their lives, he was relatively new and was passionate about competing. He soon picked up a number of 2nds and 3rds at Nationals, and “finally in 2011 I got my breakthrough with my first win.”

However, soon afterwards, he had to take time off due to health issues. By mid 2012, he was back and went overseas “for both pleasure and training.” It was a chance to race in the L’Etape du Tour de France – a stage of the Tour open to good amateur cyclists which took place before the professional event.

Pat rode the Pau to Luchon stage in the South of France on Bastille Day. This was “212km and 4,500m of climbing and involving some of the classic climbs and over 9000 riders.” He describes it as “one of my best days. The villagers cheered us on as well as those in campervans, seeking to get the best position for the professional Tour event four days later.” He adds, “The roads were closed, making cornering so much safer, especially when descending.”

On another trip in 2017, he competed in Haute Route Alps, a 7-day race through the Alps from Nice to Geneva. He says, “It is described as the hardest amateur race in the world and included a total of 32,000m of climbing. I led in the over 60 age group for the first four days but on the fifth, I had minimal energy. That day was a grind, and I ended up finishing second.”

For the World’s last year, he enlisted the help of local Dayle Cheatley, the ex-coach of the New Zealand cycling team. Dayle told him, “At your stage you don’t need distance – just more quality riding” and quoted the maxim of “do your easy rides (ie recovery) easier and do your hard rides, harder.”

Generally, Pat does 8 to 15 hours a week riding around Whanganui or on an indoor trainer. “The approach is based on power (he has a power metre on his pedals). This measures how many watts you produce and power equals speed.” He adds, “It used to be heart rate readings, but there are too many variables, although they do give you insight into how you are training.”

At the local cycling club, Pat is seen as a “legend.” President Marty Hewson describes him as an “outstanding athlete,” with “quite outstanding results.” In recognition of Pat representing Whanganui and New Zealand so successfully, the Club recently awarded Pat life membership. (see the separate article on the Club’s other awards.)

Photo: Pat cycling over Arthur’s Pass in the South Island

We're definitely hitting the jackpot with Wednesday ☀️this term...sorry, probably jinxed us now! Well done to all the riders who took on our Youth Series Lightning/Time Challenge Race today, you were awesome on and off the bike👍👍

👏Chase and Jonty smashed their challenge of going under 21 minutes by a massive 1min40, leading the field home from Casey (also smashing her challenge time) and Laney (ditto!).

👏Fastest time for the second week in a row was Bruce in 16.17, from Lachie in 16.25 (PB!) and Casey in 17.20.

🤩Special shout out to Harriet who rode 43seconds faster than her challenge time!

😎Rider of the Day was first-time racer Quinn, nominated by a local policeman on patrol who pulled over to tell us she was “absolutely flying out there”. 😅how cool!

🙌Extra good arvo for Casey and Bruce...they were also drawn the winners of this weeks Subway St.Johns spot prizes!

🙏Huge thanks to Brian, Pat, Dayle, Rob and Kay for your help today.

See you next week,
Cath

We've booked sunshine and light winds for our Youth Road Race tomorrow ☀🙌 We'll race the Lightning format with an extra challenge up for grabs 😉💪

👉Registration opens at 3.45pm & we'll kick off after the compulsory briefing and Subway St.Johns Spot Prize Draw at 4pm, racing out and back along Papaiti Road just past the Upok Bridge.

👉If you’re wondering what it’s all about and keen to have a crack, you can find all the info and register here:
https://wanganuicycling.club/event/youth-road-racing-series-term-2-2026/

Cheers!
Cath

It was another magic day in paradise for our Youth Road Series this arvo! We threw down a double challenge with the Lightning format...smash your PB while trying to hold off the chasing riders and/or catch those in front. Check out your awesome efforts👇

👏First time racer Tori Haden flew across the line in first, followed closely by Bodhi Hamlin and a fast finishing Dan Shanahan.

👏Fastest time went to Bruce McGregor in a PB of 16.02 from his fellow scratch marker George McGregor in 16.12 and Lachie Skerman in 16.47.

🤩Lily Harris was our rider of the day, spotted on course with great cadence and pedalling style. Great time too Lily!

🙌Lachie and Henry (go for three in a row next week!) were drawn as the winners of the Subway St Johns vouchers.

🙏Huge thanks to our A team Brian, Pat, Dayle, Rob and Kay and all our supporters on the roadside – love your work!

Cheers
Cath

📣 Youth Roadies 📣Might pay to pop on an extra layer for tomorrow’s race… but don’t worry, you’ll warm up pretty quick with the challenge we’ve got lined up for ya 😉

👉Registration opens at 3:45pm opposite the Aramoho Campground
👉We’ll start after the compulsory briefing & spot prize draw at 4:00pm
👉Racing out and back along Papaiti Road (just past the Upokongaro Bridge)

It’s not too late to register for the series, all the info and rego here:
https://wanganuicycling.club/.../youth-road-racing.../

Thanks!
Cath

How good was today! Sunshine, light winds, and an awesome crew who absolutely smashed the Leg + Lung Burner challenge 👊

Check out your speedy times below💪

🤩Riders of the Day were Tanner, who went out of the blocks like a man on a mission and continued right to the line in a slick 17.05 and Casey, a strong ride on her MTB and oh so close to breaking the 20min mark.

😎Special shout out to first timer racers Ataahua, Sophia, Casey and Bruce – we hope you had fun!

🙌🏻 George and Henry (finally!) were stoked to win the Subway St. Johns spot prizes.

🙏 Huge thanks to Brian, Pat, Dayle, Rob and Faith and all the supporters for cheering on the riders.

See you next week 😃
Cath