What is the Tineli KCC Winter Series? 

A series of 4 graded road races run by the Kapiti Cycling Club for Grades A - D plus a Social grade (no-drop group ride),  Points for each race are awarded and accumulate over the series, with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category. 

Prizes include over $1,200 in Tineli gift vouchers, Ruth's Rider of the Day each week and the winner of each grade also receives a Tour Leader jersey to keep.

When is it held?

Saturday 16th July

Saturday 23rd July

Saturday 6th August

Saturday 13th August

(with 20th August as a reserve rain date). 

For races 1, 2 and 4:

A-Grade starts first at 1.00pm, followed by other grades in descending order at 5 minute intervals.

Registration opens at 11.30am and closes at 12.30pm for all grades.

For race 3:

C-Grade starts first at 1.00pm, followed by D grade at 1.05pm.  A grade starts at 2.00pm and B grade at 2.05pm.

Registration opens at 11.30am (for all grades) and closes at 1.30pm.

You must check in before each event to collect your race number and timing chip.

What is the course?

Start and finish are outside the Te Horo Community Hall on School Rd, Te Horo.  The course is "umbrella shaped" on relatively flat roads, with 3 barrel turns per lap.  

Course map: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4296974122

A and B grades complete 3 laps (approx 60km)

C, D and E grades complete 2 laps (approx 40km)

For race 3 only, we will be racing on the new Short'n Spicy course: Old Hautere Road/Otaki Gorge Circuit 

The start/finish will be on the "new" Hautere Rd extension, Grades will ride the following laps:

A and B grades - 7 laps (approx 44km)

C and D grades - 5 laps (approx 31.5km)

Which grade should I enter?

The course is relatively flat which makes it hard to make a breakway stick, which tends to lead to a sprint finish on School Rd.  However, as a guide, the typical average speed for the grades is shown below, along with the typical riders.

A grade 36-41 kph - competitive, strong racers

B grade 35-40 kph - strong club riders, experienced racers

C grade 31-36 kph - club riders

D grade 30-33 kph - experienced riders as well as those starting out in racing, often a mix of vets and juniors

E grade - 25-29 kph - for anyone who'd like a race and might be worried they aren't fast enough

Each grade is its own competition, so you can switch grades throughout the series, but the points stay in the grade that you earned them in.

How do the points work?

The points for each race are shown below. Each week's points are totalled to give a leaderboard in each grade.

1st place - 10 points

2nd place - 9 points

3rd place - 8 points

4th place - 7 points

5th place - 6 points

6th place - 5 points

7th place - 4 points

8th place - 3 points

9th place - 2 points

All other finishers -  1 point

Marshalling or Race Managing - 6 points (points can only be earned once during the series)

How does the Leader's jersey work?

The points leader for races 2-4 will be asked to wear a grade leader's jersey (see picture) to show they are the one to beat.  You must hand it back to a marshal at the end of the race, with your race number and timing tag. The 1st place winner on points at the end of the series will be gifted the grade Leader's jersey to keep. 

What are the prizes?

The top placegetters on points at the end of the series in grades A - D receive Tineli vouchers to the value of:

1st place - $150 in Tineli NZ vouchers and for the first time, a leader's jersey to keep!

2nd place - $100 in Tineli NZ vouchers

3rd place - $50 in Tineli NZ vouchers

The top riders in the Social Circuit grade for the series receive:

1st place - $50 in Tineli NZ vouchers

2nd place - $20 Biking Mad voucher

3rd place - $20 Biking Mad voucher

Ruth's Rider of the Day -  awarded each week to the rider who showed outstanding sportsmanship, a double voucher for coffee and cake at Ruth's valued at $20.

How do I enter?

Please enter here: https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/164046 until 5pm the Friday night prior to each race.

Online entries from 11th July onwards until 5pm the Friday night before each race will be:

• $40 per race for non-members
• $20 per race for KCC members

Late entries will be available from 5pm Friday night until 12.30pm raceday on the OneTime system at the price of:

• $50 per race for non-members
• $30 per race for KCC members

After 5pm on Friday please enter here https://events.onetime.sport/event/1188

How can I help? 

We need 5 marshals for each event so if you or your support person could help, we'd be very grateful!!

We LOVE your help so much we PAY you in points! Yes, that's right, you earn 6 points for marshalling (points only paid once, only to those registered to race).

To register your interest and put your name down to marshal, please email Chris on [email protected]

What do I need to do on the day?

Registration will be at the Te Horo Community Hall, School Rd, Te Horo.  Registration is open between 11.30am and 12.30pm (1.30pm for race 3 only).  You must register and check in before each race to collect your race number and timing chip.

You are welcome to warm up on the course before 1.00pm but please stay off it once racing starts (you can warm up on surrounding streets.

Please be at the start line 5 minutes before your grade is due to start for a Safety Briefing and roll call.  If your name is not called, it means that you may not be on the start list.  If you don't reply, you will be entered as a DNS.

After the race, please hand your race number and timing chip to a marshal after EACH RACE :)

If you do not finish, please advise a marshal that you are a DNF and hand back your race number and timing chip. 

Everyone is invited back to Ruth Pretty's Garden cafe for coffee, cake ($8), for results and where Ruth's Rider of the Day and the Grade Leaders jersey will be awarded.

Where can I park?

Parking will be available opposite the Hall and slightly down the road at the Te Horo packing sheds and down side streets.  This will be marked: KCC Parking.

For safety reasons, please do not park on School Rd as we need to keep these clear for sight lines and to avoid the chance of an accident. 

Please do not park on any grass berms because they are likely to be soft and your car tyres will damage them (we respect our neighbours!).

Parking for Race 3 is the same as above - very limited parking is available on the actual course and we need to reserve this for marshals, course medic and officials.  Please park as normal and ride around. 

Where is the Start and Finish?

The Start and Finish for Races 1, 2 and 4 are both directly outside the Te Horo Community Hall. 

The Start and Finish for Race 3 is on Hautere Cross Rd extension, approx 7km from the hall. 

Please be at the start line 5 minutes before your grade is due to start for a Safety Briefing and roll call. 

Please keep the start and finish lines clear at all times.

With Transmission Gully now open, those coming from Wellington should have a smooth and quick trip up (around 40 minutes from Kelburn) to sunny Te Horo!

What condition is the course in? 

Both Otaki Gorge Rd and School Rd (the start/finish) were resealed with fine grit around 3 months ago, so the course is in great condition.

The Short'n Spicy course is in tip top nick!

Article added: Sunday 03 July 2022