Summit fun on Rimutaka Hill

Jan 27th, 10. It wasn't the Alpe d'Huez at the Tour de France, or even Dyers Pass Road at the NZ Nationals, but a small group of people made the Rimutaka Hill summit colourful and cheerful.

Te Kawa Robb and the rest of the Rimutaka Summit spectators waiting for the riders ©RoadCycling.co.nz

It is a very, very uncommon day when it's calm enough to read a newspaper while standing at this Wairarapa summit but those were the conditions as the riders rode past at 10:37 this morning.

Up at the summit there were a mix of spectators eagerly awaiting the action.  Some had ridden their bikes, like NZ triathlon representative Te Kawa Robb, others were in cars ready to chase the action throughout the day and there were a few converts who were reluctant spectators having been caught up in the traffic management road closures.

One group even came prepared with a BBQ.  Cardno, who sponsor one of the stronger Kiwi teams in the race, invited their staff to the summit for breakfast and their presence added to the atmosphere of fun - particularly thanks to Andrew who dressed up for the occasion.

"I'm a cycling fan and I got the idea watching the Nationals with everyone dressed up," he said while wearing, well, um, a colourful green costume.

Like any King of the Mountain in any cycling event, the fans wanted to show support to their favourite riders but thankfully there were no painted names on the road.  

However, there were Subway Avanti bangers, a common sight in NZ cycling races, and a large banner in support of George Bennett.

A Subway Avanti fan

Andrew from Cardno

Big cheers for pained expressions

Bennett's old Nelson school friends were eager to give the young rider some encouragement. Bennett won the Takaka Hill climb in the recent Tour of Vineyards but lost the overall tour by 1sec, a second he could have saved had he not put his arms up in the air in celebration before he crossed the line.

Bennett sees his sign

Bennett's school friends show their support

It took 3 or 4mins for the majority of the riders to pass by which gave everyone plenty of time to cheer on the racing.  The biggest cheers were saved for the "ugliest" of faces, the guys who had already been dropped and were facing a long race ahead.

First glimpse of the riders

A little helping hand?

If the climb up the Rimutaka Hill is included in next year's Trust House Cycle Classic the crowds are likely to be bigger, brighter and even louder - but I don't have a clue where they'll park!

Related articles on the Trust House Cycle Classic

• Full results
• Team lists
• Torckler crowned Trust House Tour Champion
• Fast paced stage sets Torckler up for final tour defence
• Sprint Ace wins stage but Kiwi retains yellow
• Attacks expected in Trust House tour today
• Torckler gives Kiwis something to cheer about
• From Tour Down Under to Wellington tour
• Defending champion stakes his claim
• Summit fun on Rimutaka Hill
• Five NZ champions for Trust House tour
• Kiwi Aussie showdown looming
• Defending champion back for Trust House tour