Council confirms cycling support
26 June 2018
A five-day cycling festival next January will put the Waipā district in the spotlight and provide marketing opportunities the district could not otherwise afford, according to Waipā mayor Jim Mylchreest.
Council today confirmed its financial support for the Three Peaks Ride: New Zealand Cycling Festival, encompassing the New Zealand Cycle Classic road race. The road race is expected to attract top national and international riders with the supporting festival providing events aimed at locals and domestic visitors.
As part of today's adoption of its 10-Year Plan, Council confirmed it would put $100,000 per year for three years ($300,000 in total) into the cycling festival. The funding is part of a wider strategy to encourage and support events in the district which drive economic activity.
The festival will showcase the district and is supported by Council on the basis that this is a Waipā-wide event, to highlight our unique offering and to market the district to domestic and international visitors, Mylchreest said.
Analysis has shown that multi-day events in the district like Waka Ama and Maadi Cup rowing provide an influx of spending. We're expecting our community to benefit and have sought assurances from festival organisers that the unique attractions of Waipā will be showcased to a wide audience.
The festival from 23-27 January 2019 will include a mass ride on 26 January similar in format to the popular Rev, last run in 2016. Details of other events are yet to be released.
The New Zealand Cycle Classic road race, which is part of the festival, is an event internationally ranked by the UCI, the world cycling body.
The festival's main sponsor is Three Peaks Manuka Honey. The Brian Perry Charitable Trust is also a supporter.