Winter Worlds Sector Six
Short laps. Fast racing. One gravel sector every lap.
Winter Worlds is heading to Tai Tapu for something a little bit different.
Winter Worlds Sector Six is a fast, short-course race based around a 5.5 km lap, starting and finishing outside Raspberry Café. It is mainly tarseal, with one 750 metre gravel sector each lap to keep things interesting.
It is not a full gravel race. It is not cyclocross. It is Winter Worlds with a bit of loose stuff thrown in because apparently normal winter road racing was not quite silly enough.
Road bikes are fine if you are comfortable riding gravel and have suitable tyres. If you are not sure, a gravel bike or a road bike with 32 to 35 mm tyres would be a very sensible choice. Unless you are Alex Mann, in which case even that may not be enough.
Proudly supported by Hayden Roulston
Winter Worlds Sector Six is proudly supported by Hayden Roulston, who has come on board to help make these races happen.
Across the two races there will be $800 in prize money up for grabs, thanks to Hayden’s support.
Which is generous of him really, considering he probably still thinks he could win the thing himself.
Race dates
01 7th June
Entries close midnight Saturday 6 June
02 21st june
Entries close midnight Saturday 20 June
Race Details
Short laps. Fast racing. Mostly tarseal. One 750 metre gravel sector every lap. Bring good tyres, good legs, and at least one half-decent excuse.
$800 Prize Money Across Both Races
up for grabs
Winter Worlds Sector Six is proudly supported by Hayden Roulston, who has come on board to help make these races happen.
Across the two races there will be $800 in prize money up for grabs, thanks to Hayden’s support.
Which is generous of him really, considering he probably still thinks he could win the thing himself.
Two June Races
Racing Starts at 2:00 pm
Please arrive early enough to sign on, get organised, use the facilities if needed, drink coffee if required, and avoid the traditional last-minute panic shuffle.
Online entry is $25. Entries must be completed online before midnight the night before each race.
Same-day entries are $30. Same-day entries cost more because, frankly, they are a pain in the backside. We will do our best to get you racing, but please help us by entering online.
Points Are On The Line
These races count towards the Winter Worlds points series. So if you are chasing points, pretending not to care about points, or loudly explaining to everyone that “it’s just training”, then yes, you probably want to race these two Sector Six races as well as the five Winter Worlds races in July.
Choose Your Grade
Each lap includes approximately 750 metres of gravel.
5.49 km of Fast, Sneaky Fun
The course starts outside Raspberry Café. Riders proceed down the road before turning left and crossing a one-way bridge. You must give way to oncoming traffic at this bridge.
After the bridge, continue to the marked corner where an orange marker will indicate a left turn onto the gravel sector.
The gravel section is approximately 750 metres long. It is rideable, but it is narrow in places, and there may be oncoming vehicles. You must ride as far left as safely possible and stay aware at all times.
Marshals will be at each end of the gravel section to warn motorists that cyclists are on the road. However, this does not remove your responsibility. This is still an open road event.
Once off the gravel, riders return to tarseal and follow the road naturally back around towards the finish line. Continue riding laps until your race distance is complete. On your final lap, you will receive the lap bell.
We Need 50 Riders
We need a minimum of 50 riders for these races to go ahead.
If you want this to happen, enter early and encourage your riding mates to do the same. Waiting until the last minute helps absolutely nobody, apart from maybe the person selling stress medication to race directors.
Six Marshals Needed
We need six marshals to run the day safely.
If you are not racing, injured, resting, tapering, retired again, or simply keen to help keep the wheels turning, we would love your help.
Marshals are a huge part of making this work. No marshals, no race. It really is that simple.
Please Read This Bit Before Parking Like A Goose
Registration/sign-on will be in the car park area at Raspberry Café. However, there is no rider parking in the café car park.
- Please park at the Tai Tapu Domain car park down the road.
- Ride or walk from the Domain to registration.
- There is no parking on the race course.
- Please respect Raspberry Café, their customers, and their normal Sunday trade.
Raspberry Café is kindly allowing us to use the area for registration and a short prizegiving, so please respect their space. In return, we strongly encourage riders and supporters to buy coffee, food, and snacks before or after racing.
Cyclists and coffee. A rare and mysterious pairing.
This Is An Open Road Race
All normal road rules apply. The gravel section is narrow and must be ridden with care. You may be racing, but you are still sharing the road.
- Obey all New Zealand road rules.
- Keep left at all times.
- Give way at the one-way bridge.
- Be aware of oncoming vehicles.
- Ride to the conditions.
- Listen to marshal instructions.
- Show respect to other road users.
- Take extra care on the gravel section.
Road Bike Or Gravel Bike?
The gravel sector is short and rideable. A confident rider could ride it on a road bike with suitable tyres.
- Road bike with wider tyres, ideally 30 mm plus.
- Road bike with 32 to 35 mm tyres if you want more comfort and control.
- Gravel bike if you want the safer and more stable option.
If you are unsure, go and ride the course before race day. A practice lap will tell you far more than a Facebook debate involving 14 tyre opinions and one bloke who “did it on 25s back in the day”.
Stick Around After Racing
We plan to hold a short prizegiving after racing in the outdoor area at Raspberry Café.
Please stick around afterwards, support the café, grab a coffee, talk some nonsense, and celebrate everyone who had a crack.
Winter Worlds, With A Gravel Sting
Winter Worlds Sector Six is designed to be fast, fun, challenging, and a little bit different.
It is for roadies who want a new challenge. Gravel riders who think roadies need toughening up. CX riders who reckon they know how to handle a loose surface. And newer riders who want a short, exciting race without needing to sell a kidney for a bikepacking setup.
Bring good tyres. Bring good legs. Bring a sense of humour.
