Cycling New Zealand’s high profile national championships for criterium and road cycling will move north in 2023.

The Criterium National Championships will be staged at Massey University’s Manawatū campus in Palmerston North on 23 January, immediately following the UCI-sanctioned Gravel & Tar race in the city which makes a welcome return to the racing calendar.

The attention then shifts to the Elite Road National Championships to be held in Tokoroa on Friday 10 to Sunday 12 February, on a similar course when the race was staged in the South Waikato in 1978 when it was won by the great Jack Swart.

The Criterium Championships is a partnership with Massey University and Palmerston North City, on a unique course within the campus, and managed by Steve Stannard, who also organises the Gravel & Tar event.

Massey Sport Advancement Manager Jacob Oram said the university is excited to host the 2023 Cycling NZ Criterium in January. 

“The world-class sporting event will attract hundreds of riders, support staff and spectators to Massey and the Manawatū from all over Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Massey is committed to sport and recreation, so events of this calibre provide great opportunities to showcase the fantastic facilities and resources we have. The Criterium is a marquee event on the cycling calendar, so it’s a privilege to be part of it.”

Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith is thrilled the city has attracted another significant sporting event.

“As a sport-mad Mayor, I’m personally thrilled that the National Criterium Championships are coming to Palmy to tie-in with our own UCI Gravel & Tar Cycle race,” said Mayor Smith.

“I'm sure our Palmy public along with those in wider central New Zealand will come out to support our world-class New Zealand cyclists but also those competing in international teams.

“I want to acknowledge Cycling New Zealand, the various commercial partners, the Greasy Chain Trust, along with our Sport Manawatu and Palmerston North City Council events staff in getting these events confirmed. It adds to what is already, an exciting 2023 Sporting Events calendar.”

Racing will start at 9am with racing for community riders before the championship grades of under-17, under-19 and elite female and males

Race Managers, Dynamo Events are excited at the courses set for the Elite Road National Championships in Tokoroa.

Stephen Cox from Dynamo Events, a former international rider who raced in the championships in 1978, said the course will be similar and will provide an excellent allround test for riders.

The road course will be on a circuit east of Tokoroa and will include some of the local forestry roads.

The circuit is 24.1km with 4.7km ride from Tokoroa township to the start of the circuit. Each lap has 331m of climbing with elite men likely to race seven laps for total of 2347m of climbing.

Cox said there is one major climb and lengthy continuous climb with a fast section at the end to each lap.

The time trials, which will also include a lap of the same circuit, will be staged on Friday 10 February, with under-19s, returning to the national championships, under-23 and elite females and males to compete in road races on Saturday and Sunday.

Entries for both events will open in November and December.