The Ride Rarotonga Tour de Raro is always a highlight of the Cook Islands Triathlon week of events, and the blisteringly fast cycle sprint around the island on Tuesday last week was a perfect way to close out the events.

The race starting from town saw a field of 48 riders, two of whom were on e-bikes, take to the road for the one lap race.

A police escort ensured the roads were clear for the cyclists who were reaching speeds of almost 50 kilometre per hour in places.  

Rob Dallimore from New Zealand made an early break, but the following pack made up of Henry Hale, Roland Neururer, Alyce Nicholson, Daniel Jarvis, Mark Farraway and Anton Hoogendoorn soon closed the gap. They cycled in formation through Tupapa with the lead changing between the top two cyclists through to Muri. By then several smaller groups had formed, and cyclists took turns to keep the pace high and the groups worked to catch each other and the leaders.

Neururer, who took the front several times, said that his lead group did not let off the pace at all, they cycled hard and fast for the entire race. 

Behind them Edmund Postrzgacz, Mike Carr and Jacob Pynenburg had lost the tail of the leaders but were having a solid ride rotating the lead between each other to maximise speed and efficiency.

In a super-fast time of 47:35 minutes, the final sprint was won by Rob Dallimore, half a wheel ahead of Henry Hale, followed in third place by Daniel Jarvis, also as first local home. The first women and first local women home was again our super cycle star Alyce Nicholson in a time of 47:39 min. 

Fourteen-year-old Edmund Postrzgacz, and international triathlon winner for 2025, Carl Ritchie, crossed the line next.

The Ride Rarotonga Tour de Raro on Tuesday saw a field of 48 riders, two of whom were on e-bikes, take to the road for the one lap race. SCOTTIETPHOTO/COOK ISLAND TRIATHLON ASSOCIATION/25051105

One humorous situation happened for Brooke Ross, who unpacked her bike and was ready to race. Brooke decided to go for a warm-up ride when she discovered her chain was not on her bike. Her lovely partner Jacob had removed it to clean it and forgotten to put it back on. Brooke unfortunately was unable to race but stayed to cheer on everyone, including her rather embarrassed partner.

The prize-giving dinner was held at The Edgewater Resort and Spa with a table of prizes very generously awarded from Ride Rarotonga, giving cycle essentials and other items to all the cyclists.

This brings to a close the triathlon festival for another year. 

President Neururer would like to express his sincere thanks to everyone who has made the week a massive success including Air New Zealand, The Edgewater Resort and Spa, BSP Bank, Cook Islands Tourism, CITC, Ride Rarotonga, The Bond Store, Vaima Pure Island Water, Island Car and Bike Hire, The Raina Family, Cook Islands Police, Nikao Girl Guides, Rarotonga Home Healthcare, all the volunteers and marshals, Roly Rolleston, and Rarotonga Sailing Club.

The triathlon association will now be preparing for their upcoming cycling season with mountain biking over the next month and then preparation for the annual 100km cycle. 

• CITAI