The Kapiti Winter Series 2025 is coming soon!  With two new courses this year, there is a course to suit all riders.

Proudly supported by Tineli NZ, there will be prizes valued at over $1500, plus winners jerseys for all grades (A to E), plus for the Women's points leader.  

ENTER here for all events.  (See information below about late entries - after 5pm on Fridays).

Earlybird deal - enter before 9th July, select the Earlybird deal, and get 4 races for only $65 (KCC members) or $140 (non-members)

What is the Kapiti Winter Series? 

A series of 4 graded road races run by the Kapiti Cycling Club for Grades A - E,  Points for each race are awarded and accumulate over the series, with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category. 

Prizes include over $1500 in Tineli gift vouchers, and the winner of each grade (for the series) also receives a Tour Leader jersey to keep.

When is it held?

Saturday 19th July

Saturday 26th July

Saturday 16th August

Saturday 23rd August

With Saturday 30th as a reserve date in case one of the other dates is cancelled. 

For races 1, 2 and 4:

A-Grade will start first at 1pm, followed by other grades in descending order at 5 minute intervals.

Registration opens at 11.30am and closes at 12.30pm for all grades.

For race 3:

C-Grade starts first at 1.00pm, followed by D grade at 1.05pm and E grade at 1.10pm. 

A grade starts at 2.00pm and B grade at 2.05pm.

Registration opens in the Te Horo Hall at 11.30am (for all grades) and closes at 12.30pm for C, D and E and at 1.30pm for A and B grades.

You must check in before each event to collect your race number and timing chip.

What are the courses?

Start and finish are outside the Te Horo Community Hall on School Rd, Te Horo.  The course is "umbrella shaped" on relatively flat roads, with 3 barrel turns per lap.  

For race 1: our traditional Te Horo course

Course map: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/4296974122

A and B grades complete 3 laps (approx 60km)

C, D and E grades complete 2 laps (approx 40km)

This is our classic course, starting and finishing at Te Horo Hall (School Rd), turning left at Otaki Gorge Rd, a barrel turn near the bottom of Otaki Gorge Rd, heading up through the iconic totora tunnel to the old chicken farm, before turning again and heading back to the Hall.

For race 2: the NEW hybrid course

Course map: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6474103876

A and B grades complete 3 laps (approx 54km)

C, D and E grades complete 2 laps (approx 36km)

Tested and approved on our Club Champs, this course removes 2 barrel turns per lap, making it fast and flowing.  Starting at the Hall, turning left onto Otaki Gorge Rd, then left again into Old Hautere Rd to make a small loop to the true bottom of Otaki Gorge Rd before heading back to the Hall.

For race 3: the Short'n Spicy course: 

Course map: Old Hautere Road/Otaki Gorge Circuit 

Grades will ride the following laps:

A and B grades - 7 laps (approx 44km)

C, D & E grades - 5 laps (approx 31.5km)

After registering at the Hall, head to Old Hautere Rd (new extension), for the start.  The course is laps around Old Hautere Rd and Otaki Gorge Rd - zero barrel turns, but plenty of false flats, including the finish!

For race 4: the NEW hybrid-Totara tunnel course:

Course map: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6494608960/

This new course combines the fast flowing new hybrid course with the iconic totara tunnel section of the classic, up to the old chicken farm where there is a very wide turning area.  A fitting finale for the series!

A and B grades complete 3 laps (approx 70km)

C, D and E grades complete 2 laps (approx 46km)

Which grade should I enter?

All courses are relatively flat which makes it hard to make a breakway stick, which tends to lead to a sprint finish on School Rd.  However, as a guide, the typical average speed for the grades is shown below, along with the typical riders.

A grade 36-41 kph - competitive, strong racers

B grade 35-40 kph - strong club riders, experienced racers

C grade 31-36 kph - club riders

D grade 30-33 kph - experienced riders as well as those starting out in racing, often a mix of vets and juniors

E grade - 25-29 kph - for anyone who'd like a race and might be worried they aren't fast enough

Each grade is its own competition, so you can switch grades throughout the series, but the points stay in the grade that you earned them in.

The NEW hybrid course (race 2) and the Short'n Spicy course (race 3) have a little more false flats and corners, so offer opportunities for different riders.  Also, they have fewer barrel turns, so may suit some riders better. 

ENTER here for all events

How do the points work?

The points for each race are shown below. Each week's points are totalled to give a leaderboard in each grade.

1st place - 16 points

2nd place - 14 points

3rd place - 12 points

4th place - 10 points

5th place - 8 points

6th place - 6 points

7th place - 4 points

8th place - 2 point

All other finishers -  1 point

Marshalling or Race Managing - 6 points (points can only be earned once during the series)

** N.B. if there are 6 riders or fewer in a grade, then the points will be as follows:

1st 6 points

2nd 4 points

3rd 2 points

How do the Leaders jerseys work?

The cumulative points leader for all grades, plus the leading female (on cumulative points across all grades) will be asked to wear a grade leader's jersey for races 2-4, to show they are the one to beat.  Points Leaders will be announced at prizegiving each week. 

You must hand the jersey back to a marshal at the end of the race.  The jerseys for the Leaders will be cleaned and available to be collected at registration the following week. 

At the final prizegiving, the 1st place winner on points in each grade along with the leading woman on points will be awarded the Leader's jersey to keep. 

What are the prizes?

The top placegetters on cumulative points at the end of the series in each grade (A to E) receives Tineli vouchers to the value of:

1st place - $150 in Tineli NZ vouchers and a leader's jersey to keep!

2nd place - $100 in Tineli NZ vouchers

3rd place - $50 in Tineli NZ vouchers

The leading female across all grades will also be awarded a leader's jersey.

How do I enter?

- Before 5pm on Fridays:

Online entries are open here: until 5pm the Friday night before each race at:

• $45 per race for non-members
• $25 per race for KCC members
• Juniors - $5 per race KCC members, $15 per race non-members

Earlybird deal - enter before 9th July, select the Earlybird deal, and get 4 races for only $65 (KCC members) or $140 (non-members)

- After 5pm on Fridays, late entry is available on OneTime - our website entry will be closed from 5pm. 

This link includes the $15 late fee.

(links will be inserted here once available)

How can I help? 

We need at least 6 marshals, 4 set-up crew and 4 people for registration for each event - so if you or your support person could help for a few hours, even on one day, we'd be very grateful!!

We LOVE your help so much we PAY you in points! Yes, that's right, you earn 6 points for marshalling (points only paid once, only to those registered to race).  And coffee and cake vouchers for all other volunteers.

To register your interest and put your name down to:

Marshals - please contact Phil on kapiticc.committee.phil@gmail.com 

Course set up crew - please contact Richard on kapiticc.committee.richard@gmail.com

Registration crew - please contact Jono on kapiticc.committee.jono@gmail.com 

Medic - if you are First Aid certificated, we'd love to know you.  Possibly (and hopefully) your most boring day as a medic, but we always have a trained person present.  Please contact Gary on gary.clareburt@gmail.com 

What do I need to do on the day?

Register early!  Registration will be at the Te Horo Community Hall, School Rd, Te Horo for all races

Registration is open between 11.30am and 12.30pm (and between 12.30 and 1.30pm for A and B grades for race 3 only).  You must register and check in before each race to collect your race number and timing chip.

You are welcome to warm up on the courses, BUT only before 1pm.  You must stay off all the courses once racing starts (you can warm up on surrounding streets).

You must be at the start line a minimum of 5 minutes before your grade is due to start for a Safety Briefing and roll call.  If your name is not called, it means that you may not be on the start list.  If you don't reply, you will be entered as a DNS and miss your points.

Hand back your timing chips!  Please look for helpers collecting these after the races.  If you should find you have gone home by accident with one, please let us know and save us becoming policemen....

If you do not finish a race, please advise a marshal that you are a DNF and hand back your race number and timing chip. 

Riders and supporters are invited back to the Hall after the races for results, a cuppa and bikkie, and to find out who will be awarded the Grade Leaders jersey next week.

Where can I park?

Parking will be available opposite the Hall on School Rd and slightly down the road at the Te Horo packing sheds and down side streets.  This will be marked: "KCC Parking".

For safety reasons, please do not park on School Rd as we need to keep the turn area and finish line clear for sight lines and to avoid the chance of an accident. 

Please do not park on any grass berms because they are likely to be soft and your car tyres will damage them (we respect our neighbours!).

Parking for Race 3 is the same as above - very limited parking is available at the corner of Otaki Gorge Rd and Old Hautere Rd, we need to reserve this for marshals, the course medic and officials.  Please park as normal and ride around - allow 15 mins to ride around the streets from School Rd.  Please do NOT park on the shared cycle path.

Where is the Start and Finish?

The Start and Finish for Races 1, 2 and 4 are both directly outside the Te Horo Community Hall. 

The Start and Finish for Race 3 is on Hautere Cross Rd extension, approx 7km from the hall. 

Please be at the start line 5 minutes before your grade is due to start for a Safety Briefing and roll call. 

Please keep the start and finish lines clear at all times.

With Transmission Gully and Otaki Expressways now open, those coming from Wellington should have a smooth and quick trip up (around 40 minutes from Kelburn) to sunny Te Horo!  Take the Otaki exit, turn right and then left at the round-about to find Otaki Gorge road.  Then right into Hautere Cross Rd, and follow this around to School Rd. 

What condition is the course in? 

All roads are in great condition.  It was resealed about a year ago and no faults are known.  Our lovely Marshals will sweep all corners on raceday mornings and we will monitor for and mark any pot-holes that may emerge.

Pro tips

- use the Earlybird option (before 9th July) to get an excellent deal

- enter before 5pm on Fridays to avoid late fees

- become a member!  It's only $60 for the year - and comes a host of other benefits

- consider marshalling one week for a guarranteed 6 points

- enter for all the races you want to in one go, then cross that task off your list and put your feet up!

- follow Kapiti Cycling Club on Facebook and join our KCC Racing group for info and updates

Article added: Saturday 05 April 2025