10km Time Trial winners – Pitapola Ioane and Alethea Schwalger. (9181.jpg)
Media Release : Eleven cyclists raced in Samoa’s first ever Individual Time Trial on Saturday morning, setting National Records for both Men and Women in the 10km and 20km distances. Organised by the Bike Samoa Federation which is the governing body for cycling in Samoa, the event was a learning experience and fun challenge for all involved.
“It was good to do a time trial so we can see where everyone is at, really get an accurate measure, and see what we each need to work on,” explained Vice-President Darren Young. “It’s something new for all of us, to get out there and race individually, push yourself and chase the time, no help from drafting off anyone else. Just you and the bike and the road.”
The 10km saw two men and three women test themselves on the three lap course at Mulinu’u. Pitapola Ioane captured the Men’s title with a time of 20 minutes and 19 seconds, while Alethea Schwalger fought hard for the Women’s title with a time of 23 minutes and 42 seconds.
In the 20km, five men and one woman battled the rain and wind to do six laps of the course. Darren Young, fresh from doing the Taupo Ironman one week ago, proved too strong for the Collins father and son duo, finishing with a time of 30 minutes and 54 seconds. There are few women in Samoa who can take on this distance and Manamea Schwalger is the inspiration for others with her time of 43 minutes and 2 seconds.
20km Time Trial winners – Darren Young and Manamea Schwalger. (9182.jpg)
Ideally, a time trial course would be either a straight course or a single continuous loop and so the Mulinu’u course is particularly challenging when chasing a fast time. BSF President Philip Moore explained, “What they’re doing out there is very difficult because there’s two roundabouts, one at each end – so they build up speed and then they have to slow down to take the turn, and build up momentum again. Their flow is interrupted and that makes it much harder work.”
BSF thanked all the volunteers who helped to set up the event and be time recorders, especially the Samoa Red Cross who were on hand to assist when one cyclist came off their bike after the finish line.
The feedback from Samoa’s first ever cycling Time Trial has been overwhelmingly positive. One of the parents new to Bike Samoa shared in a review, “This morning was a wet, gray one, but at Mulinu’u it could have been sunny and clear because of the event my kids took part in for the first time. Everyone was encouraging, supportive, and professional with care, and the highest goal of building sports people of the finest calibre. Thank you to this awesome team.”
The Time Trial will be a regular event for Bike Samoa. See their Facebook page for information about the next one, or talk to Secretary-General Nalei Paul at Coffee Roaster