On your bike with PlaceMakers!

PlaceMakers helps fuel competitors’ pedaling power

More than 550 keen cyclists lined the start at PlaceMakers Le Race on 10 March – Canterbury’s only surviving post-earthquakes road cycle race.

It was a stunning day for the riders from around the country who determinedly tackled the 100km of challenging hill climbs, fast flats and exhilarating downhills from Christchurch, across an extinct volcano, to the French-inspired surrounds of Akaroa. The wind caused a few issues for the riders coming up over the hill, with a few even commenting they had been blown off their bikes, but participants were not deterred.

“It was a great turn out and everyone seemed to have an amazing time, despite the strong winds,” says event manager Sheree Stevens, who has organised Le Race for the past decade.

“It was so great to have PlaceMakers on board, and the sea of PlaceMakers jerseys in the field certainly shows that they have a fair few customers who are into road riding!”

As a first-time sponsor of the event, which was focused on giving back to the local community, PlaceMakers invited riders to join the PlaceMakers team, which included some VIP benefits, such as a free jersey.

“Sponsoring Le Race and creating our own team is a great opportunity for us to support the increasing number of our customers who enjoy cycling, and the Christchurch community itself, which we’ve been servicing for over 30 years,” says PlaceMakers general manager operations and marketing, Gary Woodhouse.

PlaceMakers’ support went well beyond naming rights – the teams from Riccarton, Cranford Street, Christchurch South and Christchurch Frame & Truss did a great job manning the hydration station – handing out water and smoothies and BBQing a few hundred sausages! “It was bloody fantastic,” says PlaceMakers team rider David Goulden from PlaceMakers Frame & Truss.

“I’ve had a lot of great feedback from PlaceMakers riders saying how good it was to take part, and how much they appreciated everything – especially the Hilltop hydration station and the post-race venue, where they could sit down and cool off with proper food.”