Bev May has had a busy few days. She’s been making muffins, which are now in her freezer, and on her kitchen workbench there’s a large bowl of dismembered eskimo’s ready to be baked into her famous lolly cake. To the untrained eye, you’d think Bev was preparing for a baking competition but anyone that follows road cycling knows that’s not the case. Bev is just in full swing preparing for the weekend’s cycling event. Only this time it’s the cycling event that bears her name, and it’s about to hit a big milestone.
This weekend the Harcourts KDRE Bev May Women’s Tour will return to the roads of Morrinsville for a historic 30th time. It is the last remaining women’s only road cycling tour left on New Zealand’s road cycling calendar and will see 100 riders from intermediate age to Olympians compete for coveted yellow jerseys.
The Bev May Women’s Tour was born out of unfortunate circumstances; a competitive cyclist for 28 years, an untimely accident halted Bev’s career in 1988. With a fractured skull, broken collarbone and broken shoulder, there was no way that Bev could get back on her bike. While that meant her racing days were over, the accident didn’t diminish her passion for the sport and she found herself with plenty left to give off the bike.
Bev and husband Dave organised the Tour in 1990 with the help of family, and since then, with the assistance of the Morrinsville Wheelers cycling club. Since the first edition was raced, many famous names have graced the winner’s trophy, most notably the likes of Sarah Ulmer, Melissa Holt and Cath Cheatley. More recently, Georgia Williams, who now rides on the UCI women’s world tour for powerhouse professional team Mitchelton-SCOTT, swept the honours three years in a row from 2012.
A quick scan of the past winners in the U15 and U17 categories also reveals the Tour’s status as a breeding ground for talented female road riders to develop and hone their skills. Previous winners include Vantage New Zealand elite endurance riders Michaela Drummond and Rushlee Buchanan, as well as Ally Wollaston who won five gold medals at the recent Vantage Elite & U19 Track National Championships.
While today’s female cyclists take the opportunity to race as a given, this wouldn’t have been the case if it hadn’t been for the pioneering exploits of a young Bev, falling in love with a sport that was very much the domain of men.
Bev’s first taste of cycling came in 1958 when her brother took up the sport at the Waipa Wheelers cycling club. At a club open day, Bev decided to race, against men nonetheless, and won. That was all it took to become hooked on the sport she has dedicated 60 years of her life to. But in her path lay one big obstacle – at that time women weren’t allowed to race with men. Determined, Bev persisted and despite a petition circulated to ban her from racing, she was the first woman to be granted a Cycling New Zealand racing license in 1960.
While many of New Zealand’s top riders are missing this weekend with other racing commitments, Bev is proud of the quality of the 35 strong field assembled to race in the A grade this weekend. Among them are Olympic triathlete Ashleigh Gentle of Australia, American rider Laura Jorgensen, U23 National Time Trial Champion Jenna Merrick, and a 12 strong contingent of riders competing as part of a Cycling New Zealand under 19 development camp.
Rather than sit back and watch the action unfold from the sideline, Bev will be in the thick of it, taking her place as one of the race judges on the finish line. She’s seen it all, tight finishes and runaway victories but this year’s course is more challenging and she can’t wait for the race to unfold.
And as for the secret to the tour’s longevity, Bev says there is no secret. So long as people want it to happen, she and the Morrinsville Wheelers will make it happen. All the way down to the very last detail, and yes, that includes the muffins and lolly cake.
The Tour runs from Saturday 16 to Sunday 17 February. For more information visit www.morrinsvillewheelers.org.nz.
Cycling New Zealand U19 development camp riders: Lee Boon (New Plymouth), Grace Cummins (Counties Manukau), Maddi Douglas (Te Awamutu), Charli Herbert (Morrinsville), Erica Hipkins (Counties Manukau), Emma McKay (Hamilton), Stella Nightingale (Counties Manukau), Megan Spring (Hamilton), Jorja Swain (Northland), Lucy Thomson (Counties Manukau), Claudia Vanner (Te Awamutu) and Ella Wyllie (Counties Manukau).
CAPTION: Bev May with her racing bike. (Credit: Bev May personal collection).