Meo GP Development Team

A new direction for the Meo GP Racing team. See the development team page to see what's up.

2012 Clark Cup

Post race at the Clark Cup held in Masterton recently... photo courtesy of Jacqui and Janine. End of season isn't too far away with the National Club Champs just around the corner.

For the most up to date events and results follow the team on Facebook.

Kapiti Race Report

Race report courtesy of David Rowlands.

I almost didn't enter the Kapiti race due to off-season form... 3 months in a real winter in USA/Europe where riding was about 3 x a week for 90 minutes and some running before the nose just about fell off. Last week at the PNP club race I groveled up Blue Mountains and was dropped on the second ascent. Nice hard training ride in the sun though which must of kicked the motor back into life...



Backy sacrificed himself up Paekak hill keeping the Wheelworks boys in check. Then there were a few attacks on the steep pitch about 3/4 of the way up by Andy Hagan, which were controlled by the front group, Silas, Luke, Anthony Chapman.... at that stage I was well into V02 max territory and was getting ready to sprint just to hang onto the front pack. Mike Naylor attacked for the summit, but it regrouped quickly with about ten of us in the group. The downhill and flat section to the Haywoods climb was fairly pedestrian. On Haywoods there were a few attacks by Mike, but it all stuck together. No Pack and Save grocery bags to be won this year for the KOMs :-(

Onto the motorway towards Upper Hutt with solid lapping by the whole group. We hit cemetery hill and the pace went on. Big attack on the second climb past Karapoti by Andy Hagan and before that several attacks by Stu, then Mike, then Andy. Silas and I had to be on the wheel straight away as it could have easily split at this point. Andy's attack was serious and he was away for a good 5 min or so with only Silas reeling him in. I was 100% chasing with Anthony Chapman and Finlay.

More attacks on the last 10 km section before the top of the Akas, repeatedly by Mike and Andy. Each attack defended by either me or Silas. Our goal was to keep it together or be dragged up by the attacker. Real team racing!

So at the last big right hander Andy took the lead and wound up the pace. I was positioned 2nd or 3rd wheel and really working hard to keep up, but OK, then Mike attacked at full steam 2 km out from the summit and strung us out. I went straight to the back, Silas took his wheel. I swung off the back at full sprint speed about 4 times then finally blew up with about 500m to the summit. Kept riding and resigned myself to 6th place. About halfway down the Waikanae descent off the Akas, Stu came past showing me HOW TO DESCEND. Legend. I stuck on his wheel and lines hoping the wheels would hold.

Hit the bottom and did some 60kph laps and then spotted the leading group of 5 about 10 seconds up the road... went full gas to catch them approximately 2km out from the finish. Silas told me to sit on the back and proceeded to attack – perfect! The Wheeworks boys chased Silas. Then there were attacks from Stu, 2 x Mike and 1 x big one from Andy, all of which I covered with help from Anthony and Finlay. Found myself at the front on the last corner 200m out and started my sprint. Sprint still needs some training (as does everything else) and I think Silas could have rolled me, so Silas is the champ. Great local fun ride racing and a lot of luck.

Dave R.



Photos via Gary at Nesport.

Bush Ride Race Report

Race report courtesy of Luke McDermott.

Cool, calm weather greeted us for the start of the annual bush cycle ride. Everyone sat pretty comfortably for the first 30 odd km along the main road. The first hill brought action as the field split with 15 in the front group.

This group worked well, but we were caught just before Alfredton and so it was all back together again. The small hills began to break the peloton up again, and coming into the final climb the pace was on. I pushed hard over the top and drilled it down the other side managing to leave a group of 5. We worked well together for the final 10km, to finished about a minute in front of the main group.

I eased up too much going into the final corner losing the wheel in front, and had to chase... finished up 4th overall and 2nd junior. Overall I'm happy with that and now looking forward to the Kapiti Cycle Challenge next weekend. Thanks to Champion System for the awesome new Meo GP racing team kit, Ricoh, Armstrong Sport and Em's Power Cookies.

Photos via Jack Sowry.

2012 Update

The big GP news for 2012 was Joe's signing to Pure Black Racing. We were all really happy for the young fella, but when the grim news came through that the team wasn't going to continue... that was gutting. An eleventh hour rescue package arrived with Bike NZ stepping up which was fantastic. The team now known as BikeNZ/PBR will race as a national team in a range of international races beginning their campaign in Asia and later onto Europe.

Joe, fresh off his win at Tour de Ranges and King of the Mountains classification at the NZ Cycle Classic racing for Team Ricoh is now preparing for the Tour of Langkawi. You will see Joe training with arm and leg warmers around Wellington and Christchurch preparing for the warmer climes of Malaysia over the next couple of weeks.

We haven't been present at many races this season as a team, but that's set to change with plans to race regularly at national events. This wouldn't be possible without our sponsors and we're very pleased to announce the addition of four new sponsors to the line up who will join our longtime sponsors Ricoh NZ, J Tomlinson & Co Ltd and Rocket Espresso Milano.

- Armstrong Sport – Pinarello, Mavic

- Champion System NZ – performance cycle clothing

- Torq Performance Nutrition NZ – race nutrition

- Em's Cookies – sports bars

Keep your eyes peeled on the roads for our smart new racing strip thanks to Champion System NZ!

The weather this summer has been a bit of a mixed bag, but the healthy banter on the road means there's never a dull moment to be had on a GP training ride. Here's a short video clip of Joe discussing riding with 'the stragglers' on this mornings ride with Lovers. Lovers had the last laugh mind you, taking the Placemakers sprint at the end of the ride...

A few photos from the roads around Wellington over the past few months...

The Jono Report – Taupo

Flippin eck! The race was pretty huge really, wind blowing like 100 bastards, it was a struggle just to ride to the start, there were waves coming over the road from the lake, I was feeling knackered before the 160KM ordeal began…

Bludged my way up to the front group (you get put into lots according to estimated finishing time) and kapow! Off we went from the gun, straight uphill into a howling crosswind, the bunch all over the road, fighting for wheels, legs on fire, heart rate going through the roof thinking... 4 plus hours of this torture? No way!

Things settled down a bit, but couldn't relax one bit as it was a constant fight to stay near the front. Every time I had a lapse in concentration I drifted back and had to start all over again, it was moving all over the place.

The course has changed to the same as the elite race with lots more rolling big hills through Kinlock but the real 'fun' started at Kuratau (no one warned me!) where a gap appeared on a series of nasty rises and the pressure went on, I wasn't in the right place, thought a decent descent was coming and wasn't and nek minnut, the bunch split more or less into two, me in the wrong half.

We chased like mad, on two occasions on my own to bridge across, a couple of times we were about 100 metres from making it, but the wind wouldn't let us, so everyone pulled the pin and resigned ourselves to working with the group we had and hoping the next group didn't get up to us. Fark I was cross...

The crosswinds before Turangi nearly blew me right off my bike a couple of times but finally, after about 100K we turned out of the wind and hit nearly 70K on the flat from Turangi to the edge of the lake and to the foot of the dreaded Hatepe incline where I forced the pace and got away with 4 others who turned out to be good companions to the finish.

So, 4.25, 40th place, 10th in my age group and about 10 minutes off the winner which all things considered, could have been better, could have been worse.

So thats Taupo?

Mmmmm, can see what all the fuss is about, its pretty awesome really, huge event and to get that high up out of 7,000 competitors is pretty good I guess so can't complain.

A Memorable Cycling Career. Dave Barnett.

Known as Barney or Giuseppe to his mates, Dave Barnett had an illustrious cycling career during the 1980's based in New Zealand and Italy. A noted hill climber, time trialist and sprinter when on form, Barney was a true rouleur (all-rounder) highlighted by his 14th overall placing at the amateur Giro d'Italia and 2nd overall placing at the Auckland to Wellington Dulux Tour. Barney would go on to win three KOM titles at the Dulux.

A snapshot of Barney's career in pictures follows.

Finishing second at the 1978 School Boys road race won by Gerald Golder. Pre race favourite Greg Cundy finished 3rd.

New Zealand Junior Team Time Trial Championships. 1st place with Davis Meo, Gary Johnson, Raymond Tomlinson. 40km completed in 48:36 a NZ junior record time that still stands.

Training ride through Glenside, Wellington.

The bronze medal winning team of David Barnett (front), Laurence Buckton, Greg Fraine and Andrew Meo (back) competing in the Junior Team Pursuit event at the NZ Track Nationals. Hataitai Velodrome, Wellington, 1980.

Racing with Slim and Gary Johnson at a local PNP club race. 1981.

Ready to go before the start of stage 4. 1982 Air New Zealand Tour.

The Air New Zealand Tour was a selection race for Tour of Tasmania. Davis Meo in foreground near Plimmerton. Shane Joyce just cropped out of frame.

My first time representing NZ, 1982. Paul Miller, Craig Griffen, Dave Comperini (Manager), Me, Greg Fraine and Roger Nevatt (left to right).

Taking the hill climb at the top of Paekak on the final stage of the Dulux with Stockwell and Japanese rider Toshimi Sato in tow.

Blair Stockwell and Barney moments after the final stage of the 1984 Dulux. Stockwell won the stage and the Tour by half a wheel. Only seven seconds separated the two riders on final GC.

Racing at the Tour of Southland with Jack Swart and Graeme Miller.

New Zealand team line up before the start of the 1984 amateur Giro d'Italia.

Stage 5 of the 1984 Giro d'Abruzzo. Racing for the New Zealand team.

Victory at a one day race in Italy.

After the 1984 season Barney won a scholarship for 3 months racing with Team Fanini for the '85 season in Italy. The highlight of the trip was riding for NZ at the World Champs at Giavera, Italy.

Climbing the Col de la Croix de Fer during the 2009 GP Europe trip.

Meo GP lunch at Scopa with the boys.

Post ride coffee at Caffe L'affare. Christmas 2010.

More photos of Barney's cycling career on Flickr.