The recent announcement that Waikato-Bay of Plenty is the preferred site for New Zealand's Cycling Centre of Excellence has left the cycling community of Manawatu deflated and dejected.
The only glimmer of hope is that between now and May 6, if the Waikato-Bay of Plenty bid can't meet the requirements of Sparc and BikeNZ, Palmerston North and Auckland are back in the race.
For a brief moment, the thought of having a Cycling Centre of Excellence lifted the spirits of many obsessive-compulsive cyclists in Manawatu, a place that unfortunately has had its fair share of bad publicity and a less-than complimentary reputation.
Ever since 2006, when John Cleese famously said "if you ever want to kill yourself but lack the courage, I think a visit to Palmerston North will do the trick," Palmerston North has been struggling to lose the label of being a boring and dreary city.
I wonder if these labels put Sparc and BikeNZ off? This argument seems weak when I consider the reputation Hamilton, and by association the Waikato-Bay of Plenty, is constantly trying to shake as well.
Massey University and the Head of the new school of Sport and Exercise, Associate Professor, Steve Stannard will be very much disappointed that the proposed velodrome won't (in all likelihood) reside next to the Sport and Rugby Institute and the Community Athletics Track on campus.
Steve was a former Australian cyclist and still competes in national and regional cycling events with an intensity only former elite athletes can summon. He would have approached this velodrome bid with the same intensity only to come so close and yet so far away.
I wonder whether suggesting to place the Cycling Centre of Excellence next to the previously known Adidas Rugby Institute, created doubt in the minds of the decision-makers? The New Zealand Rugby Union never really used what is now called the Sport and Rugby Institute for its original purpose.
It was meant to act as a Centre of Excellence for national rugby teams and academy players and researchers.
It was one of the reasons why I moved to Palmerston North! Luckily for the NZRU and Massey University, Murray Mexted's International Rugby Academy New Zealand, or Iranz as it is commonly known, is the heaviest user of the institute, which has become a rugby-themed venue and little else.
When Mexted and his entourage of ex-All Black mentors are not using the venue, it is used by a variety of sports teams, corporate groups, and gym goers who keep it ticking over but it is by no means the "grand" rugby centre it was meant to be.
Were Sparc and BikeNZ looking at the white elephant next to the proposed velodrome when deciding between Cambridge and Palmerston North for the Centre of Excellence? Other elements which may not have counted in favour of Palmerston North include the inclement weather and airport issues.
Although the proposed velodrome was covered, the fact that no matter what direction you walk in Palmerston North, the wind is always head-on has to be taken into consideration. It also rains a lot.
As evidence, the recent Manawatu Cycle Classic, where 400 cyclists took part in a 160km course, was made even more gruelling by the rain pelting down on their lycra-clad bodies during the event.
Only the hard-nosed cyclists would endure this. Although the neon sign as you approach the city's airport suggests it is an international terminal, it hasn't been for a few years, and the dreaded five dollar departure tax keeps Palmerston North in the news for all the wrong reasons, especially when outspoken Gary McCormick fights this levy in the public eye.
Despite all of this, it would have been great to have a facility and centre of excellence we could all be proud of as a region. The drive and co-operation that has been demonstrated in getting this bid short-listed proves that those who reside here in the Manawatu are very proud of what this region has to offer. Very little traffic, great leisure and sporting opportunities, and a hop, skip and jump from "other" places you can visit if you ever get tired of Palmy.
I often refer to this place as one of New Zealand's best kept secrets. Just like a you-tube video I saw once, will Waikato-Bay of Plenty raise its arms in triumph causing it to spectacularly crash just before crossing the line?
Nothing against Waikato-Bay of Plenty but for Manawatu's sake - here's hoping.
