Race Overview and Write-up

Trust House Women's Cycle Tour & World Cup Round 2

^{2 March - 4 March} 

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Stage Review -  Wellington TT

Resplendent in the rainbow jersey of World Champion, Judith Arndt powered to an impressive win in the final stage time trial of the Trust House Women’s Cycle Tour of New Zealand.

Arndt clocked 17m 44s over the winding out-and-back course around Wellington’s harbour coastline. In just 12km, she bested Olympic Champion Sara Carrigan by 19 seconds.

But having lost almost four minutes to yesterday morning’s five breakaway riders, even a storming ride was far from enough for Arndt to be changing jerseys. She ended up sixth on GC, still well over two minutes off the yellow.

The day’s real winner was New Zealand national champion Catherine Sell, who after yesterday was well-poised at six seconds down. Sell ticked out a solid 19-minute time trial, enough to leapfrog from fifth place on GC up into the top spot.

“I wasn’t expecting to win – I’m stoked,” the clearly-delighted Sell grinned.

In fact the final race podium was an all-Pacific one, with Katie Brown (Australia) and Miho Oki (Japan) time trialing just a few seconds slower than Sell to secure second and third.

Overnight tour leader Nicole Freedman, was less successful against the clock than against yesterday’s gales and fell to a final fifth place overall.

So after three days of racing, the tour has rewarded the riders most willing to have a go, rather than the strongest. Things will be different in Sunday’s main act: the Trust House Women’s World Cup. Because while the tour has been almost totally flat, the inner-city circuit race is anything but.

The hills aren’t especially long but there are certainly steep pinches. There are also plenty of corners: especially if the wind picks up again there will be scant chance to sit in and recover.

In other words it’s a classic tough-riders’ course, one that’s likely to see a small break or solo win.

Arndt and Carrigan obviously have good form in their legs. So too does New Zealander Melissa Holt, who was less than half a minute down on Arndt in this morning’s time trial.

Who knows – Sunday could just see the kiwis score a double.

By Jim Robinson  (Trust House Tour) 

Results - Stage 4  

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Final General Classification