WomensCycling.net - race coverage, Preview - Tour of New Zealand, 2009 - Aussies and other internationals invade Wellington for Tour of New Zealand

No doubt a victim of the lack of other events in the Oceania region, the Tour of New Zealand, based in the Masterton (Wellington) area has a more limited array of rider nationalities than in the recent past. The start sheet is devoid of the winners from the previous two years, European-based pros, Kristin Armstrong (2008) and Judith Arndt (2007).

European-based professional teams are not making the long journey to the Southern Hemisphere this year, there is not a World Cup event in Australasia for the first time in many years. The Geelong World Cup (and accompanying Tour) is not on the 2009 UCI calendar. In the past, it has been a logical start to the season for teams to arrive early in Australia, train in the Geelong area, compete in the Geelong Tour and World Cup and then cross the Tasman for the Tour of New Zealand a few days later. Without other events in the region, travelling to the New Zealand event alone would be outside of the budgetary constraints of teams.

The list of Australian and international riders entered in next week’s NZCT Women’s Tour of New Zealand and the International Cup of Cycling continues to grow. Hard on the heels of the 41 classy Australians riders already announced, Race Director Jorge Sandoval has today confirmed another four top national and international teams for the tour.

National teams from China and Japan have confirmed their start in the races, as well as the New Zealand national team, the powerful international Champion Systems Cycling team and the NZ base Cyclosport team.

The NZCT ( New Zealand Community Trust) national team is lead by Beijing Olympic cyclist Joanne Kiesanowski who rides professionally for the USA base Tibco pro team. Supporting Kiesanowski, are Emma Peterson, Serena Sheridan, Toni Bradshaw and Karen Fulton. This strong line-up includes some of the best women road riders in the country.

The Champion Systems Pro team is lead by Top Australian hill climber Ruth Corser who finished second on the stage up Admiral Hill in the 2008 tour, beaten by eventual tour winner Kristin Armstrong. Ruth will be one of the riders to beat during the three day tour. Supporting her, are top Canadian rider Steph Roorda, American pro Dotsie Baush and Kiwi riders Malindi MacLean and Lauren Ellis.

Rachel Mercer from the Cyclosport team is also a rider likely to be in contention for top honours.

With the Beijing Olympic Games out of the way, Asian riders are now preparing for the Asian Games and World Championships. Known for their power and determination, the Chinese team is sure to prove a handful for opposition riders.

Sandoval is thrilled that more and more international teams are making their way to Wellington every year for the event. “It’s great overseas teams are coming to New Zealand to participate,” says Jorge. “The Chinese and Japanese have been here before, so they obviously rate the tour,” he says. “The Champion Systems team is made up of international riders from Canada , Australia , USA and a couple of kiwis. The only women’s teams’ base in New Zealand , the Cyclosport team, is lead by up-and-coming Wellington road rider Rachel Mercer.

“We’ve got a fantastic field with lots of different experience and style.

“Riders who come here go home speaking highly about our tour and organisation - and this encourages even more overseas teams to come.

“The Japanese team has been in a training camp for the past two weeks in Japan preparing for our event. The NZCT Tour is already looking like being bigger and better than last year, and that's fantastic for everyone involved.”

A total of 70 riders in 14 teams will start the only international women’s cycling event in Oceania next Wednesday, 25 February.

The NZCT Tour finishes on Friday 27 February, and on Sunday, riders take part in the NZCT Women’s International Cup of Cycling in a 9km circuit in the city of Masterton .

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Teams / Start List

Australia National Team Team Manager: Shayne Bannan

1 Rochelle Gilmore Australia

2 Carlee Taylor Australia

3 Peta Mullens Australia

4 Tiffany Cromwell Australia

5 Victoria Whitelaw Australia

Giant Pro Cycling Team – China Team Manager; Chan Shu Kiu

6 Lang Meng China

7 Ming Gao China

8 Fei Wang China

9 Li Ping Zhang China

10 Ling Luo Xiao China

R+R Team Mr Spargo

11 Fiona Spargo Australia

12 Nicole Whitburn Australia

13 Clare Vlahopoulos Australia

14 Rosara Joseph New Zealand

15 Fiona Meade Ireland

Japan National Team Team Manager; Shoichi Iwadate

16 Mayuko Hagiwara Japan

17 Ayako Toyooka Japan

18 Chino Mao Japan

19 Chisako Harigai Japan

20 Tsugumi Kimura Japan

Australia NTID Team Team Manager: John Forrest

21 Myfawny Galloway Australia

22 Shara Gillow Australia

23 Lisa Jacobs Australia

24 Bridie O’ Don nell Australia

25 Rachel Neylan Australia

MB Cycles Team – Australia Team Manager: Marcel Bengtson

26 Kirsty Brown Australia

27 Liz Young Australia

28 Gina Grain Canada

29 Lauren Kitchen Australia

30 Amber Halliday Australia

Handy Rentals Team Manager: Harry Shaw

31 Kathy Watt Australia

32 Davina Summers Australia

33 Jessy Byrnes Australia

34 Jemma O'Brien Australia

NZCT New Zealand National Team Team Manager; Darren Gordon

36 Jo Kiesanowski New Zealand

37 Emma Peterson New Zealand

38 Karen Fulton New Zealand

39 Toni Bradshaw New Zealand

40 Serena Sheridan New Zealand

BP Team Team Manager: Ric Reid

41 Emma Richards Australia

42 Louise Kerr Australia

43 Nikolina Orlic Australia

44 Kate Finegen Australia

45 Jo Hogan Australia

Mercedes Benz Team Team Manager; Stephen Elden

46 Rebecca Domange Australia

47 Chloe Hosking Australia

48 Tanya Saad Australia

49 Gabrielle Vermunt New Zealand

50 Bec Thyne Australia

Cyclosport Team Team Manager; Eddie Bright

51 Rachel Mercer New Zealand

52 Emma Crum New Zealand

53 Tracy Best New Zealand

54 Jessica Jolly New Zealand

55 Sherilyn Gray New Zealand

Champions System Cycling Team Manager: Chris Drake

56 Ruth Corset Australia

57 Malindi Maclean New Zealand

58 Dotsie Bausch USA

59 Steph Roorda Canada

60 Lauren Ellis New Zealand

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