Number One team in the world
Entries for next week’s NZCT Women’s Tour of New Zealand have now closed, and organisers of the Wellington race say they've been blown away by the quality of the field.
Race Director Jorge Sandoval confirmed today the entry of the world’s Number One team Cervelo-Lifeforve Pro Cycling team from Switzerland.
The stellar line up of talent includes 2006 time trial World Champion and three times US Champion Kristin Armstrong, 2005 time trial World Champion Karin Thurig, from Switzerland, Priska Doppmann and Patricia Schwager from Switzerland, Sarah Duster from Germany and New Zealand number one Joanne Kiesanowski.
Four of the top ten professional teams in the world are racing in Wellington. Twelve of top 20 riders in the world will be coming and eight of the top ten cycling nations in the world will be represented in the event.
Race Director Jorge Sandoval says the standard of the field is well beyond all of his expectations. He says he's had to turn down several overseas riders because he simply didn’t have the budget to fit them in the race.
“To have two times winner of the Giro d'Italia, six former world champions, European champions as well as current national champions from seven countries and current Olympic champions racing on New Zealand soil, is a privilege to any sport.”
“On top of this we have national teams from Australia, Japan, China, South Africa, Ukraine and New Zealand as well as professional teams from USA, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Belgium, Italy and Germany.”
“Our events are getting recognised all over the world, Sandoval said. “Wellington is being seen as the capital of events and the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa as perfect areas to stage international cycling tours and that’s why we are attracting this calibre of rider every year.”
The NZCT Women’s Tour of New Zealand is the only international cycle race for women in this country. The sports governing body, the UCI, has granted international status to the five-day women’s classic.
Over the five days of racing riders will complete six stages for a total of 470 kilometres. The race starts with a circuit in Hutt City on Wednesday 27th February at 2.30pm, and finishes with a criterium race in downtown Wellington on Sunday March 2.
Riders will compete in the Tour of Geelong – Australia this week, with the riders then heading to Wellington for the tour stating on Wednesday 27th.
“We are trying really hard to get the world cup back to Wellington from 2009. We recently meet with the UCI Vice – President and we have been invited to go to the UCI in Switzerland early in 2008 to do a formal presentation. One of the stages in this year’s tour will take place in the proposed new circuit for the 2009 women’s world cup." Sandoval added.
Riders in the NZCT funded event will race up the steepest hill climbs in the Wairarapa – Admiral Hill and Te Wharau hill - previously used only by their male counterparts. This will be a testing introduction to the tour as it will happen on the second day of racing. This will prove particularly gruelling for the European riders who come to New Zealand early in their season.