MORE OVERSEAS TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR NZCT WOMEN’S TOUR

The list of world class 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. Included in the Chinese national team are:

MENG Lang  - 2007 Asia Championships Road Race champion; 2007 La Route de France Feminine stage 4 - third.

LIU Yong Li - 2007 Tour of CHONGMING Island ITT – champion;

2006 Asia Championships ITT- second.

HUANG Xiao Mei - 2007 UCI World B Championship Road Race – champion.

GAO Min - 2007 UCI World B Championship Road Race – second.

CHEN Li - 2007 China Championships Road Race – second.

WANG Fei - 2007 International Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen (Germany) –U23 champion.

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.