New Partner for New Zealand biggest women’s sporting event
Greater Wellington’s position as a world class cycling destination has been reinforced with a double dose of good news.
Cycling’s international governing body, the UCI, has granted international status to the second five-day women’s classic in February 2008 and the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) will be the major supporter.
Stokes Valley promoter Jorge Sandoval has worked hard in recent months to secure the international status and sponsorship for the tour that starts in the Hutt Valley on February 27.
Sandoval says he wants to build on the platform that the World Cup’s sponsor’s, officials, organisers and supporters have given cycle racing in the Wellington region.
“This is great news for our sport and the region. To have NZCT on board is very special as it gives us the confidence to put on a first class event in 2008 and in the years to come” Sandoval said.
Mike Knell, NZCT Chief Executive, says his organisation is happy to help.
“NZCT is the largest funder of amateur sport in New Zealand and we’re pleased to contribute to the success of this fantastic event.
It’s a great challenge for participants and a boost to the sport’s profile in the area.”
Sandoval and his team have been working on bringing the World Cup back to Wellington.
“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.”
“In order to keep the momentum from the two World Cups in 2005 and 2006, we will run a bigger NZCT Women’s Tour of New Zealand next year in the Wellington and Wairarapa area and one of the stages will take place in the proposed new circuit for the 2009 women’s world cup." Sandoval added.
Riders in next year’s 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.
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 2.00pm, and finishes with a criterium race in downtown Wellington on Sunday March 2.