Mar 3rd, 10. While RoadCycling.co.nz was at the 6th NZCT Women's Tour a report came in about a much longer running women's tour, The 21st Bev May Women's Tour held a few days earlier.

Sonia Waddell, the A Grade Champion

Unlike the later women's tour, there were no crashes and no rain in the Bev May Tour which added to the great atmosphere among the peloton.

This two day, four stage Morrinsville tour has traditionally been a fantastic development opportunity for New Zealand's next generation of women cyclists and this year was no different.

Sonia Waddell (Te Awamutu) followed in the footsteps of past winners Sarah Ulmer, Meshy Holt, Toni Bradshaw and Marina Duvjnak - she dominated A Grade finishing 1st in each stage and taking out the overall GC.

Courteney Lowe (Tauranga) won the Sprint Ace and Queen of the Mountains jerseys.  

Chubby Hale (Parahaki) riding in B Grade took out the overall "Most Aggressive Rider" and deservedly from all accounts. Riders mentioned she took the stuffing out of them on the Bell Road circuit (Sunday morning).

Both Lowe and Hale also went on to race the five day NZCT Women's Tour of New Zealand.

Georgia Williams (North Harbour) won the B Grade tour and C Grade rider Jo Carrel (Te Awamutu) held her lead from the time trial to the criterium finale.  

U17 Georgina Wilson (North Harbour) proved too strong in her grade taking out the Tour Leader, Queen of the Mountains and Sprint Ace jerseys. She will be one to watch in the future.

The U13s did particularly well to cope in the 21km and 16km stages. Jessica Read (Te Awamutu) took the U13 title this year. Morrinsville put in a great effort in this competition with three girls, the youngest being only eight years old!

"We are grateful to riders for their continued support of the tour, and hope rider enthusiasm will carry over to clubs and individuals to encourage riders back to the tour in 2011! The class of riders at this year's tour was fantastic," said a club official.

Everyone hopes that in 2011 BikeNZ can help facilitate a cycling event calendar which will avoid future clashes like this one.

A big thankyou to Bev May from the Morrinsville Wheelers Club

Congratulations to Bev May for the 21st Bev May Women's Tour, and for 50 years of cycling involvement.

Most people will agree that her efforts with women's cycling have helped women riders tremendously throughout the years.

Her enthusiasm rubs off on those around her, and she has built a strong team to make this event so successful!

Without Bev's contributions, her family and club support (and team of commissaires throughout the WBOP Centre and further afield) this event would be a shadow of what it has achieved thus far!