Four Kiwis in Holland Ladies Tour

Aug 31st, 10.  Updated. Linda Villumsen, Emily Collins, Emma Crum and Karen Fulton join the superstars of European cycling in the seven stage Holland Ladies Tour overnight (NZ Time).

Collins, Crum and Best (not racing) - Cyclosport teammates back in NZ ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Updated: A couple of changes from the provisional start list - Kiwi Tracy Best isn't riding the Tour, but Linda Villumsen is.

Along with the Kiwis, who are racing for four different teams, are the National teams of Germany, Switzerland, USA, Canada and Wales.

Pro-teams Cervelo TestTeam, HTC Columbia  and Nederland Bloeit are also sending strong teams including stars Marianne Voss, Kirsten WIld, Emma Johansson and Ina Yoko Teutenberg.

With the World Championships less than 30 days away, the Holland Ladies Tour is the women's equivalent of the Vuelta Espana in terms of final preparations.

The Tour runs from August 31 through to the September 5, and includes seven stages.

The course is varied with some flat stages, a short time trial and some stages include short hills - overall it is expected to be a fast and furious tour.

Villumsen is racing for HTC Columbia, Collins for Swabo Ladies Cycling Ladies Team, Crum for Team Tubanters and Nelson's Fulton for team Het Snelle Wiel.

Fulton is impressed with the starting line-up but added, "I have to say though, every race I've been to here has been big line ups. Every time you come in from a race you know you've raced your bike," she told RoadCycling.co.nz today.