Great New Year's line-up for Tour de Vineyards

Dec 24th, 09. UPDATED.While many vineyards around the country are hosting music events around New Year's, the Tasman district is hosting a much greater lineup.  130 of NZ's top cyclists, including Hayden Roulston.

Roulston is racing the Tour de Vineyards ©RoadCycling.co.nz

The provisional start-list for the Tour de Vineyards boasts a spectacular line-up of New Zealand's top riders for its four day race from January 1-4.  

Updated: Defending champion Jeremy Yates confirms his entry. Bici Vida name their team and late entries added below.

The event hosts four races, Mens (Senior, U23, U19), Womens (all classes), Masters 1-4 and Masters 5.

Heading up the men's event is Hayden Roulston, who will be riding in his Columbia HTC pro-tour team kit for the first time.  

"I'm really looking forward to riding in Nelson," Roulston said. "It's always good weather, the event is run well and I intend to train either side of each stage to get some good miles and training in the legs for nationals and Adelaide."

Roulston has previously told RoadCycling.co.nz his ambition is to take the NZ Champion's jersey back to Europe with him.  "The jersey deserves to be in Europe and I want to wear it next year," he said.

The Tour de Vineyards defending champion Jeremy Yates is also in the line up this year as is 2nd placed overall and 1st U23 rider in 2009, George Bennett will be there again.

Tour of Southland champion Heath Blackgrove is one of the other top names and given his show of strength in Southland and at the Armstrong Festival of Cycling, where he placed 2nd, he'll be high on the favourites list.

Riders can enter as individuals or as teams and this year there are nine full teams of five to add additional interest and challenge to the men's event.

• Bici Vida
• Carbon Zero 
• Benchmark Homes - two teams 
• Tri NZ
• Tasman Wheelers
• Tasman Glass
• John Bull Racing
• Southland Times

The women's field includes Wanganui's Cath Cheatley who is in great form having recently won the Taupo Street Race, placed 2nd in the WorkoutZone Taupo Elite Women's race and 1st in the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling road race.

Cheatley will be challenged by local favourite Karen Fulton who was 2nd in both the Oceania Championships and the Club Championships road races recently.

Tour de Vineyards

• Stage 1 - circuit race, 40 - 60km depending on grade
• Stage 2 - Richmond to Moteuka return, 111km
• Stage 3 - Richmond to Takaka Hill, 130km
• Stage 4 - Street circuit, 35-60kms

Updated start list

Men

Women and Masters

Club abbreviations

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