Large Australian contingent for NZ women's tour

Feb 10th, 10. Almost thirty Australian women are expected at the NZCT Women's Cycling Tour of New Zealand to take on the Kiwis.

Gilmore in yellow in last year's tour ©RoadCycling.co.nz

She will come to the tour in great form having finished 4th in last week's Women's Tour of Qatar - although the new course may not be as suited to the sprint finishes Gilmore excels in.

Gilmore is coming with her Italian Lotto professional team with fellow Australians Josephine Tomic, Vicki Whitelaw, and Rachel Neylan, plus South Africans Lynette Burger and Ashleigh Moolman.

In addition to Gilmore's team there are three all Australian teams, a national squad, another from the Australian Institute of Sport, plus trade teams RACE and Prime State.

Tour director Jorge Sandoval believes this is the largest number of Australians he has had in his women's tour which runs from February 24 to 28.

Sandoval certainly expects the Australians to provide many of the tour fireworks given January is a busy month in their cycling season.

"They will arrive race-fit, and with the course a hilly one they will be well prepared for what lies ahead," he said.

Many of these Australian riders are well known to the strong NZ team named for this tour.  Cath Cheatley raced next to Tiffany Cromwell in their Colavita Sutter Home team last year as they competed around the US circuit.  

Tiffany Cromwell (left of Phil Liggett) with her SASI team, a few of whom are tacking the NZ tour ©RoadCycling.co.nz

She said she's heard a lot about the NZ tour, particularly the hills, and was looking forward to racing. 

The NZCT tour plays a key role in women's cycling. It is the only women's international race in Oceania this year, and it carries a UCI rating of 2.2.

This year's tour will be even more demanding than previously with the riders required to twice traverse the Pahiatua Track as the event ventures to the Manawatu for the first time, in addition to having to climb the Te Wharau hill in the Wairarapa.

It starts with a stage from Martinborough to Masterton before spending two days in the Palmerston North area, and returning to Masterton before finishing on Wellington's Lambton Quay with a circuit race on closed streets.

Australians confirmed for NZ tour

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