Feb 2nd, 10.  Hawkes Bay's Serena Sheridan had her first race as the newest member of Team Cyclosport over the weekend, and she convincingly won the Yarrows Taranaki Cycling Challenge.

Sheridan off the front at the Road Nationals ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"The reason I was keen for her to join was that she brings a degree of experience which the other younger team members have not as yet got. This experience and race maturity will help them develop into more capable bike riders," Bright told RoadCycling.co.nz

"Importantly, the dynamics of the team will not change as she fits in well with the rest of the team with her cheerful personality and openness."

In the Taranaki race, Sheridan was too strong for the smallish field of women, who rode the full 150km men's course.

She broke clear to ride with one of the men's packs and finished in an impressive 4h07m34s which was 8min ahead of her nearest rival and only 14min behind the overall men's winner.

After the New Zealand summer season Sheridan is heading over to Belgium where she is joining a long established team, Arnotts Logistics from the Royal Antwerp Bicycle Club Ladies Team.  She'll be racing across Belgium and France with the well ranked international team.

The other four members of Team Cyclosport, Jess Jolly, Tracy Best, Emma Crum and Emily Collins will also be heading overseas later in the year to two top European Dutch clubs.

"The five team members will be based in close proximity to each other which will enable training together when opportunities arise, plus hopefully competing in many of the same races," said Bright.

This all fits in with Bright's longer term plan to assist the women to become professional riders on the European circuit.

Emily, Emma and Tracy in Cyclosport colours ©RoadCycling.co.nz

"All the top races and races with history are in Europe hence the focus on Europe. There are very few UCI races in the USA, even less so in 2010," he said.

"Two of the team are still teenagers (Jess and Emily) with Emma only 21, Tracy and Serena are only in their mid twenties, all have great futures in road cycling if they remain as focussed and determined as they currently are."

Sheridan is pleased to have joined Team Cyclosport and acknowledged the influence being able to work with Bright had on her decision.

"Eddie gives a lot of support to the girls, he's got a lot of knowledge there, his heart is in the right place and the girls look like they have a lot of fun," she said.

Matthew Gorter edges out Brett Tivers for the win ©Kylee Brown

Men's race

In the Yarrows Taranaki Cycling Challenge men's race a lead group of three riders broke clear to fight out the finish.  

Hamilton's Matthew Gorter had the best finish ahead of local hope New Plymouth's Brett Tivers, with Sam Horgan (Christchurch) three seconds behind.

The leading two riders both clocked 3h53m33s in hot conditions, with riders coping with temperatures close to 30C Deg.

The Yarrows Taranaki Cycling Challenge was the first race in the RaboPlus National Points Series for 2010.

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