USA does it again in Women's tour

Feb 25th, 10. The USA team were rewarded for a hard days work at the front of the peloton when Shelley Evans repeated yesterday's success to win Stage 2 of the NZCT Women's Tour of NZ.

The surge for the line on Stage 2 ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Today's 114km stage from Masterton to Palmerston North via the Pahiatua track had it all.  Headwinds, crosswinds, rain, breakaways, high profile crashes and finally a bunch sprint finish.

The USA National Team spent most of the race on the front of the peloton to ensure a break of four riders didn't get the chance to make it to the finish for victory.

After more than 2/3rds of the race, the break of four was caught after the Pahiatua township where NZ Champion Rushlee Buchanan (NZ National Team) found herself in an unplanned solo breakaway.

"We came through the Pahiatua township and the pace was starting to go on. There were a few rollers and we were catching the four," Buchanan told RoadCycling.co.nz

"All of a sudden there was a surge from the front and I was fourth wheel and I turned around and saw we had a gap. Sweet.  So I took off and pretty much passed everyone [including the break] up the first climb, then we were all rotating going downhill and they all crashed in front of me!  I had no choice so I just kept going."

Buchanan's breakaway occurred 10km before the bottom of the main 3km, 7% climb, which she rode up at her own tempo until she was caught.

Evans happy to stay in yellow ©RoadCycling.co.nz

When the rest of the peloton arrived at the bottom of the main climb, Queen of the Mountain Ruth Corset (Nashua) attacked and USA National Team's Amber Neben went with her.

"The climb wasn't so bad actually, it was pretty gradual," eventual winner, Evans from the USA National Team said.  

"I was fortunate to have a strong team all day, protecting me and keeping me out of the wind. They rode a great race and made it easy for me."

Evans sat on the 2nd or 3rd wheel of the chasing bunch and if anyone tried to go across, she just sat on.  

Evans described the final descent as tricky, saying the wet roads caused the whole field to slow down as people were sliding on the corners.

Defending Champion out

One of the riders who tumbled on the descent was defending champion Amber Halliday. Her Nashua Ladies Pro Cycling Team manager Marcel Bengtson believes she probably touched the white line and slid on the wet road.

"At first we thought it was her wrist," he said, although others suggested she was clutching her shoulder. "She has been transported to the local hospital and we aren't too sure at this stage."

When the peloton was back together, NZ National Team's Kaytee Boyd attempted a planned move on the final minor climb coming in to the finish.

Teammate Cath Cheatley, who didn't start his morning's stage due to an injury, has lived in this area and helped the team plan the move.

"It's a tough little climb coming in to the finish and if you get a gap it's good, especially if it was a smaller group coming in to the finish, that was the aim," she told RoadCycling.co.nz

USA get the finale they wanted

Today's podium ©RoadCycling.co.nz

A photo finish determined it was the 29 year old Californian in the yellow jersey who crossed the line just in front of two riders from Giant Pro Cycling Team, China; Wong Wan Yiu and Liu Xin.

Yesterday's win was Evans' 1st win in a UCI ranked road race, today, therefore, was her 2nd, and she's looking for more.

"The NZ Team and Australia team are really strong, and the Lotto team is very strong.  We have a lot of competition in this field, it's a strong field and we are not taking anything for granted," said Evans.

Nashua may have lost Halliday, but according to their Team Director, they still have the tour title in their sights too.

"We've lost a lot of fire power but we still have five other riders and hopefully we'll take the yellow jersey maybe on Saturday morning, that's our plan," Bengtson said.

There were no changes to the leader's jersey classifications after today's stage.

Stage 2 podium

1. Shelley Evans -USA National Team
2. Wong Wan Yiu - Giant Pro Cycling Team China
3. Liu Xin - Giant Pro Cycling Team China

General Classification after Stage 2

1. Shelley Evans - USA National Team 6:02:17
2. Ruth Corset - Nashua Ladies Pro Cycling Team 0:00:14
3. Xin Liu - Giant Racing Team
4. Cherise Taylor - Nashua Ladies Pro Cycling Team 0:00:16
5. Linda Villumsen - New Zealand National Team 0:00:20
6. Masami Morita - Japan National Team
7. Rie Katayama - Japan National Team
8. Amanda Spratt - Australian Institute of Sport
9. Tiffany Cromwell - Australian Institute of Sport
10. Sara Mustonen - Hitec Products UCK

Full results ....