Where in the world is ... Hayley Giddens in 2012

Hayley Giddens in action in the US on her EMC bike ©Jen Piccolo

Jun 18th, 12. From Wanganui to Wisconsin, Hayley Giddens is trying her hand at racing in the US and only a month into her season she has already been on top of the podium.

2012 is the 23 year old's first time racing outside of Australasia. 

Giddens won her first race in the US solo by over 6min!

The race in Baraboo was a two lap hilly course with 335m of climbing per lap and in 32 degree heat. 

Giddens attacked on the climb on the first lap, no one came with her and she spent the rest of the race out the front alone.

Before she left New Zealand, Giddens won the Country Road Manawatu Cycle Classic and placed 10th in the senior women's road race at the NZ Club National Championships.

She has just finished racing the Nature Valley Grand Prix in Minnesota.

Where in the World is ... Hayley Giddens

2012 Team: ISCorp Cycling Team

Where are you based?
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin - the Mid-West.

Key races/ Level of race?
NCC (National Criterium Circuit) and NRC (National Road Circuit). I'm currently at Nature Valley Grand Prix, in  Minnesota. Tour of America's Dairyland starts next week and is eleven days of straight racing across the state.

Goals for 2012?

To be competitive at a higher level and keep progressing. Tour of America's Dairyland (ToAD) is a big goal for our team as it is all in Wisconsin. Downer Classic is a team sponsored event and is 3 miles from my house so is a big goal for me and the team.

Biggest win?

In NZ: 2011 Rotorua to Taupo, and winnng the inaugural EMC K150 in the Coromandel. In USA: 3rd at Quad Cities in PRO1-2 Field, 6th at Snake Alley in PRO1-2 field (both part of Memorial Weekend in Illinois and Iowa).

How many seasons have you raced overseas?

I spent five weeks in Melbourne and raced the Honda Hybrid Women's Tour (run in conjunction with the Herald Sun Men's Tour) last year.

When did you depart NZ, and when do you return to NZ?

I left May 7th, the day after NZ Road Champs where I placed 10th. I won't be coming home before August.

What are you looking forward to most this season?

Constant and consistent high level of women's racing - unfortunately it's hard to get in NZ but it is steadily improving.

What will you miss most about New Zealand (apart your friends and family)?

"Kiwi Spy" ©Hayley Giddens

At the moment three things: good old mince pie and fish n chips, hills (Milwaukee is pretty flat) and lastly smooth roads (who would've thought but I prefer rough chip NZ roads to the ones over here! With the weather extremes the roads crack and are repaired making for a rough ride)

What are you known for?

My nickname is Kiwi Spy. I train with the ISCorp Junior Men's Team and when they heard that the NZ Junior World's Track Endurance Team was doing ToAD they started calling me it and it's stuck.

The team manager Mike Weber had stickers printed up with it too.

The ISCorp Junior are super strong though, winning everything, so the Kiwis will have their work cut out.

Where in the World is ...