Another Kiwi's pro dream comes true

May 31st, 10. Nimesha Smith's performance in Australia last summer earned the Kiwi a pro-contract with Lotto Ladies Team.  Smith talks to RoadCycling.co.nz about living her pro-cyclist dream.

Nimesha Smith, Lotto Ladies Team ©lottoladiescycling.be

Smith is signed to the Belgian Lotto Ladies Cycling team for the rest of the 2010 season.  She is living in Italy's Dolomite mountains with teammate Rochelle Gilmore.  

It was through Gilmore that Smith went from working at a bike company in Christchurch to racing full-time in a European pro-team.

Last year Smith joined The Honda Dream Team, an Australian based team set up by Gilmore.  

WIth Smith's help, Gilmore went on to win the Cronulla International Grand Prix and the Jayco Bay Crits series.  The team also visited New Zealand and raced in the NZCT Women's Tour of New Zealand.

"Rochelle Gilmore, Josie Tomic and Vicky Whitelaw, the three Australians who I rode with over the Australian summer, were pleased with my performance and recommended this wee Kiwi to the Lotto staff," Smith shared.

Smith has a few weeks before her first race, but it's hardly an easy start to this phase of her career.  The Kiwi's first event is the Giro Donne, the women's equivalent of the Giro d'Italia, from July 2-11.   

"I can't wait really!!" said Smith who said it's been a big dream to race in this event.  "There are a selection of races I will be doing in Italy, France, Germany and Holland after the Giro, enough to see out a European summer!" she said.

Smith's also looking forward to receiving her race bike, a Pinarello Dogma with Campagnolo/Deda/Edco/Selle Italia/Look.

A pretty good looking training ground! ©lottoladiescycling.be

In Australia Smith's role was to pull back any dangerous breakaways and she will be playing a similar role for her new team.

"I will be the domestique. It will vary a bit from race to race of course and there may be days when I have the opportunity to go for the win myself."

In just a short time, Smith is already adapting to the Italian way of life.  

"I'm learning that nothing happens super fast here in Italy, it took a week to get my internet setup. It's the Italian way of life I guess, no one is in a rush to do anything! In some ways that's kind of nice!"

"I have been in Italy for three weeks now, it is truly beautiful here in the Dolomites where I am based. The first week I was a snap happy tourist! I could not ask for a better training ground in preparation for the Giro."

She didn't learn Italian before she left New Zealand and although sometimes she wished she had, Smith believes there is probably no better way to learn than being thrown into the environment.

"My teammate Rochelle, who I am currently living with, can speak fluent Italian so I am learning a wee bit each day. Alora.... (I've learnt that it means, ok then...)"

Following your dreams

"Right now I am living the dream! This has always been a huge dream so I'm following it. The opportunity to follow your dreams doesn't come by that often so I have grabbed it like I grab my handlebars in a sprint. I will give it everything I have got, leaving no cobble unturned!"

Nimesha Smith at home in the Dolomites ©lottoladiescycling.be

Smith gained confidence from her Australian teammates whose support and encouragement helped her along the way.

"They are a great bunch of girls, we have a fantastic team environment, you have to be able to have laugh as well and we do."

"Start with emailing some teams in Europe and the States, depending on where you would like to race, it's about making contacts," Smith offered as advice to other Kiwis.

"It can also help to race the Australian domestic circuit in the summer. Going on my own experience, the level seems to be a bit higher there than in NZ and gives more of a chance to be seen by other teams as well."

As it's her first season in the pro-circuit, Smith would like to see how she goes before looking ahead to next year.

Smith would like to thank the Directors of Lotto, Dany Schoonbaert and Rochelle Gilmore for providing her with this opportunity and for making her transition so easy and enjoyable.