The NZCT Women's Cycle Tour of New Zealand starts on Wednesday 24th February at 2.30pm with a stage from Martinborough to Masterton and finish on Sunday 28th February with a Wellington Criterium in Lambton Quay.
On day one riders will face the Te Wharau hill in the Wairarapa. In stages two and five riders take on two of the most difficult and hilly stages in the tour, a 125kmts race from Palmerston North to Masterton via the demanding 12km long Pahiatua Track hill on Thursday 25 and back on Saturday 27.
This is the biggest international women's cycling event in New Zealand and the only one in Oceania. Most Australian and New Zealand riders are trying to be selected for the Commonwealth Games in India later this year.
The field is made up 100 riders from nine countries plus the best of New Zealand.
National teams from Australia, Japan, China, Norway, USA and New Zealand as well as an Italian pro team and professional riders from South Africa, The Netherlands, Sweden and Luxemburg are taking part in the race.
Favourites for the race are:
- Rochelle Gilmore - Australia
- Amber Neben – USA Ex World Champion
- Andrea Dvorak – USA
- Ruth Corset – Current road cycling Champion, Australi
- Amber Halliday – 2009 Tour winner – Current Australian TT champion.
- Rushlee Buchanan – New Zealand road champion
NZCT New Zealand National Team
Manager: Andy Reid
Soigneur: Justin Ralph
Mechanic: Olli Brooke-White
- Joanne Kiesanowski (New Zealand)
- Kaytee Boyd (New Zealand)
- Rushlee Buchanan (New Zealand)
- Courteney Lowe (New Zealand)
- Linda Villumsen (New Zealand)
- Catherine Cheatley (New Zealand)
Giant Pro Cycling Team – China
Team Manager: Chan Shu Kiu
- Lang Meng (China)
- Ming Gao (China)
- Liu Xin (China)
- Gu Hui Li (China)
- Ling Luo Xiao (China)
- Wong Wan Yiu (China)
Ready Go Japan
Team Manager: Sudoh Mutsumi
- Hory Yukiyo (Japan)
- Takeda Waka (Japan)
- Sato Sakico (Japan)
- Yoneda Whitson (Japan)
Japan National Team
Team Manager: Takahashi Matsuyoshi
- Mayuko Hagiwara (Japan)
- Ayako Toyooka (Japan)
- Nishi Kanako (Japan)
- Morita Masami (Japan)
- Katayama Rie (Japan)
- Uwano Minami (Japan)
Australia NTID Team
Team Manager: Benjamin Cook
- Alexandre Carle (Australia)
- Sarah Roy (Australia)
- Bronwyn Ryan (Australia)
- Laura Luxford (Australia)
- Rebecca Halliday (Australia)
- Elizabeth Jacobs (Australia)
AIS Australia National Women's Cycling
Team Manager: Dave McPartland
- Kirsty Broun (Australia)
- Shara Gillow (Australia)
- Lauren Kitchen (Australia)
- Amanda Spratt (Australia)
- Carly Light (Australia)
- Tiffany Cromwell (Australia)
Hitec Products UCK
Manager: Thijs Rondhuis
- Sara Mustonen (Sweden)
- Tone Hatteland (Norway)
- Nathalie Lamborelle (Luxemburg)
- Kristine Saastad (Norway)
USA National Team
Team Manager: Manel Lacambra
Mechanic: Rob Love
Swanee Nadia Zuccherelli
- Andrea Dvorak (USA)
- Amber Neben (USA)
- Janel Holcomb (USA)
- Jessica Phillips (USA)
- Shelley Evens (USA)
- Alison Starnes (USA)
Prime Estate Team - Australia
Team Manager: John Dean
- Nicole Whitburn (Australia)
- Rebecca Locke (Australia)
- Carma Watson (Australia)
- Irene Digenis (Australia)
Lotto Ladies Team
Team Manager: Benny Devcich
- Rochelle Gilmore (Australia)
- Nimesha Smith (New Zealand)
- Ashleigh Moolman (South Africa)
- Josephine Tomic (Australia)
- Vicki Whitelaw (Australia)
R.A.C.E. Team - Australia
Team Manager: Kim Howard
- Kendelle Hodges (Australia)
- Liza Rachetto (Australia)
- Rebecca Domange (Australia)
- Emma Lawson (Australia)
- Chole McConville (Australia)
- Felicity Wilson (Australia)
Cyclosport Team
Team Manager: Eddie Bright
- Serena Sheridan (New Zealand)
- Emma Crum (New Zealand)
- Tracy Best (New Zealand)
- Jessica Jolly (New Zealand)
- Emily Collins (New Zealand)
- Jeanne Kuhajek (New Zealand)
Litespeed Team
Team Manager: Dean Fulton
- Karen Fulton (New Zealand)
- Lana King (New Zealand)
- Emma Peterson (New Zealand)
- Toni Bradshaw (New Zealand)
- Josie Giddens (New Zealand)
- Yvette Hill-Willis (New Zealand)
Mercedes Benz Team
Team Manager: Stephen Elden
- Laura Medley (Australia)
- Nikolina Orlic (Australia)
- Anna Kauffmann (Australia)
- Janine Copp (New Zealand)
Handy Rentals Team
- Naila Hassan (New Zealand)
- Rachel Mercer (New Zealand)
- Gayle Brownlee (New Zealand)
- Sia Svendsen (New Zealand)
Penny Cycling Team
- Tracy Clarck (New Zealand)
- Chubby Hale (New Zealand)
- Melanie Burke (New Zealand)
- Anna Stevenson (New Zealand)
BP Team
- Kate Chilcott (New Zealand)
- Eyelien Bekkering (Netherlands)
- Kerry-Anne Torckler (New Zealand)
- Genevieve Whitson (New Zealand)
Nashua Ladies Pro Cycling Team
Team Manager: Marcel Bengtson
Mello Boumeester
Martin Millwood
- Amber Halliday
- Ruth Corset
- Jessie Maclean
- Cherise Taylor
- Charlotte Van de Merve
- Davina Summers
