Aussies to contest women's cycling tour

Sydney rider Rochelle Gilmore will head a powerful Australian contingent in this month's Women's Cycling Tour of New Zealand.

Gilmore, a winner of the first two stages and the sprint classification in last year's tour, will arrive in good shape, having competed strongly in events across the Tasman through January and placing fourth in this week's Ladies Tour of Qatar.

Her international successes have included winning two World Cup rounds and being a silver medallist at the world track championships.

Gilmore ride for her Italian Lotto professional team in the tour from February 24-28, alongside compatriots Josephine Tomic, Vicki Whitelaw, and Rachel Neylan, and South Africans Lynette Burger and Ashleigh Moolman.

Around 30 Australian riders are expected to participate, most of them in four all-Australian teams, a national squad, another from the Australian Institute of Sport, and trade teams, RACE and Prime State.

Tour director Jorge Sandoval said it is the largest number of Australians he has had in his women's tour.

Sandoval expects the Australians to provide many of the tour fireworks.

"They will arrive race-fit, and with the course a hilly one they will be well prepared for what lies ahead," he said.

This year's tour will be more demanding than previously, with the riders required to twice traverse the Pahiatua Track as the event ventures to the Manawatu for the first time, in addition to having to climb the Te Wharau hill in the Wairarapa.

It starts with a stage from Martinborough to Masterton before spending two days in the Palmerston North area, and returning to Masterton before finishing on Wellington's Lambton Quay with a circuit race on closed streets.

- NZPA