Race director Jorge Sandoval yesterday revealed the route of the 2007 edition of New Zealand's premier stage race for women, the Trust House Women's Cycle Tour of New Zealand.
"In order to keep the momentum built up by the World Cup and Women's Tours, we will run a bigger Women's Tour of New Zealand in the Wellington and Wairarapa area in March 2007 and hopefully we can attract some top-class bike riders," said Sandoval.
Over the five days of racing riders will complete seven stages with a total of 470 kilometres. The race starts with a circuit in Hutt City on Wednesday March 7, and finishes with a criterium in Wellington on Sunday March 11.
A new feature of 2007's race will be the inclusion of the steepest hill climb in the Wairarapa area, Admiral Hill. This has previously only figured ion the men's edition of the race and will present a tough challenge.
Unlike the previous tour where New Zealand teams where restricted to three, the 2007 version will allow club riders from throughout the country to enter the event as individual or club teams.
"We want to bring the elite and grass roots of New Zealand cycling together, this is the only way that our up and coming riders get to race against top overseas riders right here in our country," said Sandoval.
Stages
Stage 1 - March 7: Hutt City Criterium, 35 km
Stage 2 - March 8: Martinborough - Masterton, 99km
Stage 3 - March 9: Masterton - Pahiatua, 70km
Stage 4 - March 9: Pahiatua - Masterton, 60km
Stage 5 - March 10: Masterton Circuit, 125.3km
Stage 6 - March 11: Wellington Individual Time Trial, 14km
Stage 7 - March 11: Wellington Criterium, 35km
