Six members of New Zealand's national endurance track squad will take part in this year's Women's Tour Down Under, led by four-time national road race champion Rushlee Buchanan.
"It's a good chance for some of our track riders to have a short rebuild as they prepare for what will be a massive next six months for some of them," said Cycling NZ women's endurance assistant coach Alex Greenfield, referring to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, "and it's a rare opportunity outside of Europe for young riders to experience a stage race against many of the best riders and teams in the world."
Buchanan is a four-time national road race champion, and also won the national time trial title in 2016. Her former road teams include US squads Team Tibco and UnitedHealthcare, and the experienced 31-year-old will lead a mix of youth and experience on the South Australian roads from January 16-19.
She will be joined on the Vantage Cycling New Zealand team by fellow 2018 Commonwealth Games team pursuit silver medallists Racquel Sheath and Bryony Botha, with 20-year-old Nicole Shields and current junior individual pursuit world champion and national junior road race champion Ally Wollaston completing the six-rider line-up.
Vantage Cycling New Zealand for the 2020 Women's Tour Down Under: Bryony Botha, Rushlee Buchanan, Jessie Hodges, Racquel Sheath, Nicole Shields, Ally Wollaston
