Aussies Challenge for NZ's Largest Prize Purse

For immediate release

17th November 2009

Four elite Australian riders are among the early favourites for the WORKOUT|ZONE Women’s Road Race which carries the largest prize purse for a women’s race in New Zealand on November 28th 2009 as part of the Wattyl Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.

Joanne Hogan, Ginger Kidd, Rebecca Locke and Nicole Whitburn will travel from Melbourne to compete in the inaugural 60km women’s road race in Taupo determined to claim the title for Australia.

Standing in their way will be Kiwi riders Cath Cheatley, Kerri-anne Torckler and Serena Sheridan who are determined to claim the title for themselves.

26 year old Cheatley has had an amazing 2009 season finishing 5th on the US’s National Racing Calendar and is hoping her form will continue through to Cycle Challenge.

Torckler is originally from New Plymouth and moved to the Hawke’s Bay in July to further her cycling career.

“The WORKOUT|ZONE Women’s Road Race from Turangi to Taupo is an exciting addition to our line-up this year – it is aimed at licensed international and national female riders and carries a prize pool of over $6,000, the largest in New Zealand,” said Doug Simmons, Chairman of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Trust, the organisation responsible for organising New Zealand’s premier cycling event, which is also part of the prestigious UCI Golden Bike Series.

“While the focus of Cycle Challenge is primarily on participation, we have recently added three race components - the Women’s Road Race complements the Avanti Men’s Classic 160 kilometre Race for elite licensed male riders, which carries a $15,000 prize pool, and the Contact Huka XL 80km Mountain Bike Race,” said Simmons, who also acts as Race Director for the event.

The Taupo public and Cycle Challenge participants will have an opportunity to see many of the elite riders in action on Friday night when they compete in the Men’s and Women’s Elite Street Races, for which Taupo’s main streets will be closed on Friday night.

The Elite Street Races are part of Cyclemania, Taupo’s festival of cycling which leads up to New Zealand’s largest cycling event, the Wattyl Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, and kicks off on Monday November 23.

ENDS

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