1st Wellington World Cup - CDM

New Zealand, March 6, 2005

102 riders from 17 countries for Wellington World Cup

The final teams to take part in next week's Trust House Women's Cycle Tour and the Women's World Cup on March 6 were announced Monday by race director Jorge Sandoval.

On top of those already named, national teams from Germany, Indonesia, Japan, a professional team from Switzerland, professional riders from USA, three other Australian teams and three New Zealand teams make up the field for the year's biggest sporting event for women in New Zealand.

"This is a great boost for the event, giving the race a very international field with riders from 15 countries taking part," Sandoval said.

All teams will start in the Women's Trust House Cycle Tour starting on Wednesday 2nd March with a circuit around Fraser Park in Lower Hutt. The second day of racing, sees the field racing 117 kilometres from Featherston to Masterton and then contesting an afternoon criterium at Masterton. On the final day, riders will ride an Individual Time Trial from Scorching Bay to Miramar Wharf and return.

The action then turns to the main event, the Women's World Cup on Sunday 6th March starting at 10.00am from the Grounds of the Parliament Buildings.

The field of 102 riders from 17 countries; New Zealand, Australia, France, USA, Denmark, Lithuania, Russia, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Japan, Indonesia, England, Israel and Sweden.

Favourites for the race are Australian 2004 World Cup winner, Oenone Wood, current World Champion Judith Arndt from Germany, Susanne Ljungskog of Sweden the 2003 and 2002 World Champion, Olympic road champion Sara Carrigan of Australia and the well-performed Italian Silvia Valsecchi among others.