Star-studded US cycle team dominates

ON TOP: Celebrating their time trial success on the victory dais are US national squad members Megan Guarnier (left), Lauren Komanski, Taylor Wiles, Lauren Hall and Evelyn Stevens. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

THE United States national team fired the first salvos when the Trust House Women's Cycle Tour of New Zealand got under way with a team time trial around the streets of Masterton on Wednesday night.

Holding an average speed of 47.8km/h, they covered the 15km in 18min 49secs to finish 18s clear of their closest rivals; the Australian national squad.

The success of the Americans was no surprise. They have come to Wairarapa with a star-studded line-up determined to do the business and this was exactly the start they wanted.

The fact she was the first member of her team over the finish line meant Megan Guarnier was given the distinction of wearing the tour leader's yellow jersey for yesterday's second stage, which was from Masterton to Martinborough and return, a distance of 125km.

The 29-year-old Guarnier races professionally for the Dutch-based Boels-Dolmans team and, among her many successes, is the United States road race championship.

Another member of the United States squad is defending Trust House champion Evelyn Stevens, who was credited with the same time as Guarnier. Many are picking her as the favourite for individual honours again this time round.

Time trial results:

USA national team: Megan Guarnier, Lauren Hall, Lauren Komanski, Evelyn Stevens, Tayler Wiles) 18.49; Australian national team: Lauren Kitchen, Katrin Garfoot, Rachel Neylon, Alexandra Manley, Rebecca Mackey) plus 42s; Team Tibco ( Lauren Stephens, Joanne Kiesanowski, Emily Collins, Jo Hogan) plus 46s; Holden Racing Team (Lucy Coldwell, Miranda Griffiths, Shannon Malseed, Sharlotte Lucas) plus 1.05; Ramblers Club (Linda Villumsen, Kerri-Anne Page, Hannah van Kempen, Jo Holdway, Natalie Kerwin) plus 1.15; HI5 Dream Team (Tessa Fabry, Jessica Mundy, Ellen Skerritt, Georgia Baker) plus 1.30; Pepper Palace (Amy Phillips, Amber Pierce, Denise Ramsden, Karen Fulton, Courteney Lowe ) plus 1.35; DNA Cycling (Lauren De Crescenzo, Breanne Nalder, Jeannie Kuhajek, Anne Perry, Gabrielle Pilote-Fortin) plus 1.38; Trust House New Zealand (Alysha Keith, Phillipa Sutton, Elizabeth Steel, Holly Edmondston, Nina Wollaston) plus 2.02; Japan (Yomi Kajihara, Hiromi Kaneko, Yumika Goda) plus 2.12; Fagan Motors (Ruth Corsett, Georgina Beech, Karen Elzing) plus 2.25; 3Sixty Sports (Amanda Nabi, Ruby Livingstone, Carley McKay, Ruby Perry,) plus 2.34; The Sign Factory (Maxyna Cottam, Hayley Giddens, Emma Peterson, Natalie Howell, Samara Sheppard) plus 2.40; Kendal Ryan (Team Tiobco) plus 2.46; Kanako Nishi, Nozomo Saito (Japan) plus 3.08; Cassie Cameron (Fagan Motors) plus 7.07; Sonia Powell (Fagan Motors) plus 9.52.

Today's action will be in Carterton and will take in 130km of what is often labelled the Carrington circuit. The start is on Norfolk Rd at 10am and the riders will complete nine laps of a course taking in Chester Rd, Mangatarere Valley Rd, Hururua Rd, Hinau Gully Rd, Cobden Rd and Haringa Rd.

Stage four tomorrow will be a huge test of stamina and is seen as the stage which will make or break the hopes of those with aspirations of taking out the general classification. The 10am start will be on Johnstone St in Masterton and from there the field will head to Gladstone and Te Wharau before finishing at the top of the torturous Admiral's Hill, a distance of 106km. In all there will be four major hill climbs on this stage so it will truly be a survival of the fittest.

The fifth and final stage of the Trust House tour is on Sunday and covers 122.5km. It goes from Masterton to Alfredton and return and will start at Te Ore Ore Rd at 10am and finish in Dixon St at about 1.15pm.