KEY POINTS:
A New Zealand men's road cycling team have been given a start in the Tour of Qinghai in China next month for the first time.
The nine-day tour, raced near Tibet, is one of the most prestigious tours in Asia and attracts the world's leading professional teams.
It is one of the few races outside Europe to be given a 2HC classification by the International Cycling Union and offers more than $500,000 in prizemoney.
"A start in the Tour of Qinghai is a dream come true for any rider," New Zealand team manager Jorge Sandoval said today.
"I have been busy over the last couple of months trying to get the best riders available for this type of tour and I believe that we will go there and perform really well."
The New Zealand team comprise Scott Lyttle, Paul Odlin, Justin Kerr, Ashley Whitehead, Matt Sillars, Oliver Pearce and Mark Langlands.
"For some of the riders in our team this will be the first time they will race against top teams like Discovery and other top European teams they have only seen on television," Sandoval said.
"Most of the racing takes place at high altitude but I am confident that our boys will take it to the pros and it will be an amazing experience for them."
The tour, on July 14-22, covers 1393km and reaches a highest altitude of 3880m and lowest of 1771m.
In all, 140 riders from 20 teams will feature.
Sandoval was instrumental in having a New Zealand team accepted after he forged close relations with Chinese officials, who visited Wellington this year to observe the Wellington Cycle Classic which he promotes.
- NZPA
