Cycling: Top overseas riders line up, but local no-show threatens race

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand's most-recognised cycle race could be dropped from the international calendar unless there is greater local support.

The Hamilton City Classic on March 10 has attracted some of the biggest names in women's cycling, including Dutch triple Olympic champion Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel.

But the lack of support from New Zealand cyclists has disappointed race director Stephen Cox.

"We expect our top riders such as Sarah Ulmer, Rosalind Reekie-May and Melissa Holt will be in the New Zealand team when it is named in the next day or so," Cox said, "but where are the rest?

"We have had a couple of other entries, including one from Tania Duff-Miller, but that's about all.

"There are 25 registered women cyclists in Auckland alone. When you consider how many ride the Round Taupo race, it is disappointing we are not getting more for our race."

The UCI-backed race, which has no entry fee, will use the same 17-lap course around the lake as last year.

"We have two teams from Australia, the strong Dutch team, one from the United States and others from Japan and Nigeria coming," Cox said.

"But what we really need is more local riders to show the international body it is an event worthy of its status as a world-class race."

The $6000 prizemoney will be spread among the first 25 finishers, with the winner collecting $1200.

The race, with its $200,000 budget, promises to be keenly contested, with Zijlaard-Van Moorsel the obvious favourite. She will line up against former world champions Judith Arndt (Germany) and Catherine Marsal (France), former Olympic champion Petra Rossner (Germany) and New Zealand's Vanessa Cheatley, who will ride for her strong Belgium-based team.