Aussies should have big say in Cycle Tour results

Predicting the winner of the NZCT Women's Cycle Tour of New Zealand, which gets under way in the Wairarapa tomorrow, is a hazardous business.
Such is the quality of the 70-plus field that any one of a dozen or more riders could take the major honours without surprising.
That Australia will have a big say in the end result does, however, seem very probable as more than half of the field will come from there, some 41 in total, and among them are the 2008 Oceania road race champion Rochelle Gilmore, who has also been a silver medallist on the track at world championship and Commonwealth Games level and the Oceania time trial winner Bridie O'Donnell.
Also sure to make her presence felt from across the Tasman is Ruth Corser, a noted hill climber who should relish the final stage, a 126km ride which finishes on the top of Admiral Hill while Kathryn Wyatt, a gold and silver medallist at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, is sure to use her experience to telling effect.
The national teams from China and Japan cannot be taken lightly with the former being spearheaded by the 2007 Asian road race champion Meng Lang while the Kiwi challenge will be led by Beijing Olympian Joanne Kiesanowski with support from the likes of Emma Peterson, Serna Sheridan, Toni Bradshaw and Karen Fulton.
American professional Dotsie Bansch is a likely contender too as is Canadian Steph Roorda.
THE TOUR COMPRISES OF THREE STAGES, THE ROUTES FOR WHICH ARE:-
Tomorrow: Starts 2.30pm in Masterton and covers three laps of a course which takes in Gladstone, Ponatahi, Longbush and Gladstone again before returning to Masterton. Distance: 127kms.
Thursday: Starts in Masterton at 10am and takes in Gladstone, Ponatahi, Martinborough, Longbush, Ponatahi again and Gladstone again before returning to Masterton. Distance: 136kms.
Friday: Starts in Masterton at 10am and takes in Tauweru, Blairlogie, Tinui, Stronvar, Wainuioru and Gladstone before finishing at the top of Admiral Hill. Distance: 126kms.
The action for the tour riders doesn't stop there though.
On Sunday they will contest the International Cup around the streets of Masterton, an event which on the women's road cycling calendar is behind only the World Cup and world championships in terms of importance.
Some 38 countries will take television coverage of this race, which will see the riders complete 14 laps of an 8.5km circuit.
THE ACTUAL ROUTE FOR EACH LAP IS: Start outside the Masterton District Council offices on Perry street at 10am, immediately turning left into Cole street and then left into Chapel street and then turning left again into Lincoln road. Continue westbound along Lincoln road, crossing the railway tracks before continuing west along Akura road. Turn left into Kibblewhite road and then left again into Upper Plain Road. Continue eastbound along Upper Plain Road, straight ahead through the roundabout at Ngaumutawa Road and onto Renall street, crossing the railway lines there before turning left into Pownall street.
Continue into Villa street, turn right into Perry street and cross the finish line.