Hitec Products UCK have landed in New Zealand and Belgium

Thijs Rondhuis have arrived with the team in Greytown, New Zealand, for training to the only UCI race in Oceania, 'Womens Tour of New Zealand' (UCI 2.2) that start 24.February, with 6 stages in five days.

We have been provided a house until the race start. The girls will have a week to recover from jet lag and train in the courses. Interesting stages are the first, which is very hilly, the TT stage where all "normal" TT equipment is banned, and the final criterium stage in Wellington city.

The toughest girls on the start list is expected to be Gilmore (Lotto), Corset (Tibco), Willumsen (NZL) and Neben (USA).

The other half of the team will race the cobblestone classic 'Omloop Het Nieuwsblad' (UCI 1.2) 27.February. The start list  have 10 UCI teams, 2 national teams and 13 club teams, with last years winner De Goede (Nederland Bloeit), Bosman (Leontien.nl), Johansson (Redsun) and Wild (Cervelo) among the starters.

The first riders from the team have arrived in Belgium to check out the course. Except for Lisa Brennauer's positive debut in Quatar, these races will be the season starters for most of the girls. With a very young team (4 first year girls) some will have to wait with season opening due to school.

It was also for us a hard blow that the Costa Etrusca races was cancelled, since we will stay in Toscana in that period and was already on the start list.

Photo: Nathalie Lamborelle, geared up in the Luxembourg Championships Jersey (Photo Team)

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