15 February 2006

City Gearing Up For World-Class Cycle Race

The world's best female cyclists will line up in the Lower Hutt CBD for the opening stage of the Trust House Women's Tour of New Zealand on Wednesday 1 March at 7:00pm. However, an alternative start time of 6.30pm will apply for wet and/or dark conditions.

The tour is an important lead up to the International Cycling Union's (UCI) Road Cycling World Cup on in Wellington on Sunday 5 March.
The tour is one of the prestige events on the New Zealand cycling calendar and will feature a field of 126 riders from more than 20 countries in a hard fought race over 45km.
The tour is also one international sports event that you can watch for free. Even if you aren't a fan of cycling, there's plenty of fun for the family to enjoy on the fast-paced circuit around the CBD.

The tour includes the current world champion Oenone Wood (Australia) and riders from several of the world's top professional teams including Judith Arndt (Germany) and Susanne Ljungskog (Sweden).

The highest ranked New Zealander on the list is Joanne Kiesanowski, ranked 21st, who'll ride in the race as part of the New Zealand national team, preparing for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne later in March. That team also includes Olympic track gold medallist Sarah Ulmer.

Spectators will be treated to intense racing along the course that starts and finishes in High Street and includes Laings Road, Knights Road, Bunny Street, Queens Drive and Waterloo Road.

For safety of the competitors and public, the race will take place on a circuit completely closed to traffic. Streets will be closed to traffic from 5:30pm to 8:00pm on Wednesday 1 March. Vehicles "inside" the road closure area will be able to exit up until 6.00pm.

The Hutt City Council is advising that traffic delays can be expected due to the race and alternative routes should be taken.

Mayor of Hutt City, David Ogden, said: "World class cyclists just don't whiz past your street everyday, so we'd like to encourage residents to come down to the CBD and cheer them on".

"The Council is proud to be a major sponsor of the Trust House Women's Tour of New Zealand, which will be one of the major events on the Australasian cycling calendar." Mr Ogden said.

Road Closures

Wednesday 1 March, 5:30pm to 8:00pm

The following roads will be closed to traffic and have no stopping restrictions placed on them.

* Queens Drive between High Street (south) and Waterloo Road
* High Street from Daly Street to 20 metres north of Waterloo Road
* Laings Road from High Street to 30 metres south of Knights Road
* Knights Road between Laings Road and Bunny Street
* Bunny Street
* Margaret Street from Queens Drive to 20 metres north of High Street
* Waterloo Road from High Street to Queens Drive
* Andrews Avenue

Vehicles towed from the no parking zones will be relocated to the north end of the Riverbank car park.

Public Transport

Please note the following bus stops will be closed:

* All stops on Queens Drive from Fraser Street to Waterloo Road
* All stops on Bunny Street
* Both stops on Waterloo Road at New World (Westfield Queensgate End)
* Both stops on High Street at Raroa Road

Cityline Hutt Valley buses will be diverted from 5:00pm with temporary bus stops being in place in Cornwall Street.

Services will use these stops:

Cornwall Street (RSA): 110 Emerald Hill, 120 Stokes Valley, 121 Valley Heights, 145 Belmont, 130, 150 & 154 Petone, 160, 165 & 170 Wainuiomata, 91 Upper Hutt.

Cornwall Street (Queens Grove side): 110, 120 & 121 Petone, 83 Eastbourne or Wellington, 130 & 150 Kelson & Naenae, 91 Airport Flyer.

For more information on public transport please visit www.metlink.org.nz or call Metlink on 801 7000.

For more information on the Trust House Women's Tour and the Women's World Cup visit www.cycletournz.com

ENDS

© Scoop Media