Cycling Australia
For the first time in the event?s history, the women?s tour at the Battle on the Border Cycling Festival has been elevated to be part of Cycling Australia?s 2016 Subaru National Road Series (NRS).
The four stage, three day women’s tour is the fourth for women in the 2016 Subaru NRS, and will run from June 3-5 throughout the Tweed Coast region of northern NSW.
It commences on Friday with a 105km road race starting and finishing at Salt Resort, Tweed Coast, with Saturday?s 113km road stage in the area surrounding the Murwillumbah Showgrounds. Sunday?s double stage day features a 20km individual time trial, following by an afternoon criterium also in Murwillumbah.
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A field of 75 of Australia’s best will head to the Tweed Coast including Melbourne’s Kate Perry (Specialized Women’s Racing) will don the leader?s jersey for the Tour after roaring to the top of the rankings following her overall victory in the third event for women in the 2016 season, the Mersey Valley Tour in Tasmania.
The rankings leaders will all be in action including current second ranked Lisen Hockings (VIC) who bolted to her maiden NRS stage victory at the Mersey Valley Tour in what was her first NRS event.
High5Dream Team teammates Tessa Fabry (VIC) and Lucy Kennedy (QLD) will also line up at the Battle to form a small, but powerful three-rider line up with a guest rider in Madeline Fasnach.
Fabry is pleased the event has been elevated to NRS status, not surprisingly as she enters as the two-time defending champion of the former support event.
?I am very pleased to see this race stay on the women’s NRS calendar,? said Fabry, who claimed her first stage of 2016 at the Mersey Valley Tour. ?I think the Battle on the Border one of the most exciting races in the NRS. I really enjoy the varied terrain of the two road races, which mean it’s always hard to predict how the race is going to unfold, and the scenery is also amazing.
?We will have a small team but we have some very strong climbing and time trialling ability between the three of us which should hopefully help us achieve some great results.?
Kennedy claimed her first NRS podium appearance in Tasmania, and was instrumental in her team?s solid performance in Tasmania where they claimed three of the top four on the overall GC.
Like Fabry, she is excited the women?s event will take centre stage this weekend.
?We’ve raced at Battle on the Border in the past, but this is the first time that the women have been the headline act. It’s exciting that we will have the exclusive focus this weekend,” Kennedy said. ?There’s been some very competitive racing already this year so it will be great to have cycling fans notice us more.”
Race Director Michael Crawley from QSM Sports is proud to feature the women?s NRS event as part of the greater festival of cycling.
?Showcasing the Tweed and developing Australian cyclists is in our DNA,? Crawley said. ?We are proud to support women?s racing and excited to welcome a large field to the 2016 Battle.
?The NRS Women?s title at the Battle is a badge of honor and it will be competitive again this year. In addition, no matter the age, from NRS and Masters to Junior and Elite, the Battle is a race for anyone. We really look forward to it!?
For more information on the Battle on the Border, please visit the website at http://www.battleontheborder.com.au/
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