NRS heads to nation’s capital for DBR Canberra Women’s Tour

2011 Tour action / Photo by Eric Li - Canberra Pictorial

The Subaru 2012 National Road Series makes its way to the nation’s capital this weekend for the 2012 DBR Canberra Women's Tour, to be staged from July 6 to 8.

To be held at the Mt Stromlo Recreation Park, the fourth event for women in the 2012 NRS will feature four stages, with a myriad of course changes promising to provide an exciting weekend of racing.

Thursday’s opening stage will see riders contest a 15km undulating time trial before embarking on two challenging road race courses through Uriarra Crossing and Casuarina Sands on Saturday and Sunday.  The event will conclude on Sunday afternoon with a criterium.

Over 80 women’s entries have been received across both the Open and B grades, with over half the field to battle for NRS points.

Current NRS standings leader Ruth Corset (Pensar-Hawk Racing) headlines the Tour, with the 2010 Australian road champion in ominous form following back-to-back victories at the past two Series events, the Velo Battle on the Border and Santos North Western Tour.

The Tour features a number of the top riders on the elite women’s rankings including Mersey Valley champion Lisa Jacobs (Jayco/Apollo VIS), multi stage winner Rebecca Wiasak (Suzuki-Trek) and Miranda Griffiths (Holden Cycling).

2011 time trial junior world champion Jessica Allen (Jayco-VIS) and 2011 Mersey Valley Tour champion Taryn Heather (SASI) will also make their debut in the 2012 season at the Tour.

“We are very excited the have such a large field, and its great for women’s cycling in the region, but also for Australia,” said Event Director Michael Fay.

“The new courses, which utilise rolling road closures and loop courses, will provide a more professional type of feel to the race for riders and spectators alike.

“And the predicted weather forecast for this weekend is fantastic, so we should see some quality racing,” Fay added. 

The Tour also features racing for all age categories from U11 to U19 for both men and women.

In May, the organisers of the Tour were buoyed following the confirmation that DBR Australia would continue as the major sponsor for the fourth consecutive year, with Pario Solutions, Opcomm, VieThirteen, ACT Government also valued supporters of the event.  

The Tour gets underway at 2pm on Friday with a 15.5km time trial out and back along Uriarra Rd.