Exciting triathlon prospect Teresa Adam has won the prestigious Tour de Vineyards in Nelson today, riding comfortably in the bunch to hold on to her overall lead earned with some aggressive and clever riding earlier in the week, leaving European based professional Serena Sheridan in second place.
Adam has already shown huge promise in triathlon but along with a number of others from within the Triathlon NZ High Performance Programme, was using the Tour as training and an opportunity to learn further cycling skills in amongst some of the best riders in the country.
Tri NZ National Coach Greg Fraine was not surprised by Adam winning the tour.
"Not at all, we know how good she is on the bike and what her potential is. We get the numbers back from her training and racing all year and knew she was capable of a great result. She has dominated the tour and cruised through the final stage today, staying out of trouble. She has raised the interest of a few people in Bike NZ I guess but gladly for us Teresa is committed to triathlon."
21 year old Adam wasn't alone with Debbie Tanner also enjoying a good tour, finishing 7th overall as she got out of her sick bed this morning to finish the tour.
"Debbie was crook this morning but was gutsy in her ride today, she is now a little worse again and will be back to bed I think but she rode strongly despite that today, but clearly did not have the legs to push hard. Debbie is so intuitive on the bike and knows how to look after herself. In triathlons you might not see her for most of the bike and suddenly she pops up in transition near the lead."
Others riding in Tri NZ colours included Rebecca Kingsford and in the men's Sam Osborne, James Elvery, Edward Rawles, Aaron Barclay and Lachlan Davey. Fraine says experience was the key for many.
"Sam Osborne stood out for the men but James experience was invaluable to the younger guys around him, they all were here to learn and get in a good training block and while some days were tough, they have come through really well. As did Rebecca, she has enjoyed a good tough week of training on the bike and has learned plenty about cycling skills and how to look after herself on the bike which will help her in triathlon in 2012 and beyond."
Aucklander Adam had earlier won the K1 Cycle Event over Coromandel in October and was prominent throughout the swim and bike in the Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Cup triathlon in Auckland in November, ending her 2011 strongly.
For complete results and further information, visit www.tasmanwheelers.co.nz.
