23 Feb 2012

Rookie best of Bike NZ team at Palmerston North cycling tour

2:18 pm on 23 February 2012

Novice cyclist Rita Trotman was the best of the BikeNZ National Team in the opening stage of the NZCT Women's Tour in Palmerston North on Wednesday night.

The 22-year-old Trotman completed the seven-kilometre time trial around Massey University in just over 11 minutes.

The stage was won by reigning Olympic champion and two-time world time trial champion Kristin Armstrong of the USA.

A former New Zealand representative gymnast, it's Trotman's first international race after only joining the competitive cycling ranks in November last year.

New Zealand's world championship medallist Linda Villumsen, riding for her new Pro Tour team GreenEdge, was the best of the Kiwis finishing fourth.

Today's stage is a 137-kilometre loop through Ashurst.