Ladies Tour of Qatar (V)

09-02-2009 01:21:25

Columbia-Highroad’s women’s team 2009 season gets underway on Sunday with their participation in a historic new event, the Ladies Tour of Qatar. The three day stage race will be the first ever professional bike race for women to be held in the Middle East.

“It’s a real honour on two fronts,” says Australian rider Kate Bates, “both that Qatar and this community have decided to hold this event, but also to be involved with ASO [Amaury Sports Organisation] who are helping run an event like this for the first time in conjunction with the men’s Tour of Qatar. That’s how women’s cycling can really go forward, and it’s a huge coup for our team. As soon as we heard this event was taking place everybody wanted to be involved.”

“We’ve got a great team for the race. For example I know that Ellen Van Dijk is in good shape because she’s building up for the World Track Championships and could be a real challenger. The thing is that even if it’s the first event of the season it doesn’t feel like that because we all get on so well as a team and have so much fun racing. So that’s cool too.”

“We’re all just looking forward to getting into our first race. We know that it’s windy here, but to be honest the windier it is, the more that’ll play in our favour. We’ve got some big strong riders that love racing in those conditions and can really rip things apart. So if it’s windy - super. If not we’ve got some great sprinters too, so I think we’ve got a lot of options covered.”

“On a personal level, I finished with the track after the Olympics and am focusing on the road. To have a race like this early on in the season, flat and windy which is more suited for me, is really important for me. I’m sort of starting out fresh again and want to see what I can do.”

Columbia-Highroad Women’s Team for Tour of Qatar: Kate Bates (Aus); Chantal Beltman (Hol); Emilia Fahlin (Swe);  Luise Keller (Ger); Ellen Van Dijk (Hol); Linda Villumsen (Den).