Triathlete, Andrea Hewitt (Chch) was the hare in the penultimate stage of the Nelson Tour de Femme.  Having scorched up the Takaka Hill in the tour’s opening stage Hewitt provided herself a comfortable buffer which she was able to maintain for the duration.  Nelson’s Serena Sheridan, the only rider to have completed the tour every year since it’s 2001 inception, has steadily climbed the ranks, finishing second on GC, 1min 05 down on Hewitt while Dale Tye claimed third courtesy of a strong individual time trial on Stage 4. 

A number of attacks were mounted in the final stage in an endeavour to pin back Hewitt but the diminutive Olympic contender reveled in the challenges showing her ability to within stand pressure.  Her answer to the aggressors was to claim third on the final hill climb, in a display which put the field ‘in it’s place’.

Wellington youngster, Emma Crum has obviously rolled many kilometers around the capital’s terrain.  Her result in the Queen of the Mountain competition producing ‘all but’ maximum points while Cyclosport teammate, Rachel Mercer claimed the Sprint Ace title featuring in all but one of the points opportunities.

Results.
General Classification:  Andrea Hewitt, Chch, 6.58.56, 1; Serena Sheridan, Nn, + 1.05, 2; Dale Tye, Inv, 1.41, 3.  QOM: Emma Crum, Wtgn, 48pts, 1; Andrea Hewitt, 25pts, 2; Laura Thompson, Chch, 14pts, 3.  Sprint Ace: Rachel Mercer, Wtgn, 39pts, 1; Nimesha Smith, Chch, 32pts, 2; Tracy Clark,  Chch, 14pts, 3.  Categories.  Under 23: Sheridan, 7.00.01, 1; Laura Thompson, 7.01.07, 2; Emma Crum, 7.01.17, 3.  23-34:  Hewitt, 6.58.56, 1; Tye, 7.00.37, 2; Sara Macdonald, Dunedin, 7.00.57, 3.  35-44: Bridget Robertshawe, Wtgn, 7.02.46, 1; Karen Fulton, Nn, 7.03.50, 2; Amanda Minty, Chch, 7.04.27, 3.  45-54: Eileen Searle, Nn, 7.11.08, 1; Jennifer Byrnes, Aust, 7.55.57, 2; Eleanor Wooff, Chch, 7.56.09, 3.  55+: Christine van Hoppe, Nn, 7.45.25, 1.
Subway Stage One: Andrea Hewitt, 1; Emma Crum, 2; Sara Macdonald, 3. 
Moutere Inn Stage Two: Rachel Mercer, 1; Nimesha Smith, 2; Karen Fulton, 3.
Village Cycles Stage Three: Keren van der Boon, Wtgn, 1; Jeannie Kuhajek, 2; Ashleigh James,  Akld, 3.
McDonald Contracting Stage Four: Dale Tye, 1; Britta Martin, Nn 2; Serena Sheridan, 3.
Nelson Insurance Brokers Stage Five: Rachel Mercer, 1; Serena Sheridan, 2; Andrea Hewitt, 3.