The UCI has announced that the Women's Tour of New Zealand will return in 2015 with a UCI 2.2 ranking and will become the third race on the women's cycling calendar in 2015 after a two-year hiatus.
The five-day race will be held in the Wairarapa region in New Zealand's north island from February 18-22 and will follow races in Argentina and Qatar.
Expressing her support for the race, UCI vice-president and Oceania president Tracey Gaudry added the return of the race was reflective of the continued growth of women's cycling.
"The UCI is committed to growing cycling worldwide and providing greater opportunities for female cyclists," she said. "The Trust House Women's Tour of New Zealand is a highly-anticipated addition to the 2015 World and Oceania road cycling calendars for women.
"Every continent around the world will host the world's best women road cyclists in 2015 – what a great way to inspire women to take up cycling."
The team's competing in the race will be announced later in the year with 140 riders expected to attend the 530km race.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I've worked really hard to gain support to stage this event and am so excited cycling's governing body, the UCI, has granted international status to the 2015 Trust House Women's Tour of New Zealand," said the race director Jorge Sandoval.
"I am very grateful to Trust House Foundation and Destination Wairarapa as without their support, this event would not take place.
"Previous cycle races held in the Wairarapa have attracted some of the world's best riders and a similar class field is expected next year with the tour having been granted international status by the UCI," said Sandoval.
The CEO of New Zealand's cycling federation, Bike NZ, also expressed his welcome to the return of an UCI sanctioned race after the hiatus.
"The tour will showcase world class riders, many New Zealander's among them, and provide invaluable inspiration to our next generation of female cyclists," Andrew Matheson said.
The race is expected to draw a world class women's peloton containing Olympic and Commonwealth medallists as well as national and world champions
The 2012 edition was won by Evelyn Stevens ahead of Shara Gillow and Taryn Heather.
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
