Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team adds World Cup winner and Commonwealth Games medallist to lineup

The Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team has added World Cup winner and Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist Lauren Ellis to its line up for this Sunday’s second round of the Benchmark Homes elite cycling tour being held in Timaru.

Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team Manager Kelly Chapman said having New Zealand representative Ellis, who has also won a World Championship Silver Medal on the track, in the team for the series was “fantastic.”

“It’s great to have her on board. Lauren was looking to ride in the series and to have her line up with us is motivating for the team.”

Ellis, who has raced professionally on the road in the United States, has had most of her success on the track and is a key member of the Bike NZ endurance track team which is focused on gold medal success at next year’s London Olympics.

She says she is looking forward to some road racing at home and knows the roads outside on Timaru quite well.

“Sunday’s race will be a really hard ride; the profile doesn't do it justice. There are lots of short hard climbs that don't look like much on the profile but I’m really looking forward to it and racing with the Warmup Pushbikes team.”

The Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team has also signed up a second female rider for the series. Sharlotte Lucas from the West Coast lives in Christchurch while studying at Canterbury University and Chapman said having two females racing for the team made a big difference in the competition for team points in Category two.

“Sharlotte has had some very strong results, including a good win in May’s Girls on Bikes where she beat several of our leading local female riders in a close finish.”

The Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team for Saturday is; Scott McDonnell, Jeremy Inglis, John McKenzie, Glen Quantock, Ben Wortelboer, Ellis and Lucas.