Jazz Apple Cycling Team takes bite out of America

Jazz Apple Cycling Team takes bite out of North America

VANCOUVER, B.C. - The Jazz Apple Cycling Team crunched the competition in the final lap of its second North American tour, pausing in Canada just long enough to put several team members atop the podium at B.C. Superweek's finale, before jetting back across the Pacific to New Zealand.

The Tour de Delta brought the week-long series of races in the Vancouver area to a close, with three Jazz cyclists gaining top honors. Rushlee Buchanan of Te Awamutu/Waikato claimed a first-place victory for ENZA JazzT in the July 21 criterium stage of the event, following the win with a third-place road race finish the next day. Malindi Maclean from Brookby, south of Auckland, ascended her way to first in the event's July 20 hill climb stage, with Jazz Apple teammate Allison Shanks of Dunedin finishing a close third behind her.

But the podium finishes in Delta were just the icing on the cake for the team of New Zealand's top female riders, as they frequently tasted success over the course of their two-month road racing tour throughout the U.S. and Canada. The red, white and navy clad cyclists also stood atop the podium in Vancouver's Tour de White Rock and Giro de Burnaby, and at California's Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, Nevada City Criterium and Carrera de San Rafael.

In addition to winning hearts across North America with their spirited performances on the road, the Jazz cyclists addressed a topic close to the heart of women everywhere - while making post-race and community appearances, they promoted the importance of apples in a heart-healthy diet.

"Research has shown apples can be a vital force in preventing heart disease in women, and eating Jazz is a delicious way to incorporate that 'apple a day' into your diet," said Susy Pryde, Jazz Apple team member and co-director. "We enjoyed spreading this important news to fans on every stop of the tour, and introducing them to the delightful taste of ENZA Jazz in the process."

The New Zealand-based team's tour complemented the timing of the New Zealand-grown JazzT apple crop, which started in May and will run through the month of August.

"This year's team perfectly embodies the spirit of Jazz," said David Nelley, pipfruit category director at The Oppenheimer Group, the exclusive North American marketer of ENZA Jazz. "Fresh, healthy and fun, and brought to you straight from New Zealand."

Visit www.jazzapple.com to view team bios, race results, pictures and recipes.

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