Former women's Tour of France and current Dainish national road and time trial Champion Linda Villumsen, has changed her citizenship to New Zealand.  Villumsen, 24, told the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet that she had long considered her move before actually changing her citizenship. "My connection to Denmark will always be there, but it is here in New Zealand that I have my life," she said. "I've found my place and it gives me a great peace. I hope the Danes understand."

Villumsen went Further explaining the change,  "On one level, I will always be a Dane. There is where I have my grown up and I have family there. But New Zealand has been a part of me for many years since finishing my schooling here in Pakuranga and I am half-adopted by a family down there."

However one problem she faces is the possibility of riding the World Championships in Copenhagen for New Zealand in 2011. "For my family and friends it does not matter whether I race in the red and white of Denmark or the black of New Zealand. But I'm curious as to how the Danish spectators will receive me," Villumsen noted.

"I hope I will not be booed. I hope the Danes will not see it as a loss that I am switching citizenship, but that instead they will welcome the fact that I have found a place where I feel at home and where I will feel good."