There will be more than 500 riders and staff and 54 teams competing in the fourth of six world cup competitions that will provide the final qualifying process towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The event starts tonight.
The United States, Switzerland and Ukraine have been in Cambridge for more than a week while other nations have been dripping in.
"This is shaping not only as the biggest event that we have hosted here at the Avantidrome, but arguably the hottest competition in a very important phase for countries towards their Olympic qualification," Cycling New Zealand chief executive Jacques Landry said.
"The last world cup here produced some fantastic racing but this is expected to ramp up even more. There are some extraordinary riders here and in good form with a lot riding on these results.
The endurance competition is headed by Australia with both of its rainbow jersey male and female combinations competing in Cambridge. It boasts individual world champions Ashlee Ankudinoff (individual pursuit), Alexandra Manly (points race) and Sam Welsford (scratch race).
The New Zealand team is headed by omnium world champion Campbell Stewart, who will face stern competition in what promises to be a bristling men’s omnium including Madison world champion Roger Kluge, of Germany, nine-time world champion Cameron Meyer, of Australia, and two-time European champion Liam Bertazzo, of Italy.
Sprint and keirin world champion Lee Wai Sze will be the rider to watch in the women’s sprint along with Australia’s world team sprint champion Stephanie Morton.
The New Zealand trio of Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins will chase glory in the team sprint as well as face stiff competition in the individual events from the likes of 2017 world sprint champion Denis Dmitriev, of Russia, and 2018 world champion Matthew Glaetzer, of Australia, who remarkably is expected to confirm his entry despite recent cancer surgery.
Meanwhile, double Olympic medallist Hayden Roulston is hoping he can impart his experience on the next group of young cyclists who will get a unique opportunity to compete at the World Cup.
Roulston, who won silver and bronze medals at the Beijing Olympics is now Cycling New Zealand’s men’s endurance development coach.
Roulston is guiding the New Zealand development men’s teamwwhich will ride under the Southern Spars Trade Team banner in the team pursuit and scratch race.
Roulston said the standard and depth of the Cycling New Zealand programme was significantly greater than his time and therefore the transition to the elite ranks is considerable.
