Otago track cyclist Alysha Keith has been named in an 11-strong New Zealand team to contest a world cup event in Los Angeles later this month.
The New Zealand men's sprint team of Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins will have their final outing in the rainbow jerseys - signifying their world champion status - in the event, which will lead into April's World Championships in Hong Kong.
They were in strong form at the recent national championships and pleased coach Anthony Peden with their training levels and preparedness.
Olympian Natasha Hansen makes her international return in the women's sprint events.
Three of the Rio Olympic women's endurance team, Jaime Nielsen, Rushlee Buchanan and Racquel Sheath, will compete in Los Angeles, as will Keith and Manawatu's Michaela Drummond, while track rider of the year Lauren Ellis will lead a young combination for the World Cup in Cali, Colombia, beginning on February 18.
With no men's team pursuit on the programme, rising young guns Campbell Stewart (Manawatu) and Tom Sexton (Southland) will divert from Cali to compete in the madison and scratch races in Los Angeles.
