The Ashburton rider has confirmed his entry in the tour and will race for the Placemakers team.Tour director Bruce Ross said he was delighted the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 champion would return.
"Hayden is a top rider who has overcome significant adversity to achieve at the highest levels," Ross said, "He’s more than handy on the bike, knows all the tricks of the trade and will be putting up a great fight. He’s also extremely competitive so that will make for scintillating racing."
The 35-year-old picked up professional road contracts with Cofidis (2002) and Discovery Channel (2005) before a heart condition led to an enforced retirement.
He was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, which left him short of breath.
The condition pushed his heart rate to dangerous levels and meant there was a risk of dying every time he rode his bike.
But after bringing the condition under control, Roulston returned to racing in 2006, remarkably winning the national men’s road title and the Tour of Southland that year, and then going on to become the first New Zealand cyclist to win two Olympic medals.
He won a silver medal in the men’s 4000m individual pursuit and a bronze medal in the men’s 4000m team pursuit at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
He was also selected in the national team for Rio this year.
The highly decorated rider has also won two silver medals in the points race (2006) and road race (2010), as well as a bronze in the team pursuit (2002) at the Commonwealth Games.
He has collected four national road championships and finished 10th in the punishing Paris-Roubaix race in 2010.
Roulston last rode the tour in 2011 and will be aiming to cement his position as the second-most successful competitor behind Brian Fowler, who won the race eight times.
"I’m really excited to be coming down for the Tour of Southland again and to a race I know very well," Roulston said.
"I wanted a good, challenging goal to focus on after a disappointing Olympic campaign and Southland is perfect for this."
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Tour of Southland, which will get under way on October 30.
