Several New Zealand World Tour stars, medal-winning para cyclists and a host of talented Kiwi riders will be chasing honours in the national elite road championships in Cambridge this week.
The championships begin today with time trials from Roto-o-Rangi School, near Cambridge.
New Zealand’s para cycling track world championship medallists will be competing in the time trials, including track world champion Devon Briggs, track and road star Nicole Murray, Rotorua rider Siobhan Terry and Waikato rider Emma Foy, who made a remarkable return to the sport last year.
Ohio-based Paralympian Rory Mead, just pipped for a medal in both time trial and road race at last year’s UCI para world championships, has travelled back to New Zealand to compete among a 10-strong contingent.
Finn Fisher-Black, who rides for the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe team on the UCI World Tour, will defend his elite time trial title.
The 24-year-old from Nelson will face challenges led by Paris Olympic track rider Tom Sexton, third in last year’s elite men’s time trial, and World Tour riders Reuben Thompson (Groupama FDJ), veteran George Bennett (NSN Cycling) and the multi-talented Ben Oliver, who lines up in new UCI Pro team Modern Adventure.
There will also be interest in star triathlete Hayden Wilde, who is competing in both time trial and Sunday’s road race.
The time trial courses today start and finish at Roto-o-Rangi School over distances from 18km to 44.2km. — Allied Media
