National cycling champion heads top field for Perry Foundation REV Classic
Friday 19 February 2010, 2:43PM
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New Zealand road cycling champion Rushlee Buchanan heads a quality field for tomorrow’s Perry Foundation REV Classic race that starts and finishes in Hamilton.
Buchanan, who also won the scratch race title at the national track championships last week, will be looking to add another title to her list in the 120km race which is the second round of the RaboPlus National Points Series.
More than 60 elite riders have entered the Classic among more than a 1000 participants in the Perry Foundation REV Cycle Festival, which encompasses six different events tomorrow from 18km to the 120km Classic, ridden for individuals as well as teams.
Buchanan (Te Awamutu) won’t have things her own way with the race also attracting Beijing Olympian Cath Cheatley, with the kiwi pair to link up in the same professional women’s team based in the United States this year.
The one to watch will be Linda Villumsen, the former Danish star who is now riding in New Zealand colours. She was fifth in the Beijing Olympic road race and third in the time trial, and finished runner-up in both the road race and time trial at the RaboPlus national championships recently.
First round winner and defending series champion Serena Sheridan (Hawkes Bay) will also ensure it will be a highly competitive women’s race, along with Taranaki’s KerryAnn Torkler, runner-up in the opening round on her home turf last month.
National time trial champion and five-time national road winner Gordon McCauley will be favoured to take out the men’s race, hoping to improve on the race record he set last year.
McCauley will have the benefit of a strong Subway Avanti team with him, including the talented young James Williamson (Alexandra) and Sam Horgan (Christchurch), who was third in the opening round.
Major competition is likely from defending national series champion Jeremy Yates (Hawkes Bay) although he won’t have the benefit of support from the two trade teams in the race, Subway Avanti and Benchmark Homes.
Tour of Wellington winner Michael Torkler (New Plymouth) is another in outstanding form along with Taranaki’s Brett Tivers who was edged into second place in a sprint finish in the first round.
The event also encompasses the fourth round of seven in the RaboPlus Recreational Cycling Series.
Racing begins at 11am with the classic course starting in Hamilton via Cambridge, over French Pass to Karapiro, passing near Matamata, Kiwitahi and back to Hamilton.