RaboDirect New Zealand Club Road Cycling Championships

New Zealand’s top domestic cyclists converge on Wanganui this week for the most anticipated race on their calendar – the RaboDirect Club Road National Championships.

BikeNZ Women’s Track Coach Dayle Cheatley (Wanganui) will walk the talk when he lines up for the senior men’s road race on Sunday. His biggest competition will come from former double Olympian Chris Nicholson (Nelson) and Subway Pro Cycling’s Paul Odlin, a recent sprint jersey winner at the Tour of Korea.

Auckland’s Mel Burke will defend her senior women’s title, with strong challenges expected from New Zealand representative Toni Bradshaw (Auckland) and the consistently strong Karen Fulton (Nelson).

The under 19 age group races promises to be action-packed, doubling as national selection races. Junior World Championship representative Georgia Williams (North Harbour) will be one to watch, along with Southland’s Sophie Williamson who dominated at the national championships earlier this year.

Pure Black Racing’s domestic squad will be a force in the under 19 men’s road race with Fraser Gough (Hawke’s Bay), Dion Smith (Auckland) and James Oram (Auckland) all in action.

Gary Ulmer (Auckland), father of Olympic gold-medallist Sarah, will be back to defend his men’s 70 year old plus road race title.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games representative Gordon McCauley debuts in the masters’ ranks, competing in both Thursday’s time trial and Saturday’s road race.

Over 540 riders from under 15 to over 70 year olds will race the four day competition which begins on Thursday.