Lion Foundation NZ Criterium Championships race preview

Gordon McCauley will have his work cut out for him if he is to take the title of Elite mens NZ Criterium Champion at the Lion Foundation Criterium Championships in New Plymouth this Sunday.

McCauley, 2006 NZ road Cyclist of the Year and gold medalist in the Time Trial at the Lion Foundation Road and Track Oceania Championships last month, will line up against last weekends winner of the Armstrong Peugeot City Criterium, Jason Allen and 2nd placed Josh England.

Also competiting is Commonwealth games Team Pursuit bronze medalist and Criterium specialist, Hayden Godfrey from Christchurch and a number of riders who recently competed in the Oceania Championships. The Elite men will ride for 50 minutes plus 3 laps of the 800m circuit in downtown New Plymouth.

In the Womens event, New Plymouth's Kerri-Anne Torckler will be hoping for a repeat performance of her win at the Elite Women’s hot dog Criterium in Taupo a fortnight ago.

Torckler will be relying on her local knowledge of the Central city circuit as she lines up against Malindi Maclean, winner of last weeks Armstrong Peugeot City Criterium. Other riders to watch include, Racheal Mercer, bronze medalist at the Oceania TT and a New Zealand representative at the 2007 World Junior Road Championships, Emma Crum, bronze medalist at the Oceanias Road Race Championships and Silver Commonwealth games medalist on the road and mountain bike, Susy Pryde.

Racing will commence at 9.20am until 3.00pm with Video coverage of the event being relayed to spectators on the TSB Community Trust "Big Screen".

Timetable of events:

9:20am: U17 Girls

10.00am: U17 Girls Medal presentations

10.10am: U17 Boys

10.50am: U17 Boys Medal presentations

11.00am: Open “A” men and Masters

11.55am: Open “A” men and Masters Medal presentations

12.30pm: U13 Boys and Girls

12.50pm: U13 Boys and Girls Medal Presentations

1.00pm: Elite/Open Women

1.50pm: Elite/Open Women Medal Presentations

2.00pm: Elite, U23 and U 19 Men

3.00pm: Elite, U23 and U19 Men Medal Presentations