Cycling: Five NZ riders named for world champs

New Zealand will not send a senior men's team to the world road cycling championships in Salzburg, Austria, on September 20-24.

Injury to leading road rider Julian Dean, the unavailability of United States-based Greg Henderson and the enforced retirement of Hayden Roulston due to illness left BikeNZ with no world class riders to call on for either the road race or time trial.

The elite women's team will consist of just two riders, Joanne Kiesanowski and Toni Bradshaw, while the under-23 men's hopes rest with Peter Latham, Tim Gudsell and Logan Hutchings.

Latham won a bronze medal in the time trial at last year's world championships in Barcelona, Spain.

"With the injury (broken fingers) to Julian Dean and his subsequent unavailability, the decision was made to only select riders in the under-23 men's category and New Zealand's two best performing women road cyclists based on current form," BikeNZ high performance director Michael Flynn said today.

New Zealand are permitted two riders in the under-23 men's time trial, and Flynn said the decision who would ride would be made nearer the time.

Kiesanowski and Bradshaw will compete in the road race only.

The under 23-men's time trial will be held on September 20 on a 39.54km course while the under-23 men's and elite women road races are on September 23.

New Zealand team:-

Elite women's road race: Joanne Kiesanowski, Toni Bradshaw.

Under-23 men's road race/time trial: Peter Latham, Tim Gudsell, Logan Hutchings.

- NZPA