Cycling: Godfrey uses 330km race as toner

New Zealand track rider Hayden Godfrey starts his lead-up to a big year when he lines up in the Tour de Vineyards in Nelson today.

The World Cup pursuit team gold medallist from Canterbury is one of around 50 riders entered in the four-day, 330km tour around the Nelson region.

Godfrey is using the race as preparation for the national championships in Wanganui in March.

If Godfrey performs well in Wanganui, he will enhance his selection chances for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

"It's important because it's all part of my preparation for the track nationals," he said.

"I'll be racing hard - this is the start of my build-up for everything."

Although Godfrey rode in last month's Tour of Southland, he was not fully prepared for the gruelling 900km event.

"I'd had a break of a couple of weeks from training after the world champs in Belgium [in September]. It wasn't that flash."

Godfrey has worked hard in the interim and has been satisfied with his progress. The Tour de Vineyards was the ideal race at this stage of his preparation, he said.

Godfrey's national pursuit squad team-mates have also entered the tour. Matt Randall of Southland, Hayden Roulston of Canterbury, Otago's Shane Melrose and Marlborough's Jason Allen will join Godfrey in Nelson before continuing their build-up in the Tour of Wellington from January 2 to 6.

Promising juniors Heath Blackgrove of Waimate and Ben Robson of Riwaka could also be prominent.

Blackgrove finished seventh in the Tour of Southland, and Robson is a strong mountainbiker who is expected to feature on the Takaka Hill.

The women's race has attracted a small but elite field, including Susy Pryde of Auckland, Tracy Clark of Canterbury and Takaka's Lisa Savage.

US-based professional Pryde is New Zealand's leading road cyclist.

- NZPA