Cycling: No leeway for cycling pros

Europe-based professionals Julian Dean and Hayden Roulston are unlikely to receive any latitude in tomorrow's national road cycling championships in Christchurch.

Although the pair are among the favourites in the 13-lap, 186km men's race around the Cashmere Hills, a talented and hungry field of New Zealand hopefuls, including two trade teams, won't do them any favours.

While the high-profile professionals won't attract any financial gain this weekend, wearing the national champion's jersey in Europe's major tours, which ensures profile for both rider and country, will be a significant lure.

"I've always regarded that as something special," said Dean, the 2007 and 2008 national champion.

Dean does not rate his chances as he struggles back to fitness after a remarkably gruelling 2009 season, where he was the only professional to complete all three grand tours of the Giro Italia, Tour de France and Tour of Spain, battling his way to more than 9000km in nine weeks of riding with the best cyclists on the planet.

"I am definitely struggling right now. I guess to be fair I have a long season ahead and I would be in trouble if I was in good form now," Dean said.

"Pros like me and Roly [Hayden Roulston] don't need to be in our best shape to win here, but I am definitely not producing the numbers that I was at this time last year."

Dean said the 900m climb up the Cashmere Hills on each of 13 laps would be a challenge but would also produce some tactical battles.

Dean, who heads off to ride the Tour Downunder for his Garmin Slipstream team next week, said Roulston was the favoured rider.

"Roly has not really raced since the Tour de France aside from the worlds. He is fresh, has had a break and has trained really hard for this. He's in his home town and he knows the circuit better than most."

Roulston, who will compete for his new Columbia HTC team this year, is itching to claim the national road title on home turf.

The women's road race on Saturday, eight laps of the same course, is expected to feature a battle between Jo Kiesanowski and Danish-born New Zealand convert Linda Villumsen.

Kiesanowski has been New Zealand's best road rider for several years. Chasing a spot on the track team for the Commonwealth Games, she makes a rare showing at the national road championships and is keen to succeed in her home town.

The other interest lies with Villumsen, fifth in the road race at Beijing and a former winner of the women's Tour de France.

She is preparing for the European season for her Columbia HTC team.

- NZPA