Cycling: Peden's hopes ride high

Anthony Peden's bid to win five consecutive national keiren and sprint cycling titles starts today at the Wanganui Velodrome.

The major events of the national track championships today are the keiren and the men's and women's individual pursuit titles. Peden's form in Sydney two-and-a-half weeks ago has made him the firm favourite.

His 10.38s was the fastest 200m time ridden in Australia since the Olympics and was just three 100ths of a second outside the Australian record.

The women's pursuit also has a clear-cut favourite in Sarah Ulmer. Annaliisa Farrell is her main challenger.

After representing New Zealand at the junior world championships last year, Wanganui rider Catherine Sell is aiming for a top-six finish in her first year as a senior, says coach Ron Cheatley.

The men's pursuit is not so clear cut. However reigning champion and Commonwealth Games prospect Hayden Godfrey, from Canterbury, is favoured on form.

- NZPA