KEY POINTS:
Don't ask race director Jorge Sandoval to predict a winner for his five-day Wellington Cycling Classic starting tomorrow.
Sandoval is delighted with the quality of the field for the 564km race, so much so he considers the contenders are many and varied.
Most of this country's best riders will line up for the event, beginning with a team time trial in Lower Hutt.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Hayden Roulston, with the Trek-Zookeepers CafC) team, will take his place in the event despite having not fully recovered from a riding accident a fortnight ago.
He will be one of the leading contenders and with another Commonwealth Games medallist in Gordon McCauley on his team, plus Marc Ryan and Sam Bewley.
Given the composition of the team, Roulston will be given every opportunity.
One team likely to give Roulston a run for the honours will be the strong Subway team, including Hayden Godfrey, Logan Hutchings, Joe Cooper and top triathlete Kris Gemmell.
Other contenders include the Australian pro team and the Trust House team, led by past winner Robin Reid, with leading New Zealand hillclimber Aaron Hill and Jeremy Vennel providing support.
Sandoval is reluctant to pick a winner.
"This year's race will be a very close one," he said.
"If Hayden Roulston was 100 per cent fit I would say he is the favourite but with him still favouring the injury to his hand the other riders will attack him on the hills where he need both hands the most.
"Jeremy Vennel has been close to winning other tours in the past and I think he is the rider to watch.
"He never says much, never looks for any headlines on or off the bike but is one of the most under-rated cyclists in this country and I believe he will be up with the leaders with one day to go.
"The beauty of this race is that all top riders are race fit and they are not coming here to get some fitness.
"If any rider is thinking they will have it easy, I've got news for him because the Cycle Classic is a tough race and the many hills in the Wairarapa will sort them out very quickly," Sandoval said.
- NZPA
