Cycling: Top trio in road team

Julian Dean, Greg Henderson and Hayden Roulston will head the New Zealand challenge at next month's world road cycling championships in Melbourne.

They will contest the men's road race in Melbourne on October 3 over a 263km course consisting of an initial 80km trek from the start at Federation Square in downtown Melbourne to Geelong, where they will then complete 11 laps of a 16km circuit with two short but telling climbs on each lap.

"It's exciting that we can go to a world championship with three men who are all now established Pro Tour riders with success under their belt at the highest levels of the sport," BikeNZ road programme Sporting director Andy Reid said.

BikeNZ initially named a squad of six riders to prepare for the championships, to cover potential injuries.

"Both Julian and Hayden had injuries on the Vuelta a Espana (this month's Tour of Spain).

"Julian is fine and has already gone up to his altitude training base and is working very hard on final preparations.

"Hayden has had a few days rest and his knee has responded well to treatment at this stage and he is really happy with his form at the Vuelta.

"And of course Greg is on fire winning a stage so far on the Tour of Britain and still challenging for the general classification too."

Commonwealth Games rider Gordon McCauley (Auckland) and US-based Jeremy Vennell will compete in the men's time trial.

Vennell and national road champion Jack Bauer (Nelson) are the reserves for the men's road team.

The women's team is led by HTC Colombia pro rider Linda Villumsen and new US National Series champion Catherine Cheatley in a six-strong combination.

The time trials for the under-23 men and elite women will be held on September 29 with the elite men racing the following day.

The under 23-men's road race over 10 laps of the 16km circuit is on Oct 1 and the elite women's on October 2.

Confirmed New Zealand teams:

Elite men road race: Julian Dean (Rotorua), Hayden Roulston (Christchurch), Greg Henderson (Melbourne). Reserve: Jeremy Vennell (Hawke's Bay), Jack Bauer (Nelson, non-travelling)

Time Trial: Gordon McCauley (Auckland), Vennell.

Elite women road race: Catherine Cheatley (Wanganui), Linda Villumsen (Auckland), Toni Bradshaw (Counties Manukau), Serena Sheridan (Hawkes Bay), Emma Crum (Auckland), Courteney Lowe (Tauranga).

Time trial: Melissa Holt (Cambridge), Villumsen.

Under-23 road race: Michael Vink (Christchurch), Jason Christie (Ashburton), George Bennett (Nelson). Reserves: Shem Rodger (Cambridge), James Williamson (Alexandra, non-travelling).

Time Trial: Vink, Rodger.

- NZPA