Oceania elite road racing champion Paul Odlin lead’s the entries for this year’s Around Brunner Cycle event being held tomorrow on the South Island’s West Coast.

Odlin, from the SUBWAY® Pro Cycling Team, has been a very good form this year also winning the New Zealand elite time trial title and finishing second in the Oceania Time Trial behind his team mate Sam Horgan.

In a strong field last year’s elite race winners Sequoia Cooper from the Invercargill based H & J’s Outdoor World team and Leon Hextall (Benchmark Homes Cycling Team) are both back to defend their titles. 

Dan Barry (Benchmark Homes) is also in good form, winning last weekend’s Tour de Lakes tour and the first round of the Benchmark Homes Elite Racing Series near Blenheim late last month.

The men’s field in particular is stacked with potential winners and racing should be exciting with those not keen to see a bunch sprint finish throwing in attacks and trying to get away on a 130 kilometre course that does not offer any significant hill climbs, but is still long enough to test riders.

The two dominant teams are SUBWAY® Pro Cycling and Benchmark Homes and how they both approach and attempt to control the race could be a key factor.

Other riders expected to feature in the men’s elite race are Jeremy Yates, a former junior world champion who has recently retired from racing full time, SUBWAY® Pro Cycling’s Horgan, Dylan Kennett and Dillion Bennett, Benchmark Homes riders Alex Frame, who finished an impressive fourth in the scratch race at the recent track World Championships in Melbourne, Will Bowman and Hamish Schreurs. 
Five time national champion Gordon McCauley has also entered but has been more focused on triathlon and ironman racing in the last year, but should still make his presence felt. 

Other woman who should push Cooper in her attempt for back to back wins is Reta Trotman who won her second tough Le Race event late last month, finished fourth in the New Zealand elite road race in January and was the highest ranked Kiwi in the International NZCT Women’s Tour of New Zealand in February.

Other strong contenders are Sharlotte Lucas (Warmup Pushbikes Cycling Team), Josie Giddens and Hayley Mercer and Julia Grant from the Benchmark Homes team

MULTISPORT
Multisport festival attracting athletes of all descriptions
Inspirational comebacks, elite stars, national champions, first-timers and fun-chasing families  - this year's Thermatech 3D Rotorua Multisport Festival has got it all.

Thursday, 23 May 2013

RUNNING
2013 Nauti Travel Huntly Half Marathon
The 2013 Nauti Travel Huntly Half Marathon is once again taking place this Sunday for the 33rd time in what has become a race rich in history and 2013 provides much the same.

Thursday, 23 May 2013

RUNNING
Christchurch Airport Marathon - Return of the Champions
A healthy handful of past winners will go head to head at next week’s Christchurch Airport Marathon event.

Thursday, 23 May 2013

RUNNING
20th birthday celebrations set for iconic Taupo event
On Sunday 4th August a special birthday party will be taking to the streets of Taupo and everyone is invited!  The annual Mizuno Taupo Half Marathon will be celebrating its 20th birthday.

Wednesday, 22 May 2013

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Young North Canterbury rider top 10 in Mountain Bike World Cup
Young North Canterbury mountain biker Ben Oliver had an impressive start to his international career with a top-10 finish in the opening round of the UCI World Cup.

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

CYCLING
Archbold scores first win for new pro team
BikeNZ Olympian Shane Archbold has taken no time to strike for his new professional team with victory in stage two of the An Post Ras Tour of Ireland today.

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

TRIATHLON
Bozzone bounces back with race record win in Florida
The 2008 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Terenzo Bozzone has put his injury problems behind him with a comeback win in Florida today.

Monday, 20 May 2013

BMX
Walker excited as tickets go on sale for UCI BMX World Championships in Auckland
Fans will get their first chance to see the best BMX riders on the planet when Auckland hosts the 2013 UCI BMX World Championships on 24-28 July.

Monday, 20 May 2013

RUNNING
Camille Buscomb on track to qualify for 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
From Hamilton, Camille Buscomb is New Zealand’s leading female middle-distance athlete.

Monday, 13 May 2013

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Brook MacDonald 2013 The Search for Scree
New Zealand Downhill Mountain Bike Champion Brook MacDonald searches for some new and challenging scree.

Monday, 13 May 2013

TRIATHLON
Sisson looking for swim solutions to back his blistering run speed
Ryan Sissons knows what he is capable of and his 10km run split at the ITU World Triathlon Series race in Yokohama yesterday again hinted at it, but the 24 year old Aucklander is again cooling his heels after a less than satisfactory swim.

Monday, 13 May 2013

TRIATHLON
McIlroy holds on for top ten on a 'flat day' in Yokohama
Kate McIlroy made the most of a bad day at the office when finishing 9th at the latest round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Yokohama today, a result that leaves the Wellington athlete 7th in the overall series standings after three races.

Sunday, 12 May 2013

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