European-based professionals Julian Dean and Hayden Roulston are unlikely to receive any latitude in this weekend's RaboPlus National Elite Road Cycling Championships in Christchurch.
The duo are among the most favoured riders in the 13 lap, 186km men's race around the Cashmere Hills but a talented and hungry field of kiwi hopefuls, including two trade teams, won't do the talented pair any favours.
The women's road race on Saturday, after eight laps of the same course, is expected to feature a battle with the super-talented Jo Kiesanowski and Danish-born kiwi convert Linda Villumsen.
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. "I think it's been a win-win situation in that I received more attention but accordingly the New Zealand black jersey was seen by millions and millions of fans at the events and on television."
Dean does not rate his chances as he struggles back to fitness following 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 9000kms 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.
"It's going to be an interesting race. There are two trade teams in the race and some really good riders who won't give us any leeway."
Dean said that the 900m climb up the Cashmere Hills on each of 13 laps will be a challenge but will also produce some tactical battles.
"It might produce a break because while it is not too tough, doing it 13 times is going to hurt. But if we are all together at the base of that climb on the last lap, then it presents a dilemma. If you go then, it is still a long way from the top to the finish line, more than 5kms.
"A break with a few riders is likely to get caught before the finish. Who knows? It will be pretty interesting."
Dean, who heads to ride the Tour Downunder for his Garmin Slipstream team next week, says that Roulston is the favoured rider.
Roulston, who heads away to compete for his new Columbia HTC team this year, is itching to claim the national road title on home turf.
"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."
There are some other talented prospects including Olympic team pursuit medallist Sam Bewley (Rotorua), who will ride for Lance Armstrong's new Radio Shack pro team this year.
Wellington's Jack Bauer, who impressed with his second placing at the Tour of Southland, will no doubt ride prominently while five-time winner Gordon McCauley will be hoping he can again benefit from his Subway Avanti team. US-based Jeremy Vennell, who rides for Team Bissell, is a noted climber as is Olympian Glen Chadwick, while other favoured riders include Tour of Southland winner Heath Blackgrove, two-time winner Jeremy Yates and a track pursuit ace Peter Latham, another Team Bissell pro.
The major defection is former world track champion Greg Henderson, obligated to a training camp with his new British Team Sky ahead of the Tour Downunder, while Francaise des Jeux professional Tim Gudsell (Te Awamutu) is out with a back injury.
The under-23 honours will be fought out from a strong group including Beijing track medallists Jesse Sergent (Feilding) and Wes Gough (Waipukurau), with a number of very talented young riders who may upset.
Jo Kiesanowski (Christchurch) has been New Zealand's best road rider for several years, competing of late for Team TIBCO in the US after a successful stint in Europe. While she is chasing a spot on the track team for the Commonwealth Games, Kiesanowski makes a reasonably rare showing at the national road championships and 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. Like Dean she is far from peak form as she prepares for the European season for her Columbia HTC team.
"I am just doing longer aerobic stuff right now and lots of gym work. I am not in the best shape for this type of race right now but I will do my best."
Other hopefuls include defending champion Melissa Holt (Cambridge), Team TIBCO professional Rushlee Buchanan (Te Awamutu), Team HiTec pro Rachel Mercer (Wellington), world championship track medallists Lauren Ellis (Ashburton) and Kaytee Boyd (Auckland) and 2008-2009 national series champion Serena Sheridan (Hawkes Bay).
The women's race starts at noon on Saturday with the winner expected by 3.30pm, with the men to start at 10.30am on Sunday and finish by 2.30pm with the base at Pioneer Stadium.
For race day coverage, see www.elitenationals.co.nz.
