New Zealand nationals to Nelson

Over 300 riders from all over New Zealand are expected to take part in the national championships races this weekend in Nelson.

Clinton Avery will be making the switch from the road to the mountain bike this weekend as he rides in the cross country national championships on Sunday. Avery was riding with the New Zealand national team at the Tour Down Under in South Australia last week and immediately prior to that rode in the U23 road and time trial national championships in Upper Hutt, in which he finished third.

Avery will be challenged by Marcus Roy, who has won two National Series rounds this year and beat Avery into third at the 2006 championships on the same course.

Throughout the national series this season, the downhill fields have been setting attendance records, and this weekend is expected to prove no exception. In the elite men’s race, 2006 junior world champion Cameron Cole and runner-up Sam Blenkinsop are expected to give reigning champion Nathan Rankin a tough battle for the champion's jersey. Scarlett Hagen has been dominating the elite women’s down hill racing so far this year, and is the favorite on the women's side.

The Schedule:
Friday, January 26 - Hill Climb
Saturday, January 27 - Downhill, Four Cross
Sunday January 28 – Cross Country