Yates faces strong challenges in annual Lake Taupo Challenge

New Zealand National Points Series leader Jeremy Yates will have to overcome a strong field if he is to continue his winning run in the fifth round at the Wattyl Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge on Saturday. Yates (Napier) is chasing his fourth straight win in the series after victories in the Taupo-Napier, Around Taranaki and K2 races. A win would add to an already successful season for him including a national club title and the King of the Mountains honours in the Tour of Southland.

Yates will need to be at his best to hold off a quality line-up in the 160km Avanti Classic Race chasing the winner's purse of NZL$5,000. The 100-strong field includes Beijing Olympic medallists Sam Bewley and Wes Gough, fellow squad member Peter Latham and World Omnium Champion Hayden Godfrey.

First round winner Karl Murray, second on points, is racing along with talented Taranaki rider Tom Findlay who heads off Morrinsville's Eliot Crother on the elite points table as well as in the under-23 honours. Experienced Gordon McCauley, runner-up in the Tour of Southland, will also pose a major threat.

Meanwhile the women's road series will be decided with the Hotdog Criterium around the streets of Taupo, racing for 30 minutes plus three laps of a 1.7km circuit. Former Wanganui rider Catherine Cheatley, now based in Southland, will be having her first competitive ride since the Beijing Olympics where she campaigned on the road and the track. The 2007 world championship bronze medallist will pose a strong threat against a solid field including Toni Bradshaw, Marine Duvnjak and Rachel Mercer.

The team battle is also heating up with leaders Torpedo 7 likely to come under real threat from Pro-Velo and Kiwi Velo. Torpedo 7 have Bevan Manson and Wayne McConachy to lead their way but will be chased by the six-strong Team Pro-Velo squad consisting of riders all 20 years and under, led by junior international Alex Cull. The big threat is the Kiwi Velo combination, bolstered with addition of professional Jeremy Vennell, Crowther and Alex Meenhorst to join Latham, who leaves shortly to ride for Team Bissell in the US pro circuit, and others.

The two races are part of the weekend of cycling festivities in Taupo including a men's criterium on Friday night and elite road races and amateur events on Saturday.