Cycling: Elite riders returning to Bay

POSTCARD: Support vehicles line up behind the elite men's peloton in Hawke's Bay last year. PHOTO/FILE

The Cycling New Zealand Elite Road Championships have been confirmed for Napier in January.

This follows the successful first-up event in Napier this year with the course and the organisation earning generous praise, especially from New Zealand's World Tour professional riders.

Organisers have made some changes to both the time trial and road race courses. The time trial on January 6 around the Church Road Winery near Taradale has been simplified and will allow for more efficient traffic management to make life easier for the local community.

The road race course will remain with a single loop from Napier in to the Taradale hills before returning for multi-laps over Napier Hill circuit and a waterfront finish.

Parts of the course have also been tweaked to allow for improved traffic management and a better racing experience. The women's race will be 112km and the elite men 169km, both slightly shortened from the 2016 race.

The other change is the addition of an under-23 women's race, which will mirror the men's race categories. The UCI category for women sees riders moving from junior (under-19) directly to elite and Cycling New Zealand believes the addition of an under-23 category will smooth this transition.

Like the men, the under-23 riders will compete in the same event as the elite women, but it will create a race within a race and better recognise their talents while also providing the experience of racing against elite riders.

"There are challenges in the transition for a female under-19 rider directly into the elite category and this recognition of a specific under-23 event will provide a better competitive opportunity for the increasing amount of talent coming through the junior ranks," said Cycling New Zealand's high performance athlete development leader, Graeme Hunn.

"The chance to compete with their peers but also gain recognition for their performance will further support and encourage the younger elite riders."

Entries open on November 11 with details www.elitenationals.co.nz