Robin Reid is to spearhead a challenge to reclaim the Wellington Classic cycling crown.
Reid, who won the race in 2002, is entering a team in the five-day, 564km race around Wellington and the Wairarapa on January 24-28.
A 2004 Olympian, Reid has put together a team featuringJeremy Vennell, Aaron Strong, Justin Kerr and Richard Speer.
Race organiser Jorge Sandoval expects this combination to figure prominently.
"I expect to see Strong and Reid working hard for general classification while the young ones would be supporting them but at the same time creating their own chances for stage wins and final general classification," Sandoval said.
"I know that Aaron Strong is coming to Wellington with great expectations and to prove that he is the best hill climber in this country."
Sandoval also announced today that two other teams had confirmed their participation.
World Cup medal winner and member of the 2006 Commonwealth Games rider Jason Allen is to lead the Samsung New Zealand team comprising Matt Gilbert, Dean Fulton, Ross Stewart and Aaron Wheeler.
Also, a Wellington Star-Mercedes team will include Shem Rodger, Brad Carter, Mark Langlands, Ryan Willis and Peter Rennie.
