All in for historic cup this weekend

There is something enticing for a cyclist in seeing their name engraved in sterling silver.

A strong field of about 100 riders will contest the Cycling Wanganui Grand Prix this weekend, with the A-grade headliners eager to add their name to the rich history of the John Bull Cup.

Cycling NZ director Ron Cheatley said the highly valuable cup, gifted in 1924, has passed through the hands of several top competitors from the national and international stage.

"If you look at the winners on it, there's some big names over the years."

In the early 1980s the Grand Prix wins by the Swart brothers Commonwealth Games medallists Jack (1981) and Stephen (1983) bookended the victory by Wanganui's Stephen Cox, in the same year he won Commonwealth Games bronze (1982).

Gary Anderson MBE won the Grand Prix three times 1991-2 and 1997. Dayle Cheatley is Wanganui's other multiple winner, going back-to-back in 2004-5, while the most successful is Palmerston North's Lee Vertongen, four-time champion.

Casting his eye over the 2013 entries, Ron Cheatley noted the appearance of Taupo cyclist Patrick Bevan, who rides for the United States-based Bissell pro team.

"He would be the favourite, he's won a lot here and in America."

Wellington's Andy Hagan also has a creditable chance, as does Hawke's Bay's Regan Gough, a member of the New Zealand Under-19 team.

Whakatane's Ryan Wills and Hastings' Josh Page are the other contenders.

As well as the Grand Prix, the race also doubles as the West Coast (North Island) road championships, so there will be titles on the line for the A, B and C grades, as well as Masters 1-4, Women, and the Under-19 levels.

The individual time trials are on Saturday, starting at 10am from the Talbot St-Anzac Parade corner and heading toward the Parapara highway and back. Sunday is the road race starting from the Bason Reserve on Rapanui Rd and then lapping down to Watt Livingstone Rd up to State highway 3, and then back to the finish line.

The road racing starts 9.30am, with the A-grade riders beginning about 12.30pm.