Oceania Road Cycling Championships set to begin in Canberra – Insidethegames.biz

The 2017 Oceania Cycling Championships are set to continue tomorrow with the road version due to begin in Canberra.

The three-day event is the second of three Continental Championships in quick succession, coming on the back of last weeks BMX competition in Bathurst and prior to the mountain bike competition in Toowoomba on Sunday (March 12).

More than 200 of Oceania's best road cyclists will descend on Australia's capital with 12 titles to decided on the road.

Champions will be crowned in the time trials and road races, for men and women, in the elite, under-23 and under-19 categories.

Australia's Sean Lake will be looking to defend his time trial and road race crowns.

New Zealands Joseph Cooper will be aiming to reclaim the time trial title he won in 2014, while national championship medallists Jason Christie of New Zealand and Australias Ben Dyball will also be vying for gold.

Australias Shannon Malseed is chasing back-to-back titles in the elite womens category, but is likely to have strong competition from compatriots Lisen Hockings and Lucy Kennedy, and New Zealands Ruby Livingstone, all of whom are bidding for their first.

"Over an exciting three days, we will be sure to witness exceptional performances from elite and aspiring athletes from across our region including from Australia, New Zealand, Guam and Tahiti in under-19, under-23 and elite categories," Oceania Cycling Confederation President Tracey Gaudry said.

"Many athletes will be competing in their first international event, while the more seasoned competitors including Rio 2016 Olympians will be aiming to represent their country at the 2017 World Road Cycling Championships in Norway this September.

"The Championships is positioned as the marquee event within the 2017 Oceania Tour, all carrying UCI (International Cycling Union) status, providing an immense opportunity for athletes in the Oceania region to compete against some of the worlds best on home soil.

"The competition will be intense, heightened by the spectacular rugged terrain in Canberra and the surrounding Stromlo and Tidbinbilla regions."

Oceania's best mountain bikers will take centre stage on Sunday, chasing not just continental honours but potential selection for the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Australian city Cairns.

More than 400 riders will battle it out for 10 titles at the Jubilee Mountain Bike Park, in the cross-country and downhill disciplines.

Six cross-country crowns will be decided in elite, under-23 and under-19 categories.

New Zealands Anton Cooper is looking to make it back-to-back in the elite mens cross-country, but is set to face stiff competition from Australians Daniel McConnell and Cameron Ivory.

Australias Rebecca Henderson will be aiming to defend her elite women's cross-country title, with compatriots Peta Mullens and Eliza Kwan also set top be in contention.

The downhill category will see four riders become Oceania champions in the elite and junior mens and womens races.

Last Saturday (March 4), Australians Kai Sakakibara and Leanna Curtis were crowned the elite champions at the 2017 Oceania BMX Championships.

Sakakibara, 20, was too strong in the elite men's event, taking gold in an Australian one-two-three ahead of Matthew Juster and Aaron Nottle.

In the elite women's event, reigning Australian champion Curtis took the title having finished fifth a year earlier.

New Zealand's Rebecca Petch claimed the silver medal with Australias Rachel Jones completing the podium.

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Oceania Road Cycling Championships set to begin in Canberra - Insidethegames.biz