Cycling Otago president Chris Henderson is expecting good results from a small team at the national club road championships in Nelson this week.
Otago has sent a small team of just 12 riders but Henderson believes the province has some strong medal prospects.
Unfortunately, masters rider Peter Oakden, whom Henderson described as "almost a certain medal prospect", has pulled out with a sinus problem and up-and-coming under-17 rider Emma Sutherland has been sidelined after breaking her collarbone in a crash about two weeks ago.
But Henderson said under-19 competitor Brad Evans was an exceptional all-rounder and a strong medal prospect, as was Katri Laike in the senior women's road race.
Masters rider Geoff Keogh is an experienced campaigner and should be close to the medals if the road race is fast-paced.
Under-17 riders Alysha Keith "is flying" at the moment and Patrick Jones always rides well at big events, Henderson said.
Current national road series champions Jeremy Yates and partner Serena Sheridan from Hawkes Bay are favourites for honours in the championships.
Both will also defend the national club titles they won in Wanganui last year.
Yates was the most impressive of the domestic-based cyclists on the road last summer, dominating the national series and will enjoy the lumpy nature of the circuit at Moutere, west of Nelson.
He will be chasing a three-peat of clubs titles in Saturday's race after winning in 2007 and 2008.
Former world omnium champion Hayden Godfrey and former Olympian Robin Reid should be prominent in the men's race over 11 laps of the 16km circuit at Upper Moutere.
Emma Crum, last year's runner-up, is expected to provide the main competition for Sheridan in tomorrow's 128km senior women's race along with Jeannie Kuhajek and Kerri-Anne Torckler.
Other Otago riders competing at the championships are: Ben Powell, Alex Daniels, Carolyn Jenkins, Chris Henderson, Chris Harvey and Wayne Evans.
