Cycling: McDonald back to defend Wellington title

Australian Peter McDonald has confirmed he will attempt to defend the Wellington Cycling classic which begins next Wednesday at Upper Hutt, north of Wellington.

McDonald will lead the Drapac Porsche UCI Continental team, perhaps the strongest of the seven Australian squads to have entered for the 23rd running of the event.

Last year was a particularly good one for McDonald, who started by winning the Australian road championship, and claiming the Wellington classic event soon after. Race director Jorge Sandoval said McDonald was preparing for the classic by competing for the Australian national team in the Tour Down Under in South Australia.

After the first stage, the tour will spend the next three days in the Wairarapa before returning to the streets of Wellington for the tour-ending criterium.