New Zealand road cycling champion Rushlee Buchanan heads a quality field for tomorrow's second round of the national points series that starts and finishes in Hamilton.
Buchanan, who also won the scratch race title at the national track championships last week, will be looking to add another title to her list in the 120km race.
The Te Awamutu rider's main rivals will be Beijing Olympian Catherine Cheatley, and former Danish star Lind Villumsen, who has switched national allegiances to New Zealand.
Villumsen was fifth in the Beijing Olympic road race and third in the time trial, and finished runner-up in both the road race and time trial at national championships recently.
First round winner and defending series champion Serena Sheridan (Hawkes Bay) will also ensure it will be a highly competitive women's race, along with Taranaki's KerryAnn Torkler, runner-up in the opening round on her home turf last month.
In the men's race, national time trial champion and five-time national road champion Gordon McCauley, with support from his Subway Avanti team will be favoured to take out the men's race.
Major competition is likely from defending national series champion Jeremy Yates (Hawkes Bay) although he won't have the benefit of support from the two trade teams in the race, Subway Avanti and Benchmark Homes.
Tour of Wellington winner Michael Torkler (New Plymouth) is another in outstanding form along with Taranaki's Brett Tivers who was edged into second place in a sprint finish in the first round.
From Hamilton, the peloton heads to Cambridge, over French Pass to Karapiro, passing near Matamata, Kiwitahi before returning to Hamilton.
