More than 190 cyclists are registered to compete in this year’s Cootamundra Annual Cycle Classic, a two-day event spanning approximately 175 kilometres of high-quality road racing, but some have a higher profile than others.

St George Continental Cycling Team veteran Thomas Hubbard will take centre stage in Saturday’s big race and event organiser Mark Loiterton is excited to see the New Zealand national in action.

“He’s a good rider with a good record,” Loiterton said.

“He took out the Haycarters event back in May and he’ll go alright this weekend.”

The 27-year-old Kiwi will go toe-to-toe with Christchurch-born Olympian Dylan Kennett in the 116km main event. 

A record-holding junior cyclist in his native country, Kennett has gone on to represent New Zealand at both the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games in the team pursuit and omnium.

He won bronze in team pursuit at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, and was part of the team pursuit gold at the World Champs in Paris 2015.

At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, Kennett placed fourth in team pursuit and eighth in omnium.

More recently, Kennett won a silver medal for team pursuit at the 2017 World Champs in Hong Kong and earned a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the men’s 4000m individual pursuit.

“He’s a current world champion medallist and Commonwealth games bronze medallist, so that’s pretty impressive,” Loiterton said. 

“I’m keen to see how he goes.”

Loiterton noted the strength of the St George riders in the field and said scratch bunch would be difficult to beat on Saturday.

“We’ll still have eight bunches but scratch and the group closest to them will be very strong,” he said.

“I think it’ll be an interesting race, particularly on the course we’ve laid out.”

Riders will race on the same course as last year’s alternate route around Cootamundra’s west.

It’s picturesque country and Loiterton is keen to see competitors take on the hills.

“Everyone enjoyed the course last year and we’re excited to use it again,” he said.