RaboPlus Elite Road Cycling National Championships awarded to Christchurch for 3
years

BikeNZ are excited to announce Christchurch has been awarded the RaboPlus Elite
and Under-23 Road National Championships for a 3 year period from January 2010.

The Elite Road Nationals is New Zealand's premier national road cycling event,
attracting New Zealand's top professional and amateur road cyclists. Next year's
event will be held on the 8th-10th of January 2010.

This is just part of BikeNZ's overall strategy to bring elite cycling events
directly to the New Zealand public. Cycling is one of the fastest growing sports
in New Zealand with over 1.3 million cyclists, however watching New Zealand's
elite riders has often been difficult. Holding the Elite Road Nationals in
Christchurch over three years will create a showcase event that will aid the
growth of NZ's cycling culture, says BikeNZ CEO Kieran Turner.

The strong support of the Christchurch City Council and Christchurch's Mayor Bob
Parker has been critical to securing the event.

It is very appropriate to have this event come to Christchurch, where we have
set our sights on a goal of becoming New Zealand's first city of cycling.

The decision to base Bike NZ's premier event in the city is acknowledgement of
the city's commitment to the sport and our support for elite events like this
one, says Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker.

The course will provide spectacular spectator points, taking in centre city
streets and the hill climbs of the Port Hills.

Defending National Elite Mens Road Champion Gordon McCauley agrees. It's great
the event will take in some centre city racing. Finishing in the centre of New
Zealand's 3rd largest city will bring cycling directly to the people of
Christchurch. With the event being held in a large city, it will attract an even
higher quality of cyclist.

A key factor to the success of the event is the partnership between Event
Director Simon Hollander- successful promoter of the Armstrong Motor Group
Festival of Cycling and Le Race-, the local city council, and the expertise of
Cycling Canterbury and BikeNZ.

National elite events are becoming tougher to organise as costs increase,
professional riders are involved, and there is greater need for sponsors and
press coverage. By awarding the Elite Road Nationals to Christchurch for a full
3 years, we can create a showcase event that gets better every year and attracts
long term support from the local community. I'm sure other cities will be
watching with interest as Christchurch ups the bar in running a premier elite
cycle event, says BikeNZ Road and Track president Garry Bell.

Cycling Canterbury Chairperson Greg Hume adds, Canterbury has long been
acknowledged as the country's hot-bed of cycling. The 2010 Elite Road Cycling
Championships in Christchurch will make the prestige of winning the national
champion jersey a must-do event for all of New Zealand's leading road cyclists.

To see the route for the 2010 BikeNZ Elite Road Cycling National Championship,
visit the event website at www.elitenationals.co.nz


For further information contact:

Benji Hall

BikeNZ

(04) 560 0325

021 053 8104

Benji@...