Marlborough riders challenge for Rage

A teenage mountainbike ace and a top road cyclist are expected to lead the Marlborough charge in tomorrow's Rainbow Rage mountainbike race.

National under-19 cross country mountainbike champion Richard Anderson and experienced road cyclist Chris Heywood are likely to challenge for the title of first Marlborough rider home in the annual 106km ride from St Arnaud to Hanmer Springs.

Last year Heywood was first Marlburian home in 15th place, clocking 4hr 38min 38sec and improving 17 places on his 2008 effort.

A race regular for the last five years, Heywood said he enjoyed the challenge of the race and felt its non-technical nature, which he described as "a bit like a road race, but on gravel", suited his style well.

Anderson will tackle the race as part of his buildup before heading to Europe and Switzerland to compete in World Cup races. While the 17-year-old didn't tackle the Rage last year, in 2008 he placed 17th overall and third in the junior section. In the last two years, Anderson has emerged as one of New Zealand's top young cross-country riders and will be a threat to take overall honours. Anderson isn't the only member of his family in action tomorrow, with his father, Ken Anderson, also riding. No slouch himself, Ken placed 25th last year.

Nigel Timpson, Jimmy Johnston and Gavin Hadfield all cracked the top 50 last year and will be back this year, while versatile multisporter Josh Scott is another likely to excel.

Rage organiser Mike Gane said 501 riders had entered this year, down on previous years, but not unexpected given the variety of cycle events on offer and the current economic climate.

Gane said weather forecasts indicated northwesterly tailwinds, a relief to riders who had to slog into a southerly last year.

The races starts tomorrow at 9am on the Rainbow Ski Field Rd, nine kilometres before St Arnaud, and climbs to the 1365m Island Saddle, before descending through Jacks Pass to the Hanmer Domain.

- The Marlborough Express