Julian Dean and Hayden Roulston were controversial omissions from the New Zealand men's road racing team at the Olympics, but both have made it in the three-man team to compete at the world championships.

Professional cycling's biggest one-day event takes place in Limburg, the Netherlands, on September 24 and they are joined by Jack Bauer, who finished 10th in the men's road race at the Olympics.

The race is the finale of a week's road racing that begins on Monday.

It is difficult to know who the 263km course will suit, but the brutal Cauberg hill which is just before the finish line will make it tough for the pure sprinters to feature and could be more to the liking of Belgium's Philippe Gilbert or Slovakia's Peter Sagan.

Although Dean is a sprinter, he can climb and will be in good form having just completed the Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain).

Roulston is a punchy rider and could try to get in a break that stays away from the peloton. Bauer could also look to get in a break.

The two riders from the long list who've missed out on selection are Jesse Sergent and George Bennett.

BikeNZ high performance director Mark Elliott says the selectors thought Dean, Roulston and Bauer best suited the course.

"The thinking sits with the quality of the course, which we know is very tough," Elliott said.

"The guys have shown that they're in good form at this time of the year and two of them have shown that by coming off a good Vuelta. Poor Rolly did have a crash, but he was doing some good work there and they have developed the strength that's going to be required for the course.

"Jack has freshened up after the Olympics and is also doing some good stuff as well.

"Those guys offer us the seniority and maturity that this course deserves."

For big one-day races like the world championships and the Olympics, the outcome can pan out drastically different to expectations.

The London Games race was supposed to be won in a sprint by Mark Cavendish, but the British team weren't able to pull back a breakaway and Alexandr Vinokourov won gold.

"That's the whole challenge with every world champs," said Elliott. "As we saw in London, is it going to be a sprinters' race or is it going to be guys off the front?

"The fact is Julian is a guy who puts himself in a position when the racing is hard, he knows where to be and it's what you make of the decisions based on the fact that he's got the maturity and understanding to be able to do that.

"It has been a tough year for Julian and I'm sure he'd be looking for it to finish on a high."

Riding in the individual time trial for New Zealand will be Jesse Sergent and Sam Bewley, who both rode on the track at the Olympics.

Although neither Bradley Wiggins nor Fabian Cancellara are riding in the time trial, it is highly unlikely that either of the New Zealanders will get near the podium.

Both Sergent (RadioShack Nissan Trek) and Bewley (Orica GreenEdge) will be riding for their trade teams in the team time trial and in the individual time trial (where they'll be riding for New Zealand) is something of an experience-gaining add-on.

New Zealand's best chance of a medal will be from Linda Villumsen, who finished fourth in the time trial at the Olympics.

She has been on the podium for the last three world championships and will be looking to make amends for her London disappointment.

"She'll be pretty motivated," said Elliott.

"The worst place to finish at the Olympics is fourth, so like Julian she wants to finish the year strong and she's got the capacity to step up.

"From what we understand she's in good shape and she won't be going to the world champs with anything on her mind but to get to the top of the podium."

Te Awamutu's Hayden McCormick will contest the under-19 men's road race and time trial.

- © Fairfax NZ News