Roulston returns to the boards

HAYDEN ROULSTON will return to track cycling for the Oceania championships in Invercargill in October as he bids for selection to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The double Beijing Olympic medallist has not competed on the track for seven years, but has been named in a 17-strong New Zealand team to contest the Oceania Continental Championships.

The championships will provide direct entry for winners to next year’s world championship, which is a vital stepping stone towards Rio.

The New Zealand team, announced by Cycling New Zealand yesterday, is a mix of current elite squad and development riders for the four-day competition from October 8-11.

The team includes world championship silver medallists Sam Webster, Eddie Dawkins and New Zealand team: Men: Matt Archibald (Southland), Eddie Dawkins (Southland), Ethan Mitchell (Auckland), Simon van Velthooven (Manawatu). Sam Webster Auckland), Aaron Gate (Auckland), Cam Karwowski (Southland), Nick Kergozou (Southland), Hayden Roulston (Canterbury), Luke Mudgway (Manawatu). Women: Natasha Hansen (Southland), Katie Schofield (Otago), Lauren Ellis, Kirstie James (Southland), Alysha Keith (Otago), Liz Steel (Canterbury), Pip Sutton (Waikato). Ethan Mitchell (team sprint) and Matt Archibald (1000m time trial); Olympic bronze medallist Simon van Velthooven (keirin) and 2013 omnium world champion Aaron Gate.

Roulston, 34, currently a World Tour professional with Trek Factory Racing, has indicated to Cycling New Zealand head coach Dayle Cheatley that he wants to dedicate himself to track competition with the aim of selection for the Rio Olympics.

The women’s sprint team for the Oceania Championship features the return of Southland’s Natasha Hansen and Otago’s Katie Schofield.

With Commonwealth Games riders Rushlee Buchanan, Georgia Williams and Jaime Nielsen on professional road contracts at present, Olympic rider Lauren Ellis spearheads the women’s endurance squad.