Top road cyclist Julian Dean believes New Zealand will have possibly their best ever tilt at a world championship at this year's event in Melbourne in early October.
Dean completed his sixth Tour de France on Monday with three stage podium finishes.
The 35-year-old believes with the likes of Greg Henderson and Hayden Roulston, who didn't compete in the Tour this year, New Zealand should have a strong team at the World Champs.
Dean, whose best result at a World Championships was ninth in 2005, says for the first time ever there's a good group of riders breaking into the professional ranks so hopefully they can do something good.
The Commonwealth Games start soon after the World Championships so he's sure the team will be in good form.
He says he's also scheduled to ride the third classic, the Vuelta in Spain in August.
