International cycling stars have been named as the finalists for the BikeNZ Road and Track Rider of the Year Awards.
Jesse Sergent, the 2010 Male Track Rider of the Year, has been named as a finalist for both the road and track riders of the year.
Sergent, second in the Individual Pursuit at the UCI Track World Championships, is also part of the BikeNZ Team Pursuit and is up against world silver medallist Shane Archboldand sprinter Simon van Velthooven for the honour.
Standout rider Alison Shanks is an unsurprising finalist for the Female Track Rider of the Year award.
Shanks topped off a fantastic track season with a silver medal in the individual pursuit at the UCI Track World Championships. Shanks is also the vital member of the women's Team Pursuit team, leading them to world championship bronze. Other finalists for the title are fellow team pursuit member Jaime Nielsen and Omnium rider Joanne Kiesanowski.
The Road Riders of the Year will come from the pool of New Zealand's top professional riders.
International road veteran Julian Dean has been named as a finalist for his spectacular ride at the Tour de France.... Greg Henderson has a string of podium places supporting his nomination and Sergent secured himself a nomination for the road category after winning two tours in his first year in the professional ranks.
World time trial medallist Linda Villumsen is the headline name for the Female Road Rider of the Year Award... she's joined by national women's road race champion Catherine Cheatley along with her Colavita-Forno d'Asolo teammate Rushlee Buchanan (Te Awamutu).
The BikeNZ Road and Track Rider of the Year Awards celebrate New Zealand's international cycling success and are being presented at an awards function on January 6th in Christchurch.
Finalists:
Male Track Rider of the Year:
Jesse Sergent
Shane Archbold
Simon van Velthooven
Female Track Rider of the Year:
Ali Shanks
Jo Kiesanowski
Jaime Nielsen
Male Road Rider of the Year:
Jesse Sergent
Greg Henderson
Julian Dean
Female Road Rider of the Year:
Catherine Cheatley
Linda Villumsen
Rushlee Buchanan
Best Emerging talent:
Stephanie McKenzie
James Oram
Georgia Williams
RaboDirect People's Choice Award:
Eddie Dawkins
Shane Archbold
George Bennett
Gordon McCauley
Julian Dean
