2019 New Zealand Road National Championships - Men's Time Trial Preview
	Hamish on his way to the 2018 time trial title. Photo: John Cowpland           New Zealand will crown the first national champions on the road for 2019 in the time trial on Friday, January 4th. The under 23 and elite men's fields will tackle a 40 kilometre course (two laps of a 20km lap) starting and finishing in Church Road Winery, with 213 metres of elevation gain. Defending champion Hamish Bond is back looking for another elite title while the field in the under 23 category is wide open though two time medallist James Fouche will look to capitalise and claim the title. Elite Men's Time Trial Start List Hamish Bond The dual Olympic gold medallist in rowing continues his switch to cycling and is aiming to become the first person since Gordon McCauley in 2013 to claim consecutive titles. The 40 kilometre course is good for Bond and allows him to put his power down for a sustained period. In addition to the national title in 2018 also claimed Oceania gold and Commonwealth Games bronze before representing New Zealand at the World Championships. Patrick Bevin Patrick Bevin took a convincing win in 2016 though hasn't raced the National Championship time trial since. Now in his fourth year in the World Tour Bevin has gone from strength to strength the last three seasons. Has the road race as a major target and it will be a major challenge if he is to dethrone Hamish Bond but is one of the major threats. Dylan Kennett The former track pursuit specialist has made the move to the road full time and will look to start his first full season with a podium finish. One of the best in the world on the track over 4km though 40km is another challenge. Finished eighth last year nearly four minutes behind Hamish Bond but expect to see an improvement this year. Jason Christie Christie has not been outside the top seven for the past six years and has three podiums to his name in that time including third a year ago. Christie has always been strong against the clock and his consistency shows his time trial pedigree. Finished more than a minute and a half behind Bond last year so will need to be on a very good day to claim that elusive gold. Jake Marryatt Marryatt was a force in the under 23 category in Oceania last year and will look to make a smooth transition to the elite ranks. Silver in the under 23 race in 2018 before claiming the Oceania time trial title two months later. Don't expect to see him at the top of the standings but a top five would be a good result. In the under 23 category James Fouche, with silver in 2017 and bronze in 2018 heads in as the favourite off the back of a full season in Europe with Team Wiggins. Others to watch include Alex West, Oliver Young and Ethan Batt. Under 23 Start List