A strong Southland contingent will line up this week at the 2012 RaboDirect Club Road Nationals in the Hawke's Bay.

An experienced team of Kiwi track officials will be rubbing shoulders alongside some of the world’s best after being appointed assistant commissaires for the UCI Juniors Track World Championships being held in Invercargill in August, including four Southlanders.

Alexandra cyclist Tom Vessey describes his passion as a good honest sport. "I enjoy the physical aspect of it. You've got to be fit and you can't turn up without having put in the training and fully committing to it. And you have to be mentally tough to put yourself through pain to get your victory."