Cromwell's Tom Scully is set to make his European professional racing debut in the Tour of Normandy in March.
The Cycling Southland rider signed with Pro Tour team Garmin's under-23 development squad late last year after coming back from a serious race crash in May.
He is racing in Australia before returning to New Zealand later this week in time for the national road championships in Christchurch this weekend.
With a track camp in Invercargill beginning Monday, followed by a world cup meet in Beijing, Scully will ride only the 40km under-23 time trial at the national championships, in a field that includes defending champion Michael Vink.
Once his New Zealand track commitments are completed he will head to his new base in the Spanish city of Girona.
His time will then be split between Europe and Boulder, in the United States.
Southland will be well represented at this weekend's elite nationals.
Kylie Young, Dale Tye and Gabby Vermunt will ride the women's time trial and road race, with Nicky Samuels also riding the 123.4km road race.
Scott Cunningham and Simon Croom will ride the men's 40km time trial.
Cam Karwowski is entered in the under-23 time trial and road race.
He will be joined in the 40km road race by Hamish Presbury, Dillon Bennett and Brehan Cairns.
Nick Rice will ride the 186.6km men's road race in a field that includes defending champion Jack Bauer and fellow professionals Greg Henderson, Julian Dean, Hayden Roulston, Sam Bewley, Jesse Sergent, national series champion Jeremy Yates and former Francais de Jeux rider Tim Gudsell.
Alexandra's James Williamson will also be riding for his new Pure Black Racing team.
The road nationals run from Friday to Sunday.
The Southland Times