Double Olympic medallist Hayden Roulston has entered Nelson's Tour de Vineyards as part

of his preparation for the RaboPlus Elite National Road Race and the Santos Tour Down

Under in Adelaide.

Roulston began training again in early December and is focused on doing well in the Elite

National Road Race in Christchurch on Sunday 10 January before heading over to Adelaide

the following day to prepare to race with his new pro Team, Columbia HTC, for the first time in

the first pro tour event of the season that starts on the 17th of January.

"I really looking forward to riding in Nelson," Roulston said. ""It's always good weather, the

event is run well and I intend to train either side of each stage to get some good miles and

training in the legs for nationals and Adelaide."

Roulston intends on riding up to Nelson over several days for the Vineyards Tours as part of

his training block which he hopes will result in a win in the RaboPlus Elite National Road Race

and some good early season form in Australia.

"It is early in the season for me but having the nationals in January does mean you have to

put in the early training and effort to race that event well and riding in Nelson will be an

important component for nationals and the Tour Down Under."