Gordon Walker is a clear favourite to win the men's title at next week's Coast to Coast race while Jill Westenra's return has created jitters in the women's field, race director Robin Judkins says.
Judkins, making his annual top 10 predictions today, said Walker's time had probably come.
"In the last four years, Gordon and Richard Ussher have dominated the Coast to Coast and with Richard not racing this year, 2009 is really Gordon's race to lose."
Walker, 36, who last won in 2007, planned to win from the front this year.
Judkins said that there were a number of athletes waiting in the wings "if he falls apart".
"Six or eight guys have a shot at ruining Gordon's party if they worked together -- Marcel Hagener, Luke Vaughan, Gordon Blythen and Carl Bevins are proven performers."
Vaughan, 25, was his tip if an upset was on the cards.
"Luke has been earmarked as a future world champion ever since he won the two-day race as a teenager.”
"He was seventh in 2007, but this year he has trained full-time for three months.”
"He's only 25 but he's done the Coast to Coast seven times -- you'd have to say he will one day win this race. It's just a matter of when."
Hagener and Blythen are both over 40, while Wellington Hurricanes rugby team physiotherapist Glenn Muirhead will be making a return to the race as a 40-year-old.
All three athletes have been top six placegetters in previous years, with Hagener and Muirhead having bests of sixth (2003 and 2002) while Blythen was second in 2007, third in 2002 and 2006 and has a total of six top 10 placings.
"These three guys are good enough to be competing for overall honours instead of their veteran grade.”
"If they were to win it would be the first time someone over 40 has won the Coast to Coast," Judkins said.
Four-times winner Westenra, 44, lines up against defending champion Emily Miazga of Canada and 2007 champion Fleur Pawsey as well as top 10 performers Elina Ussher of Finland and Sia Svendsen of Denmark.
"Emily Miazga is going for her third win, then you have local girl Fleur Pawsey, who won in 2007 and lost to Emily by only 43 seconds last year.”
"Elina Ussher will go very well because her husband Richard is supporting her rather than racing.”
"These four were always the women's favourites, and they knew it. But now Jill's late entry will have them all worrying.”
"She's a tough competitor and although she hasn't raced the Coast to Coast since 2004, she has stayed competitive.”
"With four consecutive wins from 2000 to 2003, she has more experience than any other woman in the race.”
"Emily is the only one who has raced against her, and that was five years ago -- they don't know what to expect."
The one-day individual race is over 140km cycling, 36km run over the Southern Alps and 67km kayaking through the Waimakariri Gorge.
Judkins' top 10 predictions (NZ unless noted)
Men: Gordon Walker, Luke Vaughan, Marcel Hagener (Germany), Gordon Blythen, Carl Bevins, Glenn Muirhead, Wayne Oxenham, Sam Moon (Britain), Neil Gillespie, Guilherme Pahl (Brazil).
Women: Fleur Pawsey, Jill Westenra, Emily Miazga (Canada), Elina Ussher (Finland), Fleur Lattimore, Sia Svendsen (Denmark), Koleighne Ford-Collins, Kim Johnston, Rachel Dixon, Karina O'Conner.
NZPA