The Beijing Olympic cyclist Joanne Kiesanowski has returned from her Colorado Springs base for the national road championships in Te Awamutu this weekend.
New Zealand's top-ranked female rider won the title four years ago.
She says wearing the championship jersey in big races in the USA this season will give her some some real pride and raise New Zealand's profile.
However, the economic crisis has seen some tours and races either cutback or cancelled.
The three-day championship starts with the time trials on Friday, with the women's elite road race over 120 kilometres on Saturday and the under-23 and elite men's races over 180kms on Sunday.
Kiesanowski's main competition is likely to come from the national series leader Serena Seridan, while Melissa Holt is back after winning the time trial and road race last year.
