CYCLING

Cheatley returns buoyed by success for Commonwealth Games bid

New US road cycling series champion Cath Cheatley returns home at the weekend in the form of her life and looking ahead confidently to the upcoming world championships and the Commonwealth Games.

Cheatley (Wanganui) sealed the US national series with second placing in the final event in New York at the weekend and followed that yesterday with a win in the rich Altoona criterium in Pennsylvania to complete the best season of her career.

The 27 year old said it was the perfect finish to her season as she lapped the field to win the pro women’s race, after her Colavita-Baci team rode aggressively throughout.

"It was a really strong field,'' she said "I didn't expect to lap the field. But once I did, my teammates kept me safe.''

Fellow New Zealander Kaytee Boyd (Waiuku), who heads to France this week with the Commonwealth Games track squad, finished fourth.

Cheatley reckons she is a much improved rider this year.

“I have worked on some of my weaknesses this year. My time trialling is not where I want it to be but it’s a lot better. Time trials in American play a big part in deciding GC (general classification),” Cheatley said.

“My climbing has got even better this year and I still have my sprint at the finish so it’s been good.

“It’s definitely my best season. I’ve tried to enjoy my riding again. When I tried out for the track season and missed out on the worlds, I decided to take time away from the track. This year I have really started to enjoy things again and it has made a huge difference.

“I have been enjoying the racing. That’s what I love. I would race every day if I could. I’ve just got back to really loving the racing.”

She is hoping to be named in the team for next month’s world championships in Geelong near Melbourne which will set her up for the Commonwealth Games the following week.

“I am looking forward to Delhi. I’ve looked at the course information and in the trial event a breakaway won the race. Everyone is saying it will be a sprint finish but from the details it looks to me more like a rather big criterium with lots of corners and technical and quite fast which is what I enjoy.”

With strong teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa, the home countries and New Zealand, Cheatley is predicting the Delhi race will be a hum-dinger.

“I honestly think that the women’s road race at the Commonwealth Games is going to be one of the most competitive cycling event of the whole thing. I am really looking forward to it.”

She will take part in a Benchmark series race in Christchurch and some local club racing against the men in Wanganui as her final build-up for the world championships and Delhi.