Cycling: Cheatley wins US title

Cath Cheatley competing at the Beijing Olympics. Photo / Kenny Rodger

New Zealand cyclist Cath Cheatley has won the United States national series champion title after a second placing in the final race of the season in New York.

Cheatley finished second in the Thater Memorial Criterium in Binghamton to claim the title.

Cheatley second behind Canadian Samantha Schneider with compatriot Joanne Kiesanowski third and fellow-Commonwealth Games bound cyclist Kaytee Boyd seventh.

Earlier New Zealand criterium champion Rushlee Buchanan, Kiesanowski's teammate at TIBCO, had gone clear before being reeled in to finish 33rd just ahead of another Commonwealth Games prospect, Lauren Ellis.

"It feels bloody good actually," Cheatley said.

"We came to the race with two goals really. Number one was to nail the classification for the teams, and to obviously win the race.

"When I was in the break with Sam, I knew she as a pretty good sprinter but I knew that even if I was outsprinted at the finish, the number goal would be met. It worked out pretty well."

Cheatley gained the series lead after winning the Nature Valley Grand Prix and maintained her lead in the final five races of the season while her team, Colavita-Baci, managed to edge TIBCO for the team title.

"I think winning the NRC individual and team shows that we were very consistent this year," Cheatley said.

"Personally, I think I've improved in a lot of areas and have turned into a pretty good all rounder."

Cheatley is likely to lead the New Zealand team at next month's world championships in Melbourne before heading to the Commonwealth Games while Kiesanowski, Buchanan, Boyd and Ellis head to France next week for a track camp ahead of the Games in New Delhi.

- NZPA