KEY POINTS:
New Zealand cyclist Catherine Cheatley has celebrated her selection for the Olympic Games by finishing second in the opening stage of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic road race in the United States.
Cheatley, who will ride on the track in Beijing next month, completed the 10km time trial in Massachusetts in 19 minutes two seconds.
She was just 5sec behind American Kristin McGrath and 11sec ahead of the third placed Stacy Marple, of the United States, in the trial on a predominantly uphill course.
Another New Zealander, Emma Giddens, was 61st in the 66-strong field.
The second stage of the four-day race tomorrow covers 110km.
Cheatley will contest the points race in Beijing, an event in which she won a bronze medal at last year's world track cycling championships.
- NZPA
