Cycling: Vertongen cruises in

Lee Vertongen claimed that it was just another day at the office - training for the Sydney Olympics - but the Palmerston North cyclist had just beaten two other members of the national track squad to win the time trial at the national road championships at Te Awamutu yesterday.

Vertongen has always shown ability as a time trialist, competing in the event at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games in 1998.

Yesterday he battled cross-winds on a twice-out-and-back course to record a smart 52m 9s for the 40km race, 10s faster than Otago's Greg Henderson, with Gary Anderson (West Coast North Island) third. Aucklander Kirsty Robb regained the women's title which she relinquished to Canterbury's Annallisa Farrell last year.

A member of the New Zealand women's road squad, Robb was delighted.

"I didn't ride last year because of university exams so it was great to win it back," she said.

An exciting new talent, Jeremy Yates (Hastings), scorched over the 25km course in 33m 11s to beat West Australian champion Ric Steele by 58s in winning the under-19 title.

- NZPA