Cheatley will keep getting better through year, says coach

David Ogilvie | 5th February 2010

Whatever Wanganui cyclist Catherine Cheatley achieves in the Women's Cycle Tour of New Zealand later this month, she will do better later, says coach and husband Dayle Cheatley.

And that goes for her most serious Kiwi rivals as well.

Notable among the New Zealand team are Cheatley, Joanne Kiesanowski and former top European pro Linda Villumsen - and already all three are eyeing the spots in the New Zealand road squad for the Delhi Commonwealth Games in mid-October.

 Cheatley rode the Festival of Cycling in Christchurch before Christmas and won the Saturday event. But she missed the Taranaki long-distance event because of a family wedding.

"She's good, she's enjoyed the break back home," Dayle Cheatley said. "Since Christchurch she's just been ticking along, doing some training and also enjoying doing a lot of the local club races that are on. One thing that Cath really enjoys is getting out and riding with the old club."

Cheatley says Cath's ride in the New Zealand Tour is serious "but also one that you must have the understanding that it's the first race of the season, and it's a very long season with the Commonwealth Games being in mid-October".

"I don't think you can really expect a lot of people to be in top, top form.

Both she and Villumsen finished in the top 10 in the women's world championship road race last season.

World track champion Alison Shanks, originally named in the New Zealand Tour team, has been withdrawn to concentrate on track training.

The tour starts with a 98km stage from Martinborough to Masterton on February 24, before going to Palmerston North the following day over the Pahiatua Track. Day three involves an 87km stage from Palmerston to Ashhurst and an 11km time trial in Palmerston, before the riders retrace their steps over the Pahiatua Track to return to Masterton.

The final stage is a criterium in Wellington on February 28.

Other prominent Kiwis in the team include national road champion Rushlee Buchanan and Kaytee Boyd.