Buchanan creates history with fourth national road cycling title

Buchanan creates history with fourth national road cycling title

9 January 2017, 12:07PM
Sports Media NZ

Olympian Rushlee Buchanan created history in Napier Saturday when she became the first woman to win the national elite road championship four times.

Buchanan out-kicked fellow Rio Olympic track rider Georgia Williams and triathlete-turned-cyclist Kate McIlroy in an exciting sprint finish along the Napier foreshore.

The United Healthcare rider successfully defended the title she won last year in Napier after wins in 2010 and 2014 to move one championship clear of three-time winners Cath Cheatley and Melissa Holt.

Meanwhile local Hawkes Bay rider Amanda Jamieson managed to pip long-time leader Michaela Drummond (Manawatu/Mike Greer Homes) to claim the first women’s under-23 road championship title.

The early action came from Hawkes Bay rider Kerri-Anne Page who made a telling break on the 61-km country loop from Taradale, pushing to a lead of 3:35 until she was joined by Southland’s Kirstie James and under-23 riders Olivia Ray (Auckland) and Michaela Kerr (Mike Greer Homes).

Williams made the initial move off the front of the peloton on the first climb of Napier Hill, carrying Buchanan, McIlroy and Kirstie James with her. They reduced the margin to under two minutes on the first lap of the inner city circuit and made the catch on lap two.

The quartet of Buchanan, McIlroy, Williams and Drummond quickly pushed clear of the field as Page dropped back to the peloton 1:20 behind.
 
Rushlee Buchanan celebrates her history fourth win. Credit: John Cowpland

Drummond was dropped on the final climb of Napier Hill as the leading trio were locked together before a tactical battle on the final 9.5km flat loop to the Napier Port. Williams made the initial sprint but the experience of Buchanan proved decision as she rode over the top to claim his win.

“I knew I wasn’t the best climber out there and had to save my energy when I could and dig very, very deep when Kate and Georgia were putting the hammer down,” Buchanan said. “I backed myself for the sprint finish. I knew I had the better jump and that played into my hands.

“It has not sunk in yet but to win the 2917 national championship is awesome. Number four is pretty amazing to put myself in the history books. For me I just want to represent the jersey well on the international stage and do the New Zealand proud the whole year.”

McIlroy, who will move to the Specialized Women’s professional cycling team in Australia this year, was pleased with her first serious efforts in the sport, after an injury-plagued final year in triathlon for the London Olympian.

“I came here wanting to see where I stood racing against these girls who are pretty classy and experienced so to come third, I am pretty happy,” McIlroy said. “The key was getting in the break up the hill and I managed to jump on to Georgia’s wheel.

“I am new to road cycling and hope to learn from my experiences this year and see how it goes. I am now working fulltime and fitting cycling around a job. I still love racing and until I lose that competitive spirit I will keep going.”

So has she ruled out a dream of a second Olympics in a different sport?

“I haven’t ruled it out, that’s for sure. I went to London with triathlon but we would just have to see. Top level sport is a tough gig and I would probably have to do it fulltime, so we will se.”
 
Riders take on the hills at the New Zealand Road Cycling Championships in Napier today.
The images are free for editorial use only. Credit: John Cowpland

It proved a close-fought affair for the inaugural under- 23 honours after Drummond drifted off the back of the lead group to the peloton late on the final flat lap. Jamieson managed to just pip Drummond on the line in a sprint finish with six under- 23 riders all awarded the same time in an exciting battle befitting their rise in status in the event.

“That was so hard. I was cramping in my legs and it was so painful. I just had to push through the pain and give it everything I had. I’m so thrilled to get the title,” Jamieson said.

Tomorrow is the men’s road race over 169kms from 9am with an initial 87km circuit in the hills beyond Taradale before returning for seven laps of an inner city circuit including the climb of Napier Hill and a final 13km flat lap to the finish on the Napier Foreshore.

Women’s Road Race, 112kms:
Elite women: Rushlee Buchanan (Waikato BOP, United Healthcare) 3:23.28, 1; Georgia Williams (Auckland, BePink) same time, 2; Kate McIlroy (Wellington) at 4 secs, 3; Sharlotte Lucas (West Coast/Roxsolt) at 57s, 4; Jaime Nielsen (Waikato BOP) at 1:04, 5.
Under-23: Amanda Jamieson (Hawkes Bay, Mike Greer Homes) 3:24.33, 1; Michaela Drummond (Manawatu) same time, 2; Lydia Rippon (Auckland, Roxsolt) st, 3; Madeleine Park (Counties Manukau, TIBCO SVB) st, 4; Elizabeth Stannard (Manawatu) st, 5.

Search