Cheatley Faces Long Road to Recovery After Cycle Crash

New Zealand road cycling champion Cath Cheatley faces a long road to recovery after she was badly hurt in a crash in an event in Taranaki on Saturday.

Cheatley suffered multiple fractures of her hip and after initial surgery in Taranaki Base Hospital she was today airlifted to Auckland where she will face further surgery.

“It’s a serious injury for sure and Cath will face more surgery now in Auckland,” said her husband Dayle Cheatley.

“It’s pretty gutting because Cath was returning to full fitness after injuries affected her badly last year in the United States, but from all reports this accident was unavoidable.

“Right now it is much too early to speculate about her future in the sport but we are hopeful she will make a full recovery.”

Cheatley crashed near Kaponga in the Around the Mountain Race in Taranaki with an ambulance required to take her to hospital although a second rider involved in the crash was not seriously hurt.

The 2010 US National Series champion and current New Zealand road champion had returned to racing following an accident-marred season in the United States including breaking two bones in her pelvis in an accident in June.