NZ Number One for Festival of Cycling

Olympic cyclist Catherine Cheatley returned home recently with a top 10 world ranking, and her next big outing is Christchurch’s Armstrong Motor Group Festival Of Cycling.

In just its fifth year Christchurch’s Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling continues on its quest to become New Zealand’s premier cycling event. Scheduled this year for December 5th and 6th, the latest to sign up for this annual gathering of New Zealand’s best cyclists is Olympian Catherine Cheatley.

Cheatley is fresh off her most successful year on the international scene. The 29 year old has been a steady improver for the past three years, claiming a bronze medal at the world track cycling championships in 2007 and representing New Zealand on the track and road at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. This year didn’t start well for her when she fractured her hip in a crash at the Beijing round of the track cycling world cup. But it ended up being her best.

After recovering from the hip fracture Cheatley returned to her American-based pro team, Colavita, to concentrate for the first time solely on road racing. Team Colavita are one of the top ranked squad’s on the American circuit and Cheatley was one of their standout performers, claiming no less than nine podium placings. The talented all-rounder then confirmed that her future may be on the road with a sixth place in the Montreal round of the road cycling world cup, followed by her superb 10th place at the world road championship in Switzerland last month.

In December Cheatley returns to the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling where she has tasted victory in the past. The weekend long cycling festival is a celebration of the sport that allows recreational riders of all age and ability to rub shoulders with stars of the sport. Features include an 80k ride around the scenic but savage Lyttelton Harbour bays, a dedicated Kids event, and the popular City Criterium. This year also sees a new mountain bike event on the Port Hills.

In 2008 Cheatley won the feature 80k Avanti Long Bays Classic. In an exciting race she came from behind to beat Australian rep Ruth Corset by two seconds. The following day she backed up to finish third behind Nelson’s Serena Sheridan in the Armstrong Motor Group City Criterium. Following her breakthrough form in 2009, however, Cheatley will be favourite for both events and will be keen to become the first rider to win the Avanti Long Bays Classic twice.

In 2008 the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling attracted a record 1700 riders from Australia, England, USA, France, Germany and all ends of New Zealand. The feature 80k Harbour Ride and Long Bays Classic Armstrong is based at McCormack's Bay in Redcliffs, with the route taking in Cashmere, Halswell and Motukarara before climbing over Gebbies Pass and around the undulating Lyttelton bays, over Evans Pass to finish back at McCormack’s Bay.

Other highlights on day one include the Benchmark Homes Kids’ Mini-Bays and the new 35k mountain bike event around the Port Hills, both of which also start and finish at McCormack’s Bay.

Day two’s Armstrong Motor Group City Criterium will bring a taste of European cycling to Christchurch with exciting multi-lap racing around the inner city’s Oxford Terrace café strip. Last year saw close to 10,000 spectators watching New Zealand’s best and organisers hope many will bring their bikes this year to take part in new events such as the Rookie Criterium and Kids Criterium. An annual highlight is the Armstrong Motor Group Celebrity Tandem charity race organised in conjunction with the Harcourts Foundation.

Entries for the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of cycling are open now. For more details: www.festivalofcycling.co.nz.