2nd Kiwi win at Gila thanks to Cheatley

May 3rd, 10.  On the toughest stage of the Tour of Gila, and in the toughest of conditions, Kiwi Cath Cheatley reigned supreme, climbing her way to victory today.

The 115.6 km final stage isn't called the Gila Monster for nothing. With its 5,610 feet of climbing and 4,714 feet of descending, add in cold weather and even snow flurries, and you can see why this is the monster stage.

Cheatley has been in great form over this five stage tour.  After a late start to her international season due to injury, the Wanganui rider opened her first 2010 tour with a 2nd place at the top of the Stage 1 final 11km climb.  On Stage 2 her Colavita Baci team stacked the podium with Cheatley jumping off the chase bunch to steal 3rd behind her teammates' breakaway duo in ferocious wind conditions.

Time trials aren't Cheatley's strong point but she rolled home in 13th position over Stage 3's 26.6km course.  Cheatley was back in top form for Stage 4's criterium where she finished 5th.  Shelley Evans (Peanut Butter and Co TWENTY12), who won the NZ Women's Tour, won the criterium.

Today's Gila Monster stage is considered the toughest day of the New Mexico tour.  It was a race Cheatley had been targeting and her plans came through today.  

Cheatley chased down the leader of the General Classification, Mara Abbott, who had been ahead by over a minute, then outsprinted her on the final climb to take victory. After today's final stage, Cheatley finished 3rd on the General Classification.

In the men's race Kiwi's Jesse Sergent (Trek Livestrong) and Jeremy Vennell (Bissell Pro Cycling) joined the early break. Sergent held on for an impressive 7th place to add to his phenomenal win two days ago.  Overall Sergent was 15th, 2m08s faster than five time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. Levi Leipheimer won.

Cheatley's win follows on from Sergent's win in the men's time trial, giving the Kiwis two wins, one more than last year when Roman Van Uden won the criterium stage.

There isn't a lot of information coming out about today's race, but RoadCycling.co.nz hopes to talk to Cheatley later in the day so we can share how her race panned out.   Cheatley is currently on route to China where she'll race with the NZ team in the Tour of Chongming Island.