Cath Cheatley is the US Champion for 2010

Aug 29th, 10. After Cath Cheatley competes in her last US race of the season this weekend, the Kiwi will officially be recognised as the Number 1 female rider in the US for 2010!

US rider of the year - Cath Cheatley ©Jonathan Devich /epicimages.us

Update: Cheatley finished her great NRC season with 2nd place in the Chris Thater Memorial race.  She broke free with one other rider in the final laps and held the front until she was pipped in the sprint.

Racing for Colavita Baci, the Wanganui rider has proven herself as the most consistently high placed rider in the sixteen event National Racing Calendar series.

The NRC Champion is a very prestigious title.

After delaying joining her US team due to a biomechanical issue, Cheatley opened her US season with a podium result.

At the Tour of the Gila she followed up her 2nd place in the opening stage with a 3rd the following day. Then, on the final stage, the Queen stage of the tour, Cheatley took a fantastic victory.

On a freezing day with snow flurries, she chased down the solo breakaway rider and then sprinted her for victory up the famous Gila Monster.

Cheatley wasn't always chasing the win for herself though, and worked hard throughout the season to ensure her team did well in the teams' NRC classification.  In a bunch sprint situation, Cheatley proved a great leadout rider.

She gained the number 1 position herself in early July when she raced to the overall win at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic after two stage wins and a second place.  

Cheatley in the leader's jersey in the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic   Photo Courtesy: Pete Banach/Spokenshutter.com

Cheatley knew she had to race well in The Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium earlier this month to keep her lead from Powers.  

There was a double incentive. Colavita Baci needed the win to help their chances of being the best team of the season.  

Cheatley led out her teammate for the win in the bunch sprint and, impressively, held on for 4th herself.

This top placing extended her lead and gave her an unbeatable position in the NRC series.

Although she could have finished her US season, Cheatley chose to enter this weekend's final event of the series, the Chris Thater Memorial in Binghamton, NY, for the good of the team.

"I will still race Chris Thater. It will be my last race with the team before heading home early in early September. The teams' ranking is still quite close so should make for a good race," Cheatley told RoadCycling.co.nz earlier this month.

"It's been an awesome year of racing. I think our teamwork and passion to race for victory will help us finish #1. And I'm proud to win the NRC championship in Colavita/Baci colors."

Colavita/Baci Co-Directeur Sportif Rachel Heal had high praise for the Kiwi star.

"Cath is racing in absolutely top form. With her overall win at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic and podium finishes at road races and criteriums throughout the season, Cath has established herself as one of the most versatile riders in the North American peloton."

While the NRC Champion title does not come with any financial reward, the prestige is immense and will no doubt offer Cheatley further opportunities to extend her cycling career.  She will be an in-demand rider for the 2011 season.

Cheatley has been named in the New Zealand team for the Commonwealth Games road race and will no doubt be one of the riders named when the NZ Worlds team is eventually announced.  She placed 10th in last year's UCI World Road Championships.