Te Awamutu-born Michaela Drummond claimed the elite honours at the Cycling New Zealand Criterium Nationals in Palmerston North on Monday.
It was a special hometown moment for the Manawatū-raised Drummond, the international road professional and double track world championship medallist.
She sat in a six-strong lead bunch, which turned up the heat on the rest of the field under the pressure exerted initially by Taupō under-23 MTB world champion Sammi Maxwell and then WorldTour road rider Kim Cadzow.
They pushed well clear with no other riders on the lead lap before Drummond used her track speed and nous to sprint clear to claim the elite women’s honours ahead of Tokoroa’s Rylee McMullen and veteran Sharlotte Lucas.
“I am very happy with that. It was a big goal of mine to take the national jersey to Europe. I am just so stoked. It’s special because when you are racing overseas, they are aware that you are a national champion. It is going to be so cool.
