Athletics: Ramage adds road to track success

TE AWAMUTU - Fiona Ramage is New Zealand's fastest woman track sprint cyclist, and she set out to prove her versatility in the women's race at the national road championships at Te Awamutu yesterday.

And she did so resoundingly, adding the road gold medal to her long list of track success.

Former Aucklander Ramage, now based in Christchurch was happy with the muddling pace of the race and approaching the finish, she knew she was in with big chance.

"I knew that Tania Duff Miller could sprint so I followed her through," Ramage said.

Duff Miller, also a sprint specialist and a former national road racer finished second ahead of another Aucklander, Melisa Holt.

It was Duff Miller's last race in New Zealand before leaving for the United States to join her husband, Graeme Miller, and prepare herself for another professional season there.

For Canterbury's Annallisa Farrell, the bubble burst after a run of successes on both road and track which included last year's time trial and road race titles.

She was prominent over the first four laps of the circuit and was in the seven-rider bunch left at the finish but managed only fifth place in the sprint.

The race also did nothing for Samoan Olympic representative Bianca Netzler's preparation.

The Auckland-based rider withdrew from the race after four of the eight laps.

The junior race confirmed the ability of New Zealand's hottest new cycling talent, Jeremy Yates.

The Hastings youngster softened up the strong field right through the 120km race and had the leading group down to only six on the final lap.

Five kilometres from the finish he proceeded to demolish the small bunch and he crossed the line 32s clear of two Aucklanders, Chris Boerson and Mathew Gilbert.

- NZPA