Cycling: Cheatley injury could weaken NZ team's hopes

Today's hilly stage two could be one of the two defining moments of the Tour of New Zealand women's cycling race but the New Zealand team may be not have their full complement of power with senior rider Catherine Cheatley nursing a sore knee.

Cheatley, who was third in yesterday's hill climb contest along the stage, quickly had an ice pack on her left knee after she crossed the finish line 21st among the leading bunch in yesterday's 95km opening stage from Martinborough to Masterton.

"It's not feeling too good at the moment, just one of a number of niggles that haven't cleared up so we'll have to see how I feel tomorrow," said Cheatley, who won the race in 2005.

Today's second stage will take the peloton from Masterton to Palmerston North via the Pahiatua track, a new route on the tour which takes in four climbs with the steepest 14km out from the end of the 114km stage.

"It is one of the defining stages of the race along with tomorrow's time trial," New Zealand team manager Andy Reid said.

"There are a lot more climbs in stage two and unlike the first stage the final climb, followed by the fast descent, is closer to the finish.

"It will be hard to grab the (tour leader's) yellow jersey off anyone if they take it after stage two.

"But I expect to see us feature tomorrow," said Reid, adding that he felt tomorrow's 11km time trial in Palmerston North was another key stage.

American rider Shelley Evans won yesterday's stage out sprinting a bunch finish featuring the top contenders to win in two hours, 29 minutes, 19 seconds.

Australian defending champion Amber Halliday was on Evans' rear wheel at the line with Nashua teammate Cherise Taylor, from South Africa, a blink behind in third.

New Zealand's Joanne Kiesanowski was fourth with her five other teammates, Cheatley, Linda Villumsen, Rushlee Buchanan, Courtney Lowe and Kaytee Boyd inside the top 24, and within 28 seconds of Evans.

The New Zealand team would have been disappointed not to have done better as all six formed the leading train heading into the finish only to be overhauled in the final 100 metres.

"It was a good day for us, ultimately with all six riders at the front of the race," Reid said.

"It says we have got some good strength across the team.

"Our plan was to try and control it coming into the sprint at the finish and the girls tried to lead it out but didn't quite get it right but that's bike racing.

"Would have been awesome to get the stage win but not to be today."

Evans, a track specialist in points and scratch racing, said her team had done a great job today of getting her in position towards the front with a few kilometres to go."

"Then I just jumped on the New Zealand train."

- NZPA