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Thursday, January 14, 2010 Buchanan wins New Zealand national road race title by VeloNation Press at 10:58 AM EST   comments Categories: Pro Cycling, Press Release   Rushlee Mae Buchanan of the Colavita/Baci Women’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light captured the New Zealand National Road Race Championship on January 9th with a decisive win in the 123 kilometer race. Buchanan attacked early on, breaking away from the field in the third of eight laps. By the fourth lap, Buchanan decided it was time to take control. “It was my opportunity to take the race with both hands, so I put my head down and went for it,” she explained. Buchanan crossed the line with healthy margin of 3:06 over Linda Villumsen. Sunday’s win represents Buchanan’s 12th national title. She is also New Zealand’s reigning National Criterium Champion and holds numerous other national titles on the road and track. Buchanan, who turns 22 later this month, started cycling when she was 10. Watching World Champion and fellow New Zealander Sarah Ulmer race the individual pursuit in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney inspired her to take up cycling. Entering her fourth season as a pro, Buchanan herself now represents New Zealand as a member of the Women’s National Track Team and is training for the World Track Championships in Denmark in March. Afterwards, she will join her Colavita/Baci teammates in California for the start of the North American road racing season. “I’m honored to represent New Zealand in every road race this year,” said Buchanan. “And I look forward to doing the hard yards in the front for my Colavita/Baci teammates.”       comments Follow @Pro_Cycling Tweet Subscribe via RSS or daily email Contact the editor about this article