One of New Zealand’s most celebrated cyclists, Rushlee Buchanan, has announced her retirement from the sport.

The 33-year-old has enjoyed a stellar career on the road and track where she has earned unparalleled success.

On the track she has won four world championship medals including the only New Zealand female to medal in the omnium. She won a silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and has competed in three Olympic Games.

Buchanan spent over a decade as a professional on the road, mostly in USA, and when returning home in her off-season, she won four national road championship titles – the most by a female rider - and one time-trial. Her tally of five titles in all at the national road championships is the second highest among all female riders.

Additionally, she has won the New Zealand Criterium Championships on four occasions.

The born-and-raised Waikato rider first came into prominence as a 17-year-old when she won the silver medal in the points race at the UCI World Junior Track Championships.  Buchanan was among the first female riders in Cycling New Zealand’s high performance programme, and based fulltime at the Avantidrome in Cambridge since it was opened in 2014.

Latterly Buchanan has been the chair of the first Athlete Voice Committee established to give riders’ a direct link with Cycling New Zealand’s governance.

"I have loved every bit of my cycling journey and I am grateful for all the experiences and learnings, even the hard ones,” said Buchanan.

“I am still passionate about the sport and love riding, but it's now time to give my energy to something else - what that is I don't know yet!

“I'm grateful for all the support and help I have received from so many people, and right now I'm enjoying going through all the memories."

Cycling New Zealand said Rushlee Buchanan will be sorely missed, her contribution to the sport both on and off the bike has been significant.

“Rushlee has been a major force in our sport for over a decade, and her palmares speaks for itself. Off the bike, it’s been a great pleasure to have her contribute immensely, as chair of the Athletes Voice Committee,” said Cycling New Zealand CEO, Jacques Landry.

“Given all that Rushlee has contributed to cycling in New Zealand, there is no doubt she will continue to help grow the sport in different ways,” said Landry. ”She epitomises a successful high performance athlete – driven, committed, hard-working and talented on the bike and with professionalism and good nature off it. She is that wonderful mix of being an extremely popular teammate who is always a fierce competitor.

“Our door at Cycling New Zealand will always remain open for Rushlee.”

Caption: Rushlee Buchanan in action in the omnium and on the podium at the 2018 UCI Track Cycling World Championship. (Credit: Guy Swarbrick)