Second-placed Cheatley, racing for the New Zealand national team, halved the gap between her and the tour leading German to just four seconds after crossing the line third in yesterday's third stage, an 87km trek from Palmerston North to Ashhurst and return.
She will have her work cut out for her today, though, with Arndt, a former world No 1, a tough but to crack when in the lead. Cheatley will have to make a move at some point in the 112km stage from Palmerston North to Masterton, with Sunday's Wellington city criterium not counting toward the general classification.
Australian Ruth Corset is third, 12sec back from Arndt, and she will be looking to protect her Queen of the Mountains jersey today, with Cheatley the only woman who can catch her.
German veteran Ina-Yoko Teutenberg took out yesterday's third stage for the crack HTC Highroad team in two hours 27 minutes 25 seconds, with Shelley Olds (Diadora-Pasta Zara, USA) second and Cheatley third in a bunch sprint for the line.
Three riders -- China's Li Huang and New Zealanders Emily Collins and Jenny Kuhajek -- broke away at 45km and got out to a 40sec lead but they were reeled in at the 70km mark and that was the end of the action.
Amanda Spratt, of the Jayco AIS team, took out last nigh's fourth stage, a 35-minute criterium in Palmerston North which did not count toward tour standings. Teutenberg was second and Olds third.
