Cycling: Highs and lows for two Kiwi women

By CHRIS RATTUE

Jacinta Coleman found her own Olympic glory in Sydney on Tuesday.

The Aucklander may not be a household name, and a question on who came 18th in the women's road cycle race will test trivia buffs in years to come.

But on a day when Dutchwoman Leontien Zijlaard etched her name in Olympics history, and New Zealand's Susy Pryde found more despair, Coleman was soaked with pride.

The fame, though, belonged to the woman from Rotterdam.

In rain and over a flat 120km course, the 30-year-old Zijlaard crossed the finish line outside the Sydney Football Stadium a few wheels ahead of German Hanka Kupfernagel and Diana Ziliute, of Lithuania.

Zijlaard has triumphed on road and track, in the greatest of Olympic cycling performances.

She had already won gold, and set a world record, in the individual pursuit, and won silver in the points race. On Saturday, she can add a fourth medal in the road time trial, which she won at the world championships in Italy last year.

"It's unbelievable ... tonight I will have a party," said Zijlaard, who is coached by her husband Michael.

"It's a good atmosphere here and having my husband here helps.

"He has taught me that after success you have to have a break. There is more in life than just cycling.

"You train hard but then you have break periods. Go shopping, eat what you like, then you do better when you start again."

Coleman's ride may be life-changing. The 26-year-old - who rides for a German team based in France - was considering her future in the sport she took up just five years ago.

Her team covers many expenses, but with some Sports Foundation help, she pays her air fares to races.

"If I'd had a really bad ride I would have gone away and asked 'what am I doing this for?' after giving it a good shot for five years," said Coleman, who won a national secondary school road running title in 1992.

She may still return to Auckland next year to complete the final stage of an education degree.

Cycling manager Bruce Goldsworthy said: "In the men's race we are just trying to get one rider into the top 30. To finish 18th is excellent."

New Zealand aim their sights a little lower than the elite cycling nations, but have performed creditably so far with four top-eight track placings.

But for Pryde, the top road race prospect, Sydney has been disappointing and tragic.

She picked up a virus on the eve of the Games and still had a throat problem this week, although she woke on Tuesday "healthy and positive."

She had fallen three times in the mountainbike race on Saturday and withdrew after suffering whiplash and cracking her helmet.

On the second lap on Tuesday, she crashed after her wheel was clipped which left her with back and knee injuries and a cut hand.

That was followed by a puncture and slow tyre change from the neutral crew, and she pulled out after five laps.

Her Olympic events came just days after a rider in her American team, Nicole Reinhart, died in a race.

"Our team lives like a family and it was devastating, but Nicole would not have wanted it to affect my ride," said Pryde. "These Olympics have been seriously disappointing ... a bit of a tragedy for me.

"It was just a horrible day. I was cold and things were beginning to seize up. The tyre change didn't help, but the race was gone by then.

"I hope I get to the Olympics again, but right now, I'm on an emotional roller-coaster and it's hard to assess things."

Roz Reekie-May, from Morrinsville, finished 36th, four minutes behind Zijlaard.

Chris Jenner, Glen Mitchell, Scott Guyton and Julian Dean line up in the 14-lap, 240km men's road race on Wednesday.