Cycling: Kiwis can't quite burn the rubber

By CHRIS RATTUE

Not so near, but not too far.

That is the story of the Games for the New Zealand cycling squad and it continued in Wednesday's 240km road race in Sydney.

The great German cyclist Jan Ullrich, who was just about everyone's favourite for gold, duly delivered, adding to the Tour de France and world championship time trial titles he has won in recent years.

The 26-year-old German, countryman Andreas Kloeden and Alexandre Vinokourov from Kazakhstan had the medals wrapped up on the last of the 14 laps, and it was Ullrich who got the break, finishing nine seconds ahead of Vinokourov.

New Zealand's best was Chris Jenner who finished 47th despite falling with one-and-a-half laps to go, and Julian Dean was 61st.

Scott Guyton was 85th, over 14 minutes behind the leaders, while Glen Mitchell pulled out midway.

Guyton and Mitchell, who are based in Belgium and the United States, are regarded as semi-professional riders.

While the numbers may not seem too impressive, professional riders Jenner and Dean finished in the main bunch, containing the best riders in the world, which was just 1m 38s behind Ullrich.

Manager Bruce Goldsworthy was "delighted" with Dean and Jenner, claiming their Olympic road effort was second only to Bruce Biddle's famous ride at Munich in 1972. Biddle, who has lived in Italy since 1971, finished fourth but third placegetter Jaime Huelamo from Spain returned a positive dope test. He was never awarded the bronze because a covering dope test was not taken for the fourth placegetter.

Wednesday was a typical day for New Zealand at these Games.

Only Sarah Ulmer has threatened to trouble the medals dais, although there have been plenty of creditable performances.

Going into the final lap, Dean was in a bunch 1m 34s behind the leader but the former Olympic track cyclist was spent and could not sprint to his potential.

While their manager was delighted with the performances, the riders themselves were satisfied rather than ecstatic.

"We had a bit of trouble working for each other," said Jenner, who was sporting a gashed knee.

Dean said: "People claimed it was an easy course but it wasn't the case.

"It was very much a strong man's course and the results absolutely proved that. The leaders were the tour type of riders."

Jenner will represent New Zealand at the world championships in France in October in what will probably be his last ride for the country.

He rides for Credit Agricole and will seek French citizenship.

Jenner is married to a Frenchwoman and has a five-and-a half-month old daughter born there.

By becoming a French rider, he has a better chance of riding in the Tour de France as each team requires at least four Frenchmen.

"It will be better for my career," said Jenner.

Dean, who lives in Spain and rides for the US Postal Service team, which includes Lance Armstrong, hopes to ride for New Zealand at the next Olympics but will miss this year's world championships.

"I'll be 29 in four years' time which should mean I'm at my peak as a road rider," he said.

Among those over a minute behind Ullrich was Armstrong, who beat cancer to win two Tour de Frances. The great American rider has put most of his effort into Saturday's time trial.