Cycling: Sarah says sorry

By CHRIS RATTUE

New Zealand's best cycling medal hopes, Sarah Ulmer and Anthony Peden, dipped out in Sydney on Thursday night as the Games track programme came to an end.

Ulmer, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist, finished eighth in the points race after being right in contention for a medal going into the final double-points sprint.

And Peden, the world silver medallist last year, failed in the repechage after being relegated for two offences in the opening round of the keirin.

"Sorry I couldn't give New Zealand a medal," Ulmer said after the points race, won by Italian Antonella Bellutti.

The Aucklander was still thinking about finishing fourth in her specialist pursuit event and said she was bitterly disappointed at not being able to deliver a medal for her family friends, supporters and sponsors.

"I wouldn't be here without them. They're the people I feel bad for. It's so disappointing," she said.

"Could have, should have, would have. But I didn't. I can't look backwards. Onwards and upwards," she said.

Ulmer would have missed next month's world championships if she had won a medal in the pursuit but is now considering going.

And road racing may become her priority as she sets her sights on future Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

Peden looked to have finished outside the top two in his first round ride but was relegated anyway for not holding his line during the final sprint, and entering the sprinters' lane when an opponent was already there.

In the repechage, he was blocked out of a chance to sprint through by American Marty Nothstein, which allowed France's Florian Rosseau through.

"There was no reason why he [Nothstein] couldn't have gone earlier and I would have had a clear run.

" It was obvious he would have preferred Rosseau in the final than myself," said Peden. "I've spent a lot of years training with him and I would have considered he was a lot closer to me than he is to Rosseau but obviously friendship doesn't count out on the track."

On his racing form, Peden said: "The wheel turns, it will come back.

I'm going as fast as anyone out there, I don't believe I disgraced myself but luck wasn't going my way."

Track coach Ron Cheatley described it as "very disappointing" for the squad not to have won a medal.

But he pointed to four top eight finishes - Ulmer twice, the team pursuit squad and points racer Glen Thomson.