Cycling: Ulmer within reach of bronze

New Zealand cyclist Sarah Ulmer put a wretched Olympic Games buildup behind her at the Dunc Gray Velodrome on Sunday night, and is a whisker away from claiming a bronze medal in the women's 3000m individual pursuit after a gutsy ride to reach the semifinals.

Ulmer lost her bid for a spot in the final when she was beaten by top qualifier and new Olympic and world record holder Leontien Zijlaard of Holland.

The Dutchwoman first broke the Olympic mark in qualifying earlier on Sunday night, and went one better in the semi smashing the world time with an amazing ride of 3min 30.816sec.

Ulmer was overtaken in the process and finished in 3min 43.820sec.

However, she will race on Monday night against Briton Yvonne McGregor, who bowed out in her semifinal to current world champion Marion Clignet of France.

Clignet, who will race Zijlaard in tomorrow's gold medal race, held the previous world mark of 3min 30.974, set four years ago.

When Ulmer won the Commonwealth title in Kuala Lumpur two years ago, McGregor took bronze.

If Ulmer wins the bronze on Monday night (8.20pm NZT) it will be New Zealand's first cycling medal since Gary Anderson won bronze in the men's 4000m individual pursuit at Barcelona eight years ago.

Ulmer's preparation for the Games had been severely hampered by a pinched abdominal nerve, suffered while she competed on the United States professional road circuit.

Despite her training schedule being seriously curtailed as she fought to be fit for her second Games, Ulmer, the reigning Commonwealth champion responded magnificently.

The 24-year-old sneaked into the semifinals by the slenderest of margins. Racing last and paired with Clignet of France, Ulmer - seventh at Atlanta in 1996 - hung in with a time of 3min 36.724sec to tip out defending champion Antonella Belluti of Italy (3min 36.967sec).

Zijlaard broke Belluti's Olympic record to qualify top.

The 30-year-old Dutchwoman blitzed around the track in 3min 31.570sec, to erase the Italian's previous mark of 3min 32.371sec, before making both marks her own and recording the first world record at the Olympic venue.

Clignet qualified second in 3min 34.636sec while McGregor was third fastest (3min 35.492sec).

Ulmer's effort added to an impressive 2000 season which saw her set a personal best of 3min 33.412sec when winning gold at the World Cup meet at Cali in Colombia in May.

She earlier won a silver at the World Cup leg at Turin and there could be more to come. Ulmer lines up in the points race on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Anderson will mark his birthday as part of the New Zealand teams pursuit squad which will seek to qualify for the quarterfinals which are also raced on Monday.

Other Kiwis in action are former Australian representative Anthony Peden and Olympic debutant Fiona Ramage in the sprint.

- NZPA