Pryde to race for fallen comrade

New Zealand's Susy Pryde won't just be riding for her team and her country when she competes in the women's Olympic road race here tomorrow.

A few kilometres will be dedicated to the memory of US road tour teammate Nicole Reinhart, tragically killed when she crashed into a tree during a race in Boston last week.

Pryde may not have leaden legs after withdrawing from Saturday's mountainbiking race at the halfway after a series of crashes, but she will be weighed down by a heavy heart when she and other members of the Saturn professional team compete in the 120km endurance test around Centennial Parklands.

The New Zealander was meant to ride in the finale of a four-race series that cost Reinhart her life.

Pryde and five other teammates at the Olympics had helped the American win the first three races of the series but got dispensation to leave for Sydney.

``I had to fight tooth and nail to get a release or I would have been there,'' Pryde said.

``We'd set her up for three wins and we were hoping she'd win the last without us and take the overall title.''

Instead Pryde and teammates from Canada, Australia and Germany were devastated to learn Reinhart had been killed when news filtered through to the Games Village.

``She was coming to the finish in a twisty descent when she hit a bump and went into a tree,'' Pryde said.

The pair were good friends: ``We lived together a lot of the time during the year. We're all like an extended family, it's a terrible thought to think of someone who's just 24 has gone -- it's not the easiest time now.''

She was disappointed to be unable to attend Reinhart's funeral but said her teammates would hold their own memorial service after the road race.

They would wear black armbands when riding and send their race tops to Reinhart's family.

Pryde, already hampered by a virus, said it was hard not to think about Reinhart in the run up to the race.

``It was a terrible thing but I know she would have wanted any of us to let it bring us down and she would want us to do our best and channel that energy in a positive way.

``There'll be some heavy duty grieving going on after the races but we can't let it bring us down. We'll be doing some kilometres for her.''

- NZPA