Cycling: McMaster finds form a week too late

In-form New Zealand road cyclist Fraser McMaster is disappointed but realistic about missing Commonwealth Games selection following his victory in the Tour of Greece.

McMaster, 23, appears to have hit peak form a few days too late as the six-strong New Zealand men's team to compete at Manchester was named a week ago.

However, his performances this year with Austrian team Volksbank-Ideal has seen him compile more world ranking points than any other New Zealander.

His Games case was compelling even before recording his first international tour win in Greece, which featured a hurried recovery from a puncture on the seventh and final stage.

He was second in the 180km Rund um die Rigi race in Germany two weeks ago and won a major race in Croatia in February.

The ranking points McMaster picked up in Croatia left him the second-placed New Zealander in world rankings behind Julian Dean, something which gave him a great deal of pride.

So the news of his non-selection for the Games was not well received.

"I was very disappointed but I kind of know how the New Zealand selectors make their selection," McMaster told NZPA from his Austrian base.

- NZPA