Cycling: McMaster's form too late for the Games

In-form New Zealand road cyclist Fraser McMaster, winner this week of the Tour of Greece, is disappointed but realistic about missing Commonwealth Games selection.

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

But the Christchurch rider's performances this year with Austrian team Volksbank-Ideal have resulted in his compiling more world-ranking points than any other New Zealander.

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

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

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 great 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 said. "I was hoping to be included, but I'm not letting myself get too down about it because that would be the wrong thing to do."

McMaster cited two likely reasons for his missing out.

The first was that six pure road riders could not be selected because of New Zealand's disappointing showing at the Kuala Lumpur Games four years ago.

That meant New Zealand's six for Manchester included track cyclist Hayden Roulston and mountain-biker Kashi Leuchs, who had already been named in other disciplines but still met the requirements of the road selectors.

The four road riders picked ahead of McMaster were experienced Europe-based cyclists Gordon McCauley and Dean, along with young Waikato sportsmen Karl Moore and Ryan Russell.

McMaster also cited his disappointing form at the national road championship and the Tour of Southland last year, which may have painted the selectors into a corner.

Convener of selectors Gordon Sharrock said McMaster was unlucky to produce such a strong performance shortly after the team was named.

"We can only select on past performance; we don't know what they're going to do the next week."

Sharrock said McMaster would be a leading candidate to come into the team if Dean did not pass an upcoming medical examination. Dean broke a leg in an accident while riding with his Belgian professional team and is in a race against time to reach the Manchester start line.

An update on Dean's condition is expected by the end of the week.

- NZPA