Cycling: Meeting over Ulmer's future

The future of world and Olympic track cycling champion Sarah Ulmer may become clearer after a meeting with BikeNZ in Wellington tomorrow.

Ulmer and her boyfriend and coach Brendon Cameron are to talk to BikeNZ chief executive Rodger Thompson.

Ulmer was a glaring absentee at a function in Wellington yesterday to celebrate BikeNZ's six world champions this year, and the appointment of new high performance director Australian Michael Flynn.

Ulmer was the only one missing and, according to BikeNZ marketing and events manager Ted Jones, she had another appointment.

"We have no indication of Sarah's plans but should know more on Friday," Thompson said.

"Without a doubt we can only hope Sarah decides to continue."

Ulmer has not been seriously involved in cycling since winning an Olympic gold medal and breaking her own world record in the individual pursuit at the Athens Games in August.

In October, Ulmer, 28, said she had no idea what her plans were, and hinted she might be ready to give up after years of putting her life on hold to follow her cycling dream.

Thompson said BikeNZ was buzzing with excitement at having six world champions in the same year, which dwarfed all previous performances at world level.

Greg Henderson (track scratch race) and Vanessa Quin (downhill mountainbiking) were open world champions, Scarlett Hagen was the under-19 downhill mountainbiking winner, and John Alabaster and Sue Roy were world masters champions in time trialling and the individual road race, respectively.

Quin and Henderson will seek to defend their titles next year, and Quin was also looking toward the 2006 world mountainbiking championships in Rotorua.

Her event was not on the Olympic programme.

- NZPA