Cycling: Peden's path to world champs now all uphill

SYDNEY - Track cyclist Anthony Peden's chances of making September's world championships in Denmark suffered a serious setback yesterday when he missed the keirin final at the Sydney leg of the World Cup circuit.

Peden was last in his heat, missing out on the repechage and a second bite at last night's final.

Sydney was the Wanganui cyclist's best chance to qualify for Denmark, but he failed to register a point after he was jostled back to sixth in a heat won by Australian arch-rival Sean Eadie.

"It's put a huge dent in his preparations for the world championships," head coach Max Vertongen said.

"He probably won't get there. It's not a good start for him.

"It's one of those races where you need to be in the right place at the right time.

"He got into some strife and unfortunately the top two went through, the next three went to the repechage and he missed out."

Peden, the world championship keirin silver medallist in 1999, will also compete in the sprint today.

He plans to ride in grand prix meets in Germany and Scotland before the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, where the keirin is not on the programme.

Meanwhile, New Zealand were assured of at least two silver medals last night.

National champions Sarah Ulmer and Hayden Roulston qualified for the finals of the individual pursuit.

Ulmer, the reigning Commonwealth champion, obliterated her challengers in making the women's final. She recorded 3m 34.598s, a staggering 9s faster than her closest rival, Britain's Sara Symington.

Roulston, who culled a huge 11s off his previous best, will battle Australian champion Peter Dawson, who overtook Robert Karsnicki of Poland in his heat in a time of 4m 26.993s.

Roulston, with a time of 4m 27.250s, beat Stefan Steinweg, although the German still recorded the third-fastest time to make the bronze medal race with Karsnicki.

Sprinter Fiona Carswell won through to the final of the women's keirin, taking out her heat ahead of experienced Australian Michelle Ferris.

- NZPA