Cycling: Sars likely to bring champs closer to home

By DANIEL GILHOOLY

THE severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) virus could provide an unexpected boost for New Zealand selectors looking to send a large team to this year's world track championships.

The growing mortality rate in China means world governing body UCI may have no choice but to relocate the championships in July-August from Shenzhen. New Zealand coach Max Vertongen was excited that Sydney was believed to be high on the list of favourites to take over.

"The rumours are flying thick and fast but I understand Sydney are well in the picture and that would be absolutely brilliant for us," he said.

The costs of sending cyclists to Russia, Mexico and South Africa for World Cup events this year had put financial pressure on the sport.

The New Zealanders will get a taste of Sydney's Bankstown Velodrome, used for the 2000 Olympics, next month when a male-dominated New Zealand team compete at the final World Cup from May 16-18. Thirteen riders will attend an 11-day training camp in Adelaide early next month before it is culled to 10 for the World Cup.

Sarah Ulmer, who won the individual pursuit in Mexico, is the only woman selected for Sydney.

She and Hayden Godfrey, who won individual pursuit silver in Mexico, are virtually guaranteed world championship berths.

A team sprint trio of Justin Grace, Daniel Beetson and Neil Campbell have been named for Sydney following their seventh placing at the Cape Town World Cup event.

But Campbell, 29, will be selected only if he gets New Zealand citizenship.

- NZPA