Cycling: Sell sixth in women's scratch race

Catherine Sell couldn't match New Zealand compatriot Greg Henderson's medal-winning performance at the world track cycling championships in Los Angeles today but was still a credible sixth in the women's scratch race.

Henderson's silver came in the 15km men's scratch race yesterday, a ride lauded as a "stunning effort" by New Zealand officials.

Sell was among the leading riders in the final lap of the 10km women's race this morning (NZ time) but couldn't stay with the final sprint speed as Russian Olympic points race champion Olga Slyusareva pipped Australian Katherine Bates for gold. The pair won silver and bronze respectively in the women's points race yesterday.

Only 12 of the 16 starting riders finished the 40-lap race.

Earlier this month New Zealand road race champion Sell scored the biggest win of her cycling career when she snatched victory by one second in the women's Tour of New Zealand.

Yesterday Henderson, the defending scratch race champion, was pipped by Denmark's Alex Rasmussen over 60 laps as Rasmussen outsprinted the 28 year-old over the final 200m.

BikeNZ development officer Geoff Campbell told NZPA that Henderson's podium finish was a fantastic result after his world championship victory last May.

"In some respects in cycling circles the world championships are classified above the Olympics," Campbell said.

"To win a world title is a really special achievement, and for Greg to win it last year was fantastic. To go and back it up with a silver medal the next year is no mean feat.

"It sounds like he was unlucky to be mowed down in the final few metres, but this result definitely confirms him as New Zealand's number one male track cyclist.

"No one can touch him for his feats over the last year and what he's done so far this year."

Henderson's latest race follows a string of top performances over the past two years.

The 2002 Commonwealth Games points race champion finished fourth in the points race at the Olympic Games last year and was seventh in the madison with Hayden Roulston.

At a World Cup meeting in Sydney last month, Henderson was part of the team pursuit who won gold.

Henderson's silver medal was the highlight this weekend as his New Zealand teammates failed to reach the podium.

He was on the track for a second time today when he joined James Allen, Peter Latham and Marc Ryan in the team pursuit, in which they finished fourth behind Great Britain, the Netherlands and Australia.

Joanne Kiesanowski finished a creditable sixth in the women's points race yesterday, but her haul of seven points was well behind the 31 earned by gold medallist, Vera Carrar, of Italy.

- NZPA