Cycling: Stunning ride by Kiwi champ

Greg Henderson's silver medal in the 15km scratch race at the track cycling world championships in Los Angeles yesterday has been lauded as a "stunning effort" by New Zealand officials.

Henderson, the defending champion, was pipped by Denmark's Alex Rasmussen over 60 laps as Rasmussen outsprinted the 28-year-old over the final 200m. Belgium's Matthew Gilmore was third.

Yesterday's race followed Henderson's sixth placing in the points race on Friday.

BikeNZ development officer Geoff Campbell said 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 team-mates failed to reach the podium.

He was on the track for a second time 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 but her haul of seven points was well behind the 31 earned by gold medallist Vera Carrar of Italy.

Russian Olga Slyusareva was second with 29 points and Australian Katherine Bates third with 21.

Ryan performed well to finish sixth in the qualifying round of the 4000m individual pursuit with a time of 4m 31.887s, almost 2s outside the time needed to advance to the medal rounds.

Compatriot Hayden Godfrey was 12th in a time of 4m 35.154s.

- NZPA