Cycling: Ulmer misses out on bronze at world champs

Kiwi cyclist Sarah Ulmer has narrowly missed out on a medal in the world track cycling championships in Germany overnight.

Ulmer was beaten by Russian Olga Slusareva in a ride-off for the bronze medal in the women's individual 3km pursuit title in Stuttgart

Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel of the Netherlands, gold medallist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, clinched her fourth pursuit world title with a time of 3:32.657 ahead of Australia's Katie Mactier who was second with a time of 3:33.784.

Ulmer qualified for the ride-off for the bronze medal after winning her quarterfinal over Lithuania's Diana Ziliute.



New Zealand track coach Max Vertongen said Ulmer "gave it 110 per cent.

"She went out a little bit fast and it almost came off but in the final two and a half laps the Russian girl started to move away from her."

Vertongen said Ulmer was disappointed but not downhearted.

"There are five top women individual pursuiters and she can go to the Olympics in pretty good heart knowing exactly where she stands and what she has to do to move to that other level."

He said Ulmer would work on the first kilometre of her race which was her weakness.

"You are going to see a much improved rider. She gives it 110 per cent all the time.

"You can't be disappointed in fourth in the world. She gave it her best shot and that is all you can ever ask of an athlete." Vertongen said.

Vertongen said there was nothing between the top four or five riders.

"A lot of people put huge expectation on Sarah but you have to remember she is only human and fourth in the world is an excellent effort.

"She knows at fourth in the world she is very, very close to the top person. There's nothing between them."

He said Slusareva, the Russian who beat Ulmer into third place, recorded a time faster than the overall winner and Ulmer's time was faster than the second place-getter, Mactier.

In the men's 40km points race New Zealander Greg Henderson was well out of contention for a medal when he finished in 11th place with 43 points.

Franz Stocher of Austria clinched the title with 77 points ahead of Spain's Juan Llaneras on 74 points who took second place with Dutchman Jos Pronk third on 70 points.

Stocher was third in the event in 2000 and 2001 and second in 2002.

Defending champion Great Britain's Chris Newton was fourth on 68 points.

- NZPA