Cycling: Ulmer pulls out of world track team

Top female cyclist Sarah Ulmer is a significant omission from the New Zealand team to compete at the world track championships in Belgium next month.

Cycling New Zealand's director of track performance Max Vertongen said Ulmer had not been satisfied with her form in the United States this year and, coupled with "on-going health problems," she believed it was best to miss the world championships.

She remained fully committed to competing at next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Ulmer will return home next month.

Vertongen would not elaborate on her health issues.

"She has had a difficult season in the United States and although she has had some good results she doesn't feel she has been riding as well as she was last year. It's asking a lot to compete at the top level all the time."

Ulmer has been plagued by health problems since the run-up to the Sydney Olympics last October.

She underwent surgery to remove a cyst in her abdominal region just days before her brave ride for a bronze medal. She missed the medal by a wheel length.

Although she felt below par, Ulmer won the women's individual pursuit title at the fourth round of the World Cup circuit in Mexico City this month, a win which qualified New Zealand for a berth at the world championships. It is unlikely to be taken up with Ulmer pulling out at relatively short notice, although Vertongen had been aware Ulmer was doubtful.



Anthony Peden has also opted against competing in Antwerp, bringing to seven the number of last year's Olympians not available for New Zealand at the world championships.

Vertongen said Peden was also committed to the Commonwealth Games.

"There is a huge financial burden on some of these guys. They have to have time to regroup and refresh."

The men's teams pursuit squad will be seeking to emulate their gold medal-winning effort at the World Cup meet in Colombia in May.

Greg Henderson and Lee Vertongen are the experienced core of the squad and they will be asked to back up and compete in the points race and madison respectively.

World championships team: Greg Henderson (points race, teams pursuit), Hayden Godfrey (individual pursuit, teams pursuit), Lee Vertongen (madison, teams pursuit), Glen Thomson (madison), Hayden Roulston (teams pursuit), Matthew Randall (teams pursuit), Jason Allen (teams pursuit), Elisabeth Williams (500m time trial, 200m sprint).

- NZPA