Cycling: Ulmer record could endure

Sarah Ulmer

Track cyclist Sarah Ulmer's world record in the 3000m individual pursuit could remain on the record books for a long time, according to Guy Halewood, the convener of the New Zealand selection panel.

Halewood based his feeling on the fact that most velodromes were indoor, while the Athens track was open, meaning cyclists benefited from the greater air flow.

"There is only so much oxygen in indoor stadiums and the crowd takes most of it," Halewood said.

"The competitors get what is left.

"At Athens that night, the oxygen and moisture content [of the air] was perfect. The air was refreshed because there was no roof on the velodrome."

The top coaches estimated that it could have made two seconds' difference to Ulmer's time. "Maybe Sarah's name will remain on the record books for a long time," Halewood said.

Ulmer set a world record time at Athens of 3m 24.537s.

Ten years ago, the women's benchmark for the 3000m individual pursuit was 3m 50s. At the Waikato championships last year, Ulmer rode 3m 42s, and reduced it to 3m 36s at the world championships at Auckland.

- NZPA