Cycling: Ulmer to debut at world road champs

Former track queen Sarah Ulmer has been included in the New Zealand road cycling team for the world championships in Spain this month.

Ulmer, who won the individual pursuit crown on the track at last year's Olympic Games, will contest the individual time trial in her maiden appearance at the road championships in Madrid on September 21-25.

She has spent this year contesting road races in Europe, where she has based herself at BikeNZ's training centre in France.

Ulmer was also named for the elite's women's road race where she will compete alongside teammates Tammy Boyd, Toni Bradshaw, Johanna Buick, Michelle Hyland and Joanne Kiesanowski.

Ulmer was one of 15 riders named for the championships, among them New Zealand's premier road rider Julian Dean, who has overcome an elbow injury which prevented him from competing in the Tour de France in July.

Also, Greg Henderson, like Ulmer a former world track champion, will compete alongside Dean.

Henderson is fresh off a successful season on the North American circuit he had a number of top results.

New Zealand team:

Elite men's road race: Heath Blackgrove, Julian Dean, Greg Henderson. Reserves: Fraser MacMaster, Jeremy Vennell, Glen Mitchell.

Elite women' road race: Tammy Boyd, Toni Bradshaw, Johanna Buick, Michelle Hyland, Joanne Kiesanowski, Sarah Ulmer. Reserves: Melissa Holt, Michelle Kiesanowski, Dale Tye.

Elite women's individual time trial: Ulmer, Holt.

Under-23 men's road race: Tim Gudsell, Logan Hutchings, Troy Klink, Peter Latham, Scott Lyttle. Reserve: Luke McCarthy.

Under-23 men's individual time trial: Latham, Gudsell.

- NZPA