Cycling: Ulmer to surrender world pursuit title

Sarah Ulmer

SYDNEY - Barring a late change of heart, Olympic champion and recordholder Sarah Ulmer will relinquish her world individual pursuit title this year.

BikeNZ high-performance director Michael Flynn said Ulmer would not defend her world crown in Los Angeles in March - the climax of the 2005 track season.

Ulmer, 28, has not cycled competitively since winning gold in Athens in August last year, though Flynn was hopeful she would eventually return.

"Sarah won't be competing in the 2005 track season and when she's ready she'll make a decision on what the future holds.

"We won't be pushing her in any way, shape or form," Flynn said after BikeNZ announced their team to compete in the Sydney round of the World Cup track series from February 18-20.

Ulmer and her coach and partner Brendan Cameron had talks with BikeNZ last month and the organisation was hopeful the 28-year-old would defend her Commonwealth title in Melbourne in March next year.

"Sarah's such a competitive animal that once she's had a rest and regenerated the emotional passion and physical stuff, I think she'll have another go," Flynn said.

Although Ulmer will not be competing at the Dunc Gray Velodrome, New Zealand still has a chance to qualify for Los Angeles through Dale Tye, who is also likely to line up in the scratch race with Catherine Sell.

World scratch race champion Greg Henderson will defend his title and is also in contention to return to the men's team pursuit quartet.

- NZPA