Cycling: Virus forces dejected Ulmer out of world champs

Sarah Ulmer says the stomach virus hampered her final preparation. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ulmer has been forced out of this month's world road championships in Spain because of a stomach virus.

Ulmer said yesterday she did not want to attend her biggest event of the year in Madrid, scheduled from September 21-25, unless it was on a level playing field.

"I have unfortunately suffered from a stomach virus for the past three weeks which has hampered my final preparation to the extent I don't believe I would be able to compete much above 60 per cent of my ability in Madrid," Ulmer said.

She said the decision to bypass her first world road championships was a difficult one.

"Even though Madrid was very much a lead-up to my targeted races in 2006, I love competing for New Zealand and was really looking forward to racing at the top level again.

"I will just have to wait a few more months for a return to major international competition."

Melissa Holt, who was a reserve for the road race team, has been promoted to replace Ulmer and will now be New Zealand's sole entrant in the individual time trial.

New Zealand will be represented in the women's road race by Tammy Boyd, Toni Bradshaw, Johanna Buick, Michelle Hyland and Joanne Kiesanowski.

Ulmer was one of 15 New Zealand riders named this month 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.

Greg Henderson, like Ulmer a former world track champion, will compete alongside Dean and Heath Blackgrove in the men's road race.

Ulmer won Olympic gold in Athens last year in the 3000m individual pursuit, and this year switched her focus to road events.

She hoped to resume training within a week with a view to qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March.

- NZPA