Cycling: After near miss, Henderson hopes for a medal

3.45pm - By CHRIS BARCLAY

ATHENS - Greg Henderson is confident a bold fourth in the men's points race will not compromise New Zealand's medal chances in the two-man madison final tomorrow.

Henderson said he was "poked" after today's race, but was swiftly on the massage table in the New Zealand quarters at the Olympic Velodrome for an extensive rub down to ease the physical pain of missing out on the podium.

"I knew I'd have to back up so I've trained hard day after day.

"I'll have a rub down and go for a ride tomorrow as well."

Henderson has a chance to erase today's disappointment when he teams up with Hayden Roulston for the 50km, 200-lap endurance test, where points are earned in sprints and by lapping the field.

"Let's hope we can improve on fourth tomorrow," said Henderson anticipating an improvement on their eighth placing at the world championships in Melbourne three months ago.

"The form we've got is so much better than it was at the worlds."

In the lead up to the world championships, Roulston's French pro team Cofidis were suspended from racing after it was embroiled in a drug inquiry.

"Roly's team was not able to race but he's had a heap of racing now, and he's flying.

"There'll be two really strong guys on the track tomorrow."

The pair have been training at the BikeNZ camp in Bordeaux, France, although Henderson admits it is difficult to quickly get in synch for a tactical race where placement for sprints is pivotal.

"It's hard to simulate the madison, you can't do it -- but there's going to be other teams out there in the same boat."

The New Zealanders will share a clogged track with more teams than they anticipated, prompting Henderson to rebuke the sport's governing body UCI.

"I think the UCI change the rules to suit themselves.

"Now there's 18 teams again. There was meant to be 12 which we were absolutely stoked about.

"I found out yesterday, what can you do? I was pissed off to start with but there's no use worrying about it."

The New Zealanders finished eighth in Melbourne to qualify for Athens, though they did take silver at the 2003 world championships in Germany, to illustrate the threat they can pose.

Meanwhile, Henderson made up for a personally galling 12th in the world championship points race in Melbourne three months ago by placing fourth today.

"I didn't panic. In Melbourne I tried to go with everything at the start. I went across a big move and put myself in oxygen debt and never recovered. I'm fitter, stronger, who knows I just rode smarter."

The US-based former Dunedin rider lapped the field three times and eventually tallied 68 points but he still trailed the bronze medallist, German Guido Fulst, by 11.

Henderson was in a share for third with 10 laps remaining but Fulst (79 points) and silver medal-winning Spaniard Joan (correct) Llaneras (82) covered his every move to keep the Commonwealth champion off the podium.

Russian teenager Mikhail Ignatev (93) won the gold in devastating style, assuming control from the outset.

"I lapped the field three times -- 90 per cent of bikes races you go in and lap the field three times you win it," Henderson said, marvelling at the 19-year-old's achievement.

Though fourth was "the worst place to get" Henderson was able to reflect on a satisfying personal performance.

"My immediate reaction when I looked at the scoreboard was 'Awwwww..... fourth.

"Then again fourth at the Olympic Games isn't really anything to be scoffed at."

He joked the Games' cycling schedule had also conspired against him.

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games and May's world championships he won gold in the points scratch races hot on the heels of individual pursuit queen Sarah Ulmer.

"It's a pity I wasn't straight after her on Saturday. It's been working pretty good so far."

But in a potentially good omen for Henderson, Ulmer will contest her points race one hour 15 minutes before the madison.

- NZPA