Cycling: Fears for Ulmer's fitness allayed

By CHRIS RATTUE

"The crisis is over."

Those were the words from Sarah Ulmer's father Gary, after an injury which put a scare into the New Zealand track cycling star's Olympic campaign.

Ulmer was thought to have picked up a hamstring problem after riding through an injury in a recent race in Canada.

Ulmer is now under the care of New Zealand's Olympic medical staff in Sydney, who arranged a scan which has shown the problem is a pinched abdominal nerve.

Ulmer, who rides in the individual pursuit and points race, was unable to train last week.

Gary Ulmer said in Auckland: "There was a week of anxiety, but the New Zealand medical staff have done a superb job and I believe she will be at her peak.

"She's had a week off training, which might not even be a bad thing. There was a major concern, but she is in top hands now."

Track coach Ron Cheatley said the injury was a setback, while cycling manager Bruce Goldsworthy said it would be closely monitored.

"We'll just take it quietly and keep an eye on it."

Ulmer is due to return to training today. The 24-year-old Aucklander won the gold medal in the pursuit and silver in the points race at the last Commonwealth Games and finished seventh in the pursuit at the Atlanta Olympics four years ago.

The women's pursuit begins in 11 days, with the points race four days later.

Herald Online Olympic News