Cycling: Ulmer sets women's pursuit world record

4.10am - UPDATE

New Zealand's Sarah Ulmer dealt her rivals a heavy psychological blow today, reclaiming her individual pursuit world record in magnificent fashion at a sweltering Olympic Velodrome.

Ulmer, the world and Commonwealth champion, calmly watched trackside as Australian Katie Mactier became the first woman to crack the three minutes 30 second barrier when she timed 3min 29.945sec in beating defending Olympic champion, Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel of the Netherlands.

The Australian's joy was short-lived. Ulmer stepped up to clock a stunning 3min 26.400sec for the 3000m endurance event -- a personal best by more than 4secs.

Ulmer first claimed the record, 3min 30.604sec, at May's world championships in Melbourne when she broke Zijlaard-Van Moorsel's four-year-old mark of 3min 30.816sec.

The Aucklander's record stood until Mactier, who Ulmer beat in the final in Melbourne, made her customary fast start before holding off Zijlaard-Van Moorsel (3min 30.442sec).

Ulmer was ranked third fastest after the opening kilometre but steadily upped the pace from there to almost lap Russian Olga Slyusareva on the final lap.

She later met Slyusareva in the first round of qualifying and set up a gold medal race off with Mactier tomorrow.

- NZPA