Cycling: Ulmer star among stars

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

New Zealand track cycling champion Sarah Ulmer has outshone some of the world's road stars to finish third in the richest tour on the women's calendar.

Her outstanding effort in the HP Women's Challenge in Idaho will have Cycling New Zealand selectors wondering whether they erred in overlooking her for the Olympic road race in Sydney.

Ulmer will be one of New Zealand's hot medal prospects on the track at the Games, but the schedule meant she could also have competed on the road.

Yesterday, after beating three-times Tour de France winner Jeannie Longo by one second in the 11-stage tour, Ulmer was not too concerned about missing the Olympic road race.

"They didn't pick me, that's that," she said.

Instead, she was still coming to grips with her sprint ace title and podium placing in a field that included three-quarters of the world's best women riders.

With Australian champion Anna Wilson and world champion Diana Ziliute, of Lithuania, vying for the crown over three minutes up on Ulmer, the Kiwi was concerned only about holding off the legendary Longo on the last day.

Ulmer finished the 50km stage in 11th place, five spots ahead of the Frenchwoman, to keep third overall, 3min 15s down on Wilson.

"It's funny how things work out. It hasn't sunk in yet," Ulmer said.

"I got away in a break on the second-to-last stage, but I was absolutely stuffed. I just hung on for dear life."

Ulmer will ride in another tour with her professional Canadian team Elita, before getting into track mode in the run-up to Sydney.