Cycling: Parents jubilant at son's 'medal of right colour'

By CHRIS RATTUE

Bob and Gail Henderson have followed their son around the cycling tracks of the world.

Apart from the world championships, there has hardly been a major race when the Hendersons have not been there to watch their son Greg.

They finally got to see him take the "right-coloured medal," as Bob put it, when the 25-year-old from Dunedin won the points race at the weekend.

Gold medals to Henderson and Sarah Ulmer helped to stop complete dominance of the track and road cycling by Australia, who won all but one other event.

Henderson, who won bronze in the team pursuit in Kuala Lumpur four years ago, has also competed at the Olympic Games in Atlanta and Sydney.

He was fifth at last year's world championships, so was a hot prospect in the points race, where he won six of the 12 sprints and finished with 35 points, seven clear of Australian Mark Renshaw.

"He started on bikes with BMXs when he was five," said Bob Henderson, who owns a motor shop.

"I remember going with him to the world championships in Australia when he was just 11.

"He was always a stubborn, determined little character, even with his schoolwork.

"Everything he ever did, he wanted to be the best.

"We've seen him race all over the world, including at the two Olympics, and this would have to be one of the better moments.

"I think he likes the fact that his parents are often there for support. It's nice to see him get the right-coloured medal this time."

Henderson, whose girlfriend Kate Stevely represented New Zealand as a springboard diver, still lives at home - when he is home.

He rides professionally in the United States and within a day of his Manchester triumph was heading back for a road race.

Henderson said that over years of cycling, his body had turned out to be suited for the stop-go-stop nature of the points race.

In the Games event, there were 12 sprints, spaced every 10 laps, with the top four finishers in each sprint getting points.

"I had really good legs today," Henderson said.

"Teamwork is so important and I have to thank Hayden Roulston and Lee Vertongen for their work in the race.

"We don't have the finances to prepare as a team so we get thrown together for these races."

Vertongen finished well back at sixth and Roulston did not finish, despite winning one of the early sprints.

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