Cycling: Ulmer up against Aussie veteran

Sarah Ulmer

A battle is expected between New Zealand's Sarah Ulmer and Australian veteran Kathy Watt in today's Oceania cycling championships women's time trial.

The 25km Wanganui course, starting and ending at Anzac Parade, is relatively flat and will suit strong riders such as Ulmer and Watt, the 1992 Olympics road race champion.

"I can't see anybody else who will be a problem [for either rider]," said Australian team manager Lynda Heritage.

"Kathy and Sarah will be pretty good opposition - I think it will be very, very close."

At 40, Watt's glory days may be over, but she is still considered a top rider.

She has entered the Oceania champs as an endorsed independent rider, and the chance of a spot in the Commonwealth Games on home soil may be all the motivation she needs.

Since winning the time trial and road race at the national championships last month in Ashhurst, near Palmerston North, Ulmer has been busy juggling business commitments with her clothing and bicycle lines and fitting training around that.

But she said she was feeling relaxed and looking forward to racing again.

"Watt and whoever else in the field will definitely be competitive, and as it is a Commonwealth Games qualification event, everyone will be wanting to show their fine form, I imagine," said Ulmer.

She felt the course would be a good test.

"It is dead flat, pretty much a raw time trial, and could suit me."

She said it was another chance to put in another performance with the long-term view of winning the world time trial title later next year.

"The Oceanias are important - if I don't perform, then I won't be in the Commonwealth Games," said Ulmer, who decided to take up road time trialling this year after setting world records on the way to winning the world and Olympics titles in the 3000m individual pursuit last year.

"It will be an end of a phase for us - we'll get this out of the way and take a breather and look to building for the Games should I qualify."

As for the 93km road race tomorrow, Ulmer said, it would depend on what the New Zealand team's tactics and objectives were and "so I'll obviously fit in with those".

New Zealand manager Michael Flynn said Watt was the strongest time trialist among the Australians.

"She will be fighting for a place in the Commonwealth Games so she will be extremely strong and focused.

"Sarah, Melissa Holt and Alison Shanks will be extremely competitive and I will be surprised if New Zealand did not win that one."

The Australians had three quality riders for the women's road race and much would depend on Australia's tactics.

"But I believe with the girls we have got, with the preparation they have had, they should not only control the race but dominate it."

He was equally confident for the men's events, although he thought the Australians - Phillip Thuax, Zakkari Dempster and Dean Windsor - were capable riders.

"We have a strong group [led by Gordon McCauley and Robin Reid] that have made themselves available. It is just a matter of working out what the tactics need to be.

"From our point of view, we will let our riders work that out for the early part of the race, and then what happens will determine the tactics in the last part."

- NZPA