Cycling: BikeNZ plays down blast at coach

BikeNZ chief executive Rodger Thompson is playing it cool over alleged criticism by team pursuiter Hayden Godfrey of Olympics track cycling coach Kurt Innes.

Radio Sport reported that Godfrey, part of the New Zealand pursuit team who finished 10th and last in qualifying in Athens, had said on his website that Innes, a Canadian, was difficult to communicate with and had "messed up" team selection for the Athens race.

But the remarks appeared to have been removed from the website yesterday morning.

Thompson said he did not know the content of Godfrey's comments on the website, but added: "Athletes are entitled to make their own comment".