Cycling: Medal haul a ticket to ride

SYDNEY - New Zealand sealed a host of world championship berths and blooded a new team pursuit quartet at a World Cup meeting in Sydney.

The seven-medal haul - including three golds - was instrumental in confirming spots for New Zealand in the men's and women's individual pursuit, both scratch races, the men's team pursuit, madison, and both points races at Stuttgart, Germany in July-August.

With 79 points, the Kiwis ended third overall behind Australia (141) and Germany (90) from 42 competing nations.

Sarah Ulmer led the assault, gaining medals in all of her three events. She won the individual pursuit comfortably and added bronzes in the points and 10km scratch races.

Commonwealth points race champion Greg Henderson won the scratch race and bronze in his specialist event.

The inexperienced team pursuit provided a high point on Sunday when they won the gold from reigning Olympic champions Germany.

Henderson and Hayden Roulston were missing from the team that won bronze at the Commonwealth Games, but the inclusion of Hayden Godfrey, Marc Ryan and Heath Blackgrove with veteran Lee Vertongen illustrated a new depth in the endurance component of the sport.

Blackgrove was making his competitive debut after spending a year training with the senior squad.

"I've always been fifth man so it was good to get a chance," said the Belgium-based road racer from Waimate.



New Zealand recorded a time of 4m 10.307s in their first win over Germany (4m 14.827s).

Head coach Max Vertongen was ecstatic with the overall effort but singled out golds by Henderson and the team pursuit.

Henderson has been battling an upset stomach and pulled out of the two-man madison, where Lee Vertongen and debutant Peter Latham finished ninth.

"We always expect him to do well but it was a gutsy ride in the scratch," said Max Vertongen.

"I'm also delighted the way they [team pursuit] went about it. They've never raced together before.

"They attacked the first kilo[metre]and it was a personal best for everyone but Lee.

"We've been trying to start faster for a year but it never worked in Manchester. We got it going in training and again last night."

Ulmer led at the bell in the scratch race, but was mowed down by renowned sprinters Victoria Pendleton of Britain and Australian Rochelle Gilmore in the shadow of the line.

The double Commonwealth individual pursuit champion will continue training in the Waikato, although she may go to the US before joining a world championships training camp in Belgium in mid-July.

"I'm spending the majority of the time in Waikato. It's fantastic, though I probably won't be saying that in mid-winter," said Ulmer.

"I might do a couple of races in America."

In another positive, Godfrey was centimetres away from defeating junior world champion Mark Jamieson of Australia in the men's individual pursuit showdown on Friday.

New Zealand did not fare so well in the sprint division, although Justin Grace finished seventh in the men's keirin, which may be enough to qualify for Stuttgart.

Grace, Daniel Beetson and Jono Hamlin finished eighth in the team sprint and should know this week if they have squeezed in.

- NZPA