Cycling: Miller loses last chance at Olympics

By CHRIS RATTUE

A bitter Graeme Miller has conceded defeat in his attempt to win selection in the Olympic cycling squad.

The 39-year-old missed out on attending his fourth Olympic Games when Chris Jenner, Julian Dean, Scott Guyton and Glen Mitchell were chosen ahead of him in the road team for Sydney.

Miller, who is racing for the Shaklee team in the United States, sought a review of the selections, but has lost his case.

"I was turned down mainly due to the selectors having their say in who they want to ride in certain events," Miller said yesterday.

"I am gutted ... Yeah, I am bitter, but that comes with old age and many blows to the chin from a sport and a country that I have always wanted to represent.

"Now Cycling New Zealand has struck the final blow and I have no more fight or passion to ride my bike for them because I do not feel they are a fair and just association.

"I have always been proud to put on the New Zealand colours and have put that above everything, but now Cycling New Zealand has taken that from me, too."

Miller accepted the selections of Jenner and Dean, but believed his results in criteria races for the New Zealand squad put him next in line.

An independent review panel endorsed Cycling NZ's decision to omit Miller, despite counter claims from his counsel, Nigel Stirling. "[Miller] undertook four of the required category races. Other contenders undertook only one and yet the fact he performed successfully in those races doesn't seem to have advanced his case for selection," Stirling said.

However, the panel said Cycling NZ reserved a degree of discretion in selecting the team, allowing it to take into account more than results.

Cycling NZ has stated that a "team approach" is required to realise the aim of getting a rider - either Jenner or Dean - into the top 30.

Miller said he was unfairly perceived as a loner who would not adhere to the team approach. He enlisted the support of former professional teams and race promoters, but references attesting to his team attributes had no impact.

Miller was team leader and New Zealand's flag bearer at the last Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur two years ago.

Originally, Cycling NZ president John McDonnell, vice-president Lyn Randall, high-performance chairman Jack Biddle and chief executive Mark Harris were to review Miller's appeal. They were replaced by John Billington, QC, Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Claire Johnstone and Hillary Commission sports development manager Trish McKelvey.

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