NZ expects tough challenge from downed Dutch champ

1.00pm - By CHRIS BARCLAY

ATHEN - The New Zealand track cycling team are playing down suggestions Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel's crash in yesterday's Olympic road race has smoothed Sarah Ulmer's path to the individual pursuit gold medal on Sunday.

The Dutch cycling legend is considered one of the Aucklander's chief rivals for the 3000m pursuit title, despite being comprehensively beaten by Ulmer at the track cycling world championships in Melbourne three months ago.

Ulmer succeeded the 34-year-old as world champion but Zijlaard-van Moorsel, who won three golds at Sydney 2000, promised to defend her Olympic title and rub out the new world record -- three minutes 30.604 seconds -- the Aucklander set in qualifying.

Those plans hit a serious snag on the Athens streets yesterday when she badly bruised her hip, shoulder and neck after tumbling 26km from the end of the road race.

She was taken to hospital for treatment but was able to resume training today but confirmed she would defend her Olympic time trial title on Wednesday.

"In a time trial everything hurts anyway so that won't make that much of a difference," she said.

Zijlaard-van Moorsel was racing at high speed when she looked behind her, touched the bike of the rider in front of her and went down, dragging three other riders with her.

She spent 45 minutes training today and planned to explore the time trial course along the scenic, jagged coastline of Vouliagmeni on the outskirts of Athens tomorrow.

Individual pursuit qualifying is on Saturday with the medal rides following a day later.

Ulmer arrived in the Games Village from a BikeNZ training camp in the south of France with the bulk of the track squad today and was aware of the Dutchwoman's predicament.

"Sarah knows about what happened but I haven't heard her reaction," team manager Bryan Simmonds told NZPA.

"It's (pursuit qualifying) a few days away isn't it? She won't give up easily.

"Sarah will be doing her usual thing and concentrating on herself -- not the others."

The team pursuit squad of Mark Ryan, Hayden Godfrey, Peter Latham, Matthew Randall and Tim Gudsell also arrived in the Greek capital today with head track coach, Kurt Innes.

Madison riders Greg Henderson and Hayden Roulston arrive with keirin racer Anthony Peden on Friday from Bordeaux.

Meanwhile, Simmonds said it was unlikely Ulmer would fulfil any media commitments before her event.

"She's not all that keen to have a conference," he said.

If Ulmer is off limits she will follow the example of other high-profile New Zealand athletes Beatrice Faumuina, Valerie Adams and rowing twins Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell who have also sought a low profile since arriving here.

- NZPA