Olympics: Cyclists and rowers take big steps towards gold

By DAVID LEGGAT and NZPA

They came in waves from both sides of the world in the space of 24 hours - and the cumulative effect is to heighten public expectations of a golden Olympic campaign in Athens in August.

Cyclists Sarah Ulmer and Greg Henderson kicked off with victories at the world championships in Melbourne.

It was a heady hour for New Zealand sport, just the second and third times a New Zealander has sat atop the track cycling world, after 1990 points race winner Karen Holliday.

Then 24 hours later rowing twins Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell demolished the field in the double sculls final at the World Cup regatta in Munich.

That sent a clear message to their Olympic rivals two and a half months before the Athens regatta: the double world champions are the combination the others have to beat for the gold.

But it was the back-to-back cycling success - Ulmer in the 3000m individual pursuit and Henderson in the 15km scratch race - which turned heads.

Even so, Henderson needed a strong performance in the two-man 50km madison on the final day of the championships yesterday to be sure of a ticket to Athens.

He and partner Hayden Roulston had to finish in the top 10 to qualify for Athens. As the scratch race is not part of the Olympic programme, it was conceivable Henderson might have missed an Olympic trip.

But by finishing eighth in the madison, the pair secured a place in the Olympic event, plus one spot in the men's points race in Athens.

New Zealanders are used to the Cambridge twins triumphing on the water at the highest level. Not so the bike riders, although Ulmer is a double Commonwealth Games champion.

And those two gold medal rides left national track coach Kurt Innes ecstatic over the future of the sport in New Zealand.

"People should realise we are a powerhouse in the sport of track cycling," Innes said last night.

"We've got all the resources, all the staff to make this sport a world leader. I'm as excited as hell to be part of this team."

Ulmer could not emulate her golden performance in her two later rides, finishing a commendable fourth in the points race and 12th in the 15km scratch race yesterday.

But she knows what awaits her in the countdown to Athens.

"Totally, there's more pressure. You have to accept favouritism," Ulmer said yesterday.

"I can't control what people are thinking or expecting, but that's fine. I know it's part of sport and life, but I'm just really enjoying this year."

Ulmer and her partner and coach, Brendon Cameron, head off to the United States this week, and then on to Europe, having laid down the challenge to her rivals.

For Roulston and Henderson it was a day of jangling nerves.

"I've never been so nervous," Roulston said.

"This takes a lot of pressure off our shoulders."

The pair knew about halfway through the race that they were Olympic-bound - subject to the New Zealand Olympic Committee's approving the nominations BikeNZ put forward this week.

Now they will head to different parts of the globe for some road racing before getting together in Bordeaux at a New Zealand team training camp shortly before heading for Greece.

BikeNZ is set to nominate 28-year-old Ulmer in the individual pursuit and women's points race; a men's teams pursuit; Roulston and Henderson for the madison; and a rider for each of the men's points race - almost certainly Henderson - and the keirin, which will be Anthony Peden.

As for the rowing twins, having given their European rivals plenty to ponder on the water, they had a day off yesterday before getting back into training in Munich to prepare for the Lucerne World Cup regatta from June 18 to 20.

The events of that 24-hour period from late Friday night bring to mind the old chestnut about New Zealand's best Olympic hopes coming when they're sitting on the job - equestrian, yachting, rowing, and now cycling.

What the weekend has done is simply add fuel to that belief.