MELBOURNE, 29 May 2004 — Sarah Ulmer and Greg Henderson completed a unique golden double for New Zealand at the Track Cycling World Championships yesterday. Ulmer won the women’s 3,000 meters individual pursuit a day after she claimed the world record then Henderson pulled off a surprise win in the men’s 15 kilometer scratch.
Jamie Staff won the men’s keiren to give Britain their second title of the championships after Chris Hoy won the kilometer time trial on Thursday. New Zealand had only ever won one gold medal at the championships when Karen Holliday won the points race in 1990, but captured two within 35 minutes of each other yesterday.
Ulmer, 28, went into the individual pursuit final against Australian Katie Mactier as an overwhelming favorite after breaking the world record in the opening round of qualifying. But the New Zealander, who won the world junior title a decade ago, had to survive a few anxious moments before winning to confirm her standing as favorite to win the Olympic title in Athens. Mactier set off at a cracking pace and was still in front after 2,000 before Ulmer reeled her in during the last two laps to cross the line in four minutes 31.778 seconds, three seconds clear of Mactier and more than second outside her world record. Elena Tchalykh won the bronze medal race against her fellow Russian Olga Slyusareva in a faster time than Mactier did to get the silver.
Henderson won a thrilling sprint finish to snatch gold in the men’s scratch, which is not an Olympic event. The New Zealander, who took silver with Hayden Roulston in the madison at last year’s World Championships, was among a group of six riders who lapped the field during the 60-lap race.
The group split up once they rejoined the pack but it was Henderson who got his wheel across the line first in a frantic dash to the finish. Robert Slippins of the Netherlands was second with Argentina’s Walter Perez third.
Inspired by Ulmer’s performance, Henderson said he hoped their victories would provide a boost to cycling in New Zealand. “We’ve had very little support in the past but hopefully now we will get some more backing,” he said.
Italy’s Cunego Wins Tour of Italy 18th Stage
Italy’s Damiano Cunego, of the Saeco team, won the 118km 18th stage of the Tour of Italy from Cles to a summit finish in Bormio yesterday to stamp his authority on the race.
Cunego, who has now won four stages in this year’s event, consolidated his overall lead just two days before the finish in Milan. The 22-year-old sprinted away effortlessly to beat compatriot Dario Cioni and Ukrainian Serhiy Honchar by five seconds at the 1938-meter high finishing line. Italy’s Gilberto Simoni, who had broken away on his own on the final climb, eventually finished fourth 9sec behind. Overall, Cunego is 1min 31sec ahead of Honchar and Simoni moved up to third spot, 3min 7sec back.
