Big smiles from the kiwi (Image credit: Mark Gunter)
Kiwi flyer
A kiwi is actually a flightless bird, but that doesn't stop Greg Henderson, Health Net's New Zealand track specialist, from giving it his best shot. After winning the scratch race title at the Track World Championships in 2004, he was a close runner up in the event in 2005. He's now into his road programme and performing well at the Tour de Georgia. Cyclingnews' Les Clarke caught up with Henderson just before the start in Augusta to see how all was for this flying kiwi.
We started off by asking what was on Henderson's plate in terms of racing, for 2005.
First race back for me is the Tour de Georgia, and I'll be racing the rest of the US calendar right through till San Fran in September.
Henderson was crowned World Champion in the scratch race in 2004, and went to Los Angeles last month a marked man. He took good form into the event, but came up a little short, taking a silver medal. When asked what he was hoping to get out of the World Championships after winning the scratch title in '04, he replied: "I would have loved to repeat my scratch race title, but you really can't complain with second. I was very happy with my form at the Worlds this year and I felt I was competitive in every event I entered."
But when asked whether he was actually disappointed with the result, Henderson had a mixed response: "I cant say I'm disappointed. I did get a medal and was fourth in the Teams Pursuit. I was a little brassed off with the way the points race ended for me [he took sixth place] but it just makes you hungry for next time."
