Katie Mactier (Australia)(Image credit: John Veage)
Greg Henderson (New Zealand)(Image credit: John Veage)
By Karen Forman in Sydney, Australia
Olympic selection wasn't the only inspiration for New Zealand's new World Cup men's points race hero Greg Henderson when he hit the track for his big event in Sydney on Friday night.
While there was no doubt the 30 year-old from Dunedin was every bit as focused as the rest of the 400-odd riders at Dunc Gray velodrome on trying to snag a direct entry ticket for Beijing, Henderson, by his own admission, also had romance on his mind.
"I don't think you can ever expect to win the gold at a World Cup, but I wanted to be on the podium," he told Cyclingnews.
"Also, I couldn't let my fiancée outdo me!" That explains the quick peck on the lips one Katie Mactier gave Henderson after his win.
"Yes, it's true," a slightly bashful but overtly pleased as punch new World Cup champ admitted. "We got engaged a couple of months ago."
That explains not only the peck on the lips Mactier gave Henderson "in passing" after his win and also the giant hug Henderson had also been seen giving Mactier after her women's pursuit gold just moments earlier.
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The big day, Henderson was more than happy to tell us, will be this time next year. He wasn't so open about "how we met", though, but yes, it was at a race back in 2005. "She followed me around," he said.
Obviously a marriage between two gold medalists from different countries then poses questions, like, "Okay, who is going to move where and does that mean Australia/New Zealand will get a new team member?"
Henderson is adamant on that one. "I spend a lot of time in Australia," he said. "I might live here, but I will never race for Australia. I AM A KIWI!" For the record, he currently is a Kiwi living in Spain, where he's based with what was known as the T-Mobile pro road team, but is now High Road Sports (see report).
Sydney World Cup crowds will next see Henderson in his other pet event - Sunday night's Madison.
At 30, he said he's conscious of the age difference between him and some of his peers and that these days he has to ride smart, "not being the strongest rider in the race". His goal, like so many others, is Olympic gold and he's looking forward to Beijing. "I am getting on so sometime I will hang the bike up for good," he said.
Meanwhile, he will hit the road again soon, with the Tour Down Under his first race of 2008.
