Nothstein is denied in quest for second medal

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — Marty Nothstein will have to be happy with one Olympic medal from the Sydney Games. The Germans seemed to make sure he wouldn't get a second.

Nothstein, of Trexlertown, Pa., placed fifth in the Keirin on Thursday night, slugging German rider Jan van Eijden as both came down the front straight out of medal contention.

The gold medal went to Florian Rousseau of France. Gary Neiwand of Australia won the silver and Jens Fiedler of Germany won the bronze.

Nothstein was trying to add to his medal haul after winning the match sprint on Wednesday, the first Olympic gold medal by an American cyclist since 1984. It was the first U.S. cycling gold at non-boycotted games since 1904.

Nothstein dominated the competition on the way to his sprint gold and was among the favorites for another gold in the Keirin. But he faced a big disadvantage because the Germans had two riders in the Keirin finals.

The German strategy seemed to be to have van Eijden block Nothstein and deny him a line to the front of the pack.

When Fiedler made his move with just over two laps to go, van Eijden looked back over his shoulder to find Nothstein. And from there, van Eijden's job was to block the American to ensure a medal for Fiedler.

As Rousseau was crossing the finish line some 20 yards ahead, narrowly beating Neiwand and Fiedler, Nothstein sat up on his bike and wearing a frown he punched van Eijden in the arm.

Nothstein had to overcome an extra ride to reach the finals after he lost his first-round ride. That put him into the repecharge, a loser's bracket, but he stormed back to win that race and in the second round to make the finals.

The tournament-style competition in the Keirin offers a route to the finals for first-round losers, and Nothstein needed it after he was boxed in and didn't finish among the top two riders in his first race.

In the 25-kilometer women's points race, Antonella Bellutti of Italy won the gold with 19 points. The silver went to Leontien Zijlaard of the Netherlands, who set a world record Sunday on her way to the individual pursuit gold.

Olga Slyussareva of Russia won the bronze. Erin Veenstra-Mirabella of Colorado Springs, Colo., placed 10th.