Uphill climb for the Dutch cyclist

Sydney, September 26: Physically and mentally broken by years of anorexia and unrelenting nerves, Leontien van Moorsel was once on the ver...

Sydney, September 26: Physically and mentally broken by years of anorexia and unrelenting nerves, Leontien van Moorsel was once on the verge of death.

But by winning three medals 8211; two of them gold 8211; in Sydney, the Dutch cyclist has emerged as a surefire contender for the title of new queen of women8217;s cycling at a time when France8217;s Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli of France rule is fading.

In the last 10 days, Van Moorsel, a two-time world road individual time trial champion, has grabbed gold in the women8217;s individual pursuit, won silver in the women8217;s points race, and, on Tuesday, outsprinted an elite field to clinch gold in the prestigious women8217;s road race. It8217;s a comeback that has left her opponents miffed.

quot;She8217;s been doing it all year,quot; Australian cyclist Juanita Feldhan said after Tuesday8217;s race. quot;She always seems to head the sprint and she wins the same way. No one knows how she does it.quot;

A model who once posed for men8217;s magazine Penthouse, van Moorsel suffered a physical breakdown six years ago after winning her second women8217;s Tour de France. For three years she had stuck to a diet of her own creation that almost destroyed her, eating a piece of fruit for breakfast, a dry salad for lunch and dinner and a sugarless low-fat yoghurt.

Worse, immediately afterwards she would put herself through a strenuous workout to burn off the few calories she had put on.

She eventually overcame her eating disorder with the help of her husband and coach, Michael Zijlaard, and staged a victorious comeback at the 1998 World Championships on her home soil in Valkenburg.

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She added another world championship in 1999 in Verona, but there8217;s no question that the Sydney Olympics 8211; where she still has a chance to win gold in the women8217;s individual time trial on Saturday 8211; has become her crowning achievement.

Van Moorsel says the key to her success in Sydney has been her ability to stay relaxed throughout her Olympic ride. quot;I feel good in my head,quot; she told a press conference Tuesday. quot;It8217;s very important for me that I feel relaxed.quot; And key to staying relaxed has been having her husband by her side, she said. quot;He keeps me on an even plane,quot; she told reporters through an interpreter. quot;Michael learned me to train very hard,quot; she then added in English.