CYCLING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 68, 2 January 1936, Page 3

CYCLING.

AUSTRALIAN METHODS. OPPERMAN SAYS ANTIQUATED. That Australian road cycle racing under the handicap system is antiquated, and that if wo want to progress, wo must adopt massed starts, was emphasised by* Hubert Opperman, the champion cyclist, who arrived m Sydney on December 2 by the Niagara from U.S.A. “Even now those who are not accuse tomed to massed starts would find the change awkward, but the sooner the alteration was made the greater would bo Australia’s progress,” said tfQpPy J) “It was useless for me to tell Milliken and Stuart in London what they were to do when they reached Belgium for tho world’s road championship. “Although they were in recordbreaking iorm and, if the three of us started in a ‘time trial’ we would probably have been the leading nation, the conditions would be so different mi the Continent. They could not be told lion to develop the jump at the right tune. “Now this will affect the amateurs at tho Olymipe Games eyen more than it does tiie professionals because they ride shorter events. They should be taught now.” . . Then Bruce Small, who accompanied “Oppy” on the Niagara, said: “They should have been taught at school. 1 am afraid it is too late now, hut ot course bettor late than never. I am glad some of the papers here are strenuously advocating massed starts for road racing. “Wo are too out-of-date. Why with 300 starters in tho Warrnambool race we could have four classes. “Bradman and Crawford in cricket and tennis do not have to concede starts. Why not apply the same principle to cycling. “The junior road championship will be my long suit next year. It will bring out the best in Europe and it will be scratch racing.” “Wo brought away 11 records,” said

the pair joyfully, “and, in the aggregate, have about 2300 miles of the 3000 in the record books.” Opperman says he has been approached regarding six-days’ racing in America, but he preferred to come home. He expects to be very active in Australia, and is uncertain regarding his subsequent plans.