CYCLING ROAD RACE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27423, 9 August 1954, Page 11

CYCLING ROAD RACE

N.Z. Rider Gains Second Place

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8 p.m.) VANCOUVER. August 7. J. K. (Peter) Baird, of Auckland, took second place today in a fighting finish to the British Empire Games cycling 100 kilometre road race. Baird thus became New Zealand’s sixth silver medal winner of the Vancouver t Games and the third New Zealand rider to take second place in a Games

road race. John Brown, of Auckland, was second in the first road race of Empire Games at Sydney in 1938, and T. R. Carter (Nelson) was second at Auckland in 1950. Baird, who rode a magnificently confident race in the pack all the jvay, ft was beaten in the sprint home by England’s Eric Thompson, with another English rider, B. C. Pusey, third. Thompson won in Games record time of 2hr 44min B.lsec. The race was held over a much easier course that the Auckland road race four years ago and was unusually trouble free. Very few riders dropped out with punctures or mechanical trouble. New Zealand had four riders in to- | day's race, two road race specialists— Baird and Lance Payne (Palmerston North)—and two track riders—Les Lock (Christchurch) and Neil Ritchie (Auckland). Lock despaired of getting his own road machine, which arrived from New Zealand two days ago. together properly today and at the last* minute borrowed a spare cycle from Baird. I Ritchie’s cycle also arrived on the delayed freighter, Waitomo, and gave chain trouble early. He dropped a long way back but stuck to the race for seven laps. Baird took the silver medal, but for * sheer courage and determination all palms went to Payne. For seven laps < he and Malcolm Campbell, of Wales, ■ who rode fifth in the Auckland road I race in 1950, stayed together with a clear lead on the field. At one stage over an uphill stretch of the course, Payne and Campbell were Imin 40sec ahead of the rest. But the sizzling pace of the bunch over the last twb laps was too much for them. With five laps to go, all three Pakistan riders had dropped out of the field of 21, and Payne and Campbell had gained 19 seconds. The English and Australian riders were forcing the pack to a faster pace. Campbell and Payne were tiring after seven laps and their lead was down to 32sec. They battled up rhe hill again, but before they had reached the flat stretch past the Empire Village, the fast-moving pack had caught them. When the pack went into the bell lap, Baird was riding confidently, waiting in the pack for the sprint down the wide 1000 metres straight. The pack turned for home and to the New Zealanders waiting on the line there was the thrilling sight of two black singlets among them. Baird broke through in the final scramble and chased hard after Thompson, who had a slight break on him. In a terrific final burst he was over the line to a well-earned second place.