OLYMPIC ROAD CYCLING

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28056, 25 August 1956, Page 3

OLYMPIC ROAD CYCLING

The task of selecting New Zealand’s representatives for the Olympic Games road race, over a distance of about 116 miles, should not present any difficulties to the national selectors. When N. Geraghty (Waikato) left New Zealand for Australia a few months ago it was difficult to decide who could take his place, as he was the most outstanding road rider in the Dominion. Geraghty has now returned to Waikato, but has not been selected for his province for the trials or championships at Karapiro on August 29 and September 1. It does not appear that any riders from Waikato will be considered as there are no outstanding ones among the four selected. J. Oakes is probably the best and S. Taylor, who was riding in Christchurch last year, may be considered. The present national 100-mile champion and winner of the Wellington to Auckland six-day event, T. Lankow (Wanganui), has not been performing well this season and his chances were minimised when he was beaten for fastest time in the recent Timaru to Christchurch race by Canterbury riders, whose Olympic chances are very remote. Lowes a Possibility R. Lowes (Auckland), is a very promising rider, who figured prominently in the Round the Gorges race last year. In the New Zealand 100-mile championship at Dunedin, with one lap to go, he set off after Lankow, who had made a lar«e break on the field, and reduced his lead. He finished second to Lankow. P. Baird (Auckland), who represented New Zealand at the last Empire Games in Vancouver and finished second in the road race, was until recently not a proven 100-miler, but he recently won the Auckland provincial title over more than 100 miles. Baird’s prospects for selection are bright. From Otago and Southland three representatives will go to the championship and trials —J. Holloway and H. Hubber (Invercargill) and K. Hastie (Dunedin). Three years ago Holloway won the national junior title, but made a poor showing in the last Timaru to Christchurch race off scratch. The next week in the Round the Gorges race when he was on the break mark, he could not challenge Hubber. Hubber is a solid rider, but not up to Olympic standard and his age will be against him. Wylie’s Record At the beginning of the road racing season, no Canterbury riders showed outstanding form, but recently P. Wylie has ridden some fine races and his chances of selection are good, and probably better than any other rider in the Dominion. In the last six Saturdays six major open races ranging from 50 miles to 128 miles have been held, and in each of them Wylie has registered fastest time. Another Canterbury rider who will attend the trials and championships will be G. Painter (Avon), winner of last year’s provincial 100-mile title at Halswell. Painter rode well in the 128mile provincial title race this year but weakened over the last 16 miles. H. Bush (Papanui) has ridden some excellent races this season and did well to finish second to Wylie in the Canterbury championships. If he can improve his hill riding and his final sprint, a national title would not be beyond his capabilities. Wylie and Baird have the best prospects of selection. Wylie is a hard rider on the flat, and hills present no problems to him. Above all Tie has what most distance riders lack—a brilliant finish sprint. Baird is also a good flat and hill rider, but he lacks the devastating sprint of Wylie.