CYCLING LANKOW’S SECOND WIN IN SIX DAY RACE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28413, 21 October 1957, Page 17

CYCLING LANKOW’S SECOND WIN IN SIX DAY RACE

(Neto Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, October 20. T. G. Lankow, of Wanganui, gained his second win in New Zealand’s classic road cycling event, the 601-mile six-day cycle race which concluded in Auckland yesterday. Lankow, who is 22, first won the title in 1955 and this year made a triumphant return after cartilage trouble had forced him to rest last season.

Lankow’s aggregate time of 29hr 2min 49sec was 12min 38sec ahead of his nearest rival, K. C. Gant (Auckland). Gant with a fine last-stage ride just managed to head off another Auckland rider D. Johnstone, the national road champion, by 16sec for second position. W. Dalton (Auckland) burnt off all opposition in the 84 miles between Thames and Auckland to win the sixth and final stage by more than two minutes- from G. Wilson (Auckland). Dalton also added a further six points to his “King-of-the-Mountains” total to finish with 52 —well clear of Lankow who was next with 34. M. McGregor (Auckland) and M. Matich (Whakatane) were third equal with 29 points. Lankow’s win was the ultimate result of his superb ride on the second stage from Auckland to Whangarei. On this stage, he finished six minutes in advance of the next rider. From then on he, concentrated on holding the hardwon “yellow jersey.” a job he fulfilled with admirable thoroughness.

In the final stage yesterday Dalton fought a grimly-deter-mined battle out in front. He rode more than 60 miles on his own. He had opened a 2min 40sec lead on the bunch by half-way and gained 30scc over two miles. By Pukekohe. he had doubled this and in spite of a heavy head wind showed little sign of tiring. Second into the stadium were two young riders G. Wilson and M. McGregor. Coming into the track McGregor, after half a lap. punctured but with courageous effort kept going on the flat tire to come in behind Wilson.

A later inspection of McGregor’s front wheel showed it to be badly buckled. Most of the spokes had broken.

Lankow must have had doubts about his tour lead during yesterday’s stage. His first puncture came on the Hauraki plains. A quick change and a hard ride saw him back with the bunch inside a few miles but another puncture at Maramarua forced him to halt once more. Lankow kept riding on this one for a short way and after the change found his back wheel out of alignment. He fought back gamely, however, and finished 17th, only a few minutes behind Dalton. L. Parris (Auckland) who took fourth place on the tour aggregate also rode well although he finished last of the first 10 on the stage. Results:—

Aggregate Placings G. T. Lankow (Wanganui), 29 hr 2min 49sec, 1; K. C. Gant (Auckland), 29hr 15mln 47sec, 2; D. Johnston (Auckland), 29hr 16inin 3sec, 3; L. Parris (Auckland). 29hr 19m in 3sec, 4; W. Dalton (Auckland), 29hr 25min 53sec, 5; M. Matich (Whakatane), 29hr 26min 46sec, 6; R. J. Robertson (Te Awamutu), 29hr 39min. 7; J. T. Oakes (Hamilton), 29hr 46rnin 18sec, 8; B. J. Howlett (Auckland), 29hr 47min lOsec, 9; L. H. Payne (Palmerston North), 29hr 48min 46sec. 10.

Stage Placings W. Dalton, 4hr Omin 6sec, 1: G. Wilson (Auckland), 4hr 3min 15sec, 2: M. McGregor (Auckland). 4hr 3min 44sec, 3; Howlett, 4hr 4min 22 sec, 4; Gant, 4hr 4min 22sec, 5; Johnston, 4hr 4min 22sec, 6: G. Morgan (Auckland), 4hr 4min 22sec. 7; Matich, 4hr 4inin 22sec, 8; R. J. Peoples (Auckland), 4hr 4min 22sec, 9; G. Hills (Christchurch), 4hr 4min 45sec, 10.

King of the Mountains Tuakau Hill: Dalton, 6 points, 1; McGregor, 4,2; V. Johnston. 4,3; Matich, 3,4; Gant, 2,5; Howlett, 1,

Totals: Dalton, 52 points, 1; Lankow, 34, 2; Matich. 29, McGregor, 29 (equal) 3; Johnston, 22, 5; Gant, 19, 6; Parris, 17, 7: Howlett, 10, 8.

Primes: Tuakau, Dalton; Pukekohe, Dalton.