Top Cyclist Loses Olympic Chance

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30396, 21 March 1964, Page 10

Top Cyclist Loses Olympic Chance

.(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 20. R. D. Thomson has advised the Auckland Cycling Centre that he will not be available for the 100 kilometres teams’ time trial next Wednesday. By not competing in the trial he will lose his chance of selection in any cycling event at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Thomson was considered one of the “anchor men” of the road race team. His place will be taken in the teams’ trial by the former Blenheim rider, B. Manning, who is now working in Auckland. Both Thomson and L. J. Byers received the following telegrams from the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association, Mr V. R. Ross today. “Council insists you participate in 100 kilometre team time trial prior departure for Paris if Olympics consideration desired.”

sentatives, wil leave for Paris on March 31. It is understood that Byers will compete in the trial on Wednesday. In advising the Auckland centre president (Mr J. W. Partridge) of his unavailability Thomson said that he would be in Wellington and would not be competing. Earlier, the New Zealand cycling selectors had insisted that Olympic candidates take part in Wednesday's time trial and Thomson’s withdrawal has automatically cost him any chance of being selected in either the Olympic time trial or the J2O-mile individual road race.

Both Byers and Thomson, former New Zealand repre-