Track Riders Want Chance Of Olympic Selection

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30745, 8 May 1965, Page 13

Track Riders Want Chance Of Olympic Selection

"The Press’’ Special Service

WELLINGTON, May 7.

The top road cyclists in New Zealand have told the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association that they think track riders should be included in future Olympic Games teams.

The association has released the official reports of the Tokyo Olympic Games team and many references are made to the desirability of selecting track riders.

“One thing that stood out to me,” stated D. R. Thomson, “was that we could form a good team for the 4000 metres pursuit for future Olympic Games, and I believe there is talk of this event being included in the Empire Games,- too. “I think there is plenty of track talent around. New Zealand could perform as well if not better than the Australian team that rode very creditably to finish fourth.” M. W. Grace also reported that, in his opinion, a track

pursuit team entry should be encouraged, while L. J. Byers commented that “it is a great pity we cannot afford money” for track riders. Of the 195-kilometre road race the team captain, R. D. Johnstone, stated: “I feel that I rode myself into the ground, getting him (Byers) to the front and I think it is a pity that we didn’t have three riders there, as it would have made a lot of difference.” But the fifth member of the squad, W. A. Candy, was of the opinion that this should be more of an individual effort.

“I do not think picking a No. 1 man and working to get that one man home is entirely the best thing,” he wrote. “I feel that by all means we should work as a team throughout the race, but at the end—every man for himself.”

Byers claimed that' insufficient notice was taken of the lessons learned from Perth in 1962.

He advocated that the riders be given a course of injections of 812, which is widely used throughout the world by athletes and cyclists alike and is not a stimulant.

Byers said that Dr. Grigor, the team physician, was in full accord. Of the cyclists who won medals the majority were professionals. Very few had employment and if they did then it was out of season, he reported. “It is no wonder that cycling is in jeopardy for the next Olympics.”