Top class field in cycling trial

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 11

Top class field in cycling trial

'TWELVE international x cyclists are included in the field of 46 for the first Olympic trial at Waikari today, the first stop, for some, to Mexico. This sheer weight of numbers of high-quality riders ensures that, for a change, the favouritism will not be confined to an outstanding two or three; the race is very open. However, the national champion, J. A. Dean (West Coast-North Island), will carry most support Not only did he dictate terms,' absolutely, to the rest of the bunch in last year’s New Zealand championships, to the -extent that • they were content to battle out the minor platings, but he has been headed in a sprint only once in the pretrial series in Wellington. Dean will possibly not become a complete master of all facets of road racing —as T. J. Tabak has the ability to do—but will remain in the top rank in this country because he is as strong as any other, will work as much as the rest, and has the most reliable sprint among New Zealand’s top road riders. After Dean, who needs only reasonably good trials to earn nomination for Mexico, the outlook is more clouded. The Wellington champion, H. J. Kent, has a certain appeal because he is one who is capable of beating Dean at Che finish. Doubt must still be attached to Kent, however, because he was dropped in last week’s 80-mile race at Wellington when pressure was applied by R. D. Thomson (Auckland). Thomson returns to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs, victory seven years ago in the New Zealand championship, when he also rode the fastest time by the winner of a national 100-mile title. The older of two brothers, both internationals, Ritchie Thomson makes a habit of falling a little from grace and bouncing back again; a win in the Wanganui Commonwealth Games trial two years ago, in similar circumstances,

earned. him a trip to Jamaica. D. R. Thomson (Wellington) Will have a lot of support for A trip to Mexico, even if he fails to finish in the first two or three of one or other of the trials. A silver medal at Jamaica, representation at the last Olympics, and worthwhile experience at last year’s world championships suggest very strongly that sharpness seomrto have gonefrom his- sprint, -howraoss performances may not be enough for Thomson. More than the'Thomsons, however, most attention

could focus on M. W. Grace (Auckland) and A. G. Ineson (Southland). These two, now nearer 30 than 20, are possibly the most capable and experienced scratch riders in the country. Ineson, the New Zealand champion in 1963, has not been worse than fifth in the title race since that time, and Still has a sprint to rival any of his younger compatriots.

Grace rode a masterly race at Wanganui last year fof second place and he has a similar record to Ineson. Like Des Thomson, he was a member of the 1964 Olympic team and it could well be that these two will be rivals for one position. These six are the most

likely to be prominent at the finish of today’s 120mile race, if it is a bunch sprint However, there are two Aucklanders, B. W. Beeston and J. Broome, who cannot be forgotten. Beeston, a protege of L. J. Byers, made tremendous strides last season and captained the New Zealand team in Australia but a very good sprinter, was a disappointment in the national championships. Broome, on his day and if the pace is not too hard, is a potential winner; a magnificent sprinter, he is capable of beating this very high-quality field. There remains, with an exception or two, the strong type of cyclist, such as D. Brown (W.C.N.1.), who has been competing with distinction in the Wellington series; S. J. Stephen (Auckland), the record-holder for 100 kilometres over this course; N. R. Lyster (Wellington), who may bear close examination if a time trial team is sent to Mexico as well; and the chief Canterbury hope, R. J. Hogan. Hogan, another very good teams’ time trial rider, has had his preparation hampered by the lack of racing and may not reach bis best until the Auckland trial at the beginning of June. There will be interest in the performance of the former professional, D. J. Gee (Wellington), who is not eligible for Olympic selection. Also C. Hibberd (Auckland), who has not ridden in Canterbury since he left the province five or six years ago, will be a welcome visitor. He has improved vastly in the last two or three years.