Olympic Road Cyclists Track Events Barred

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31768, 27 August 1968, Page 19

Olympic Road Cyclists Track Events Barred

Members of the Olympic Games road cycling team will not be allowed to ride track events as well.

In a letter to the cycling reporter of “The Press,” the cycling sectional manager (Mr C. H. Herbert), of Auckland, said that permission had been declined bv the New Zealand Olympic Association.

Also, said Mr Herbert, the association had advised him that the cycling team could not leave the Olympic party after the Games festival to compete in the world championships in Uruguay. The championships are being held soon after the Olympics and European countries especially—almost as a matter of course—compete in the world titles as part of the same tour. “This is very disappointing.- said Mr Herbert, “as I have felt that with all things being equal for at least three months, we would have been able to put up a good showing." Speed Training Mr Herbert had asked for the cyclists to be entered for the track events—the 4000 metres teams’ pursuit and, in the case of J. A. Dean, the kilometre time trial—to ensure that track training time would be available in Mexico City. As the team is not now riding any track events, it may find it difficult to be granted permission to use the track. This is considered essential to develop speed. Mr Herbert said the team was now training twice a day under his full supervision, with the emphasis on speed.

and, including racing, the team members have weekly schedules of about 400 miles. The five members of the squad have four more races before leaving New Zealand. They are the Palmerston North to Wellington 100 miles race on August 31, and a 100 kilometres criterium at Paraparaumu the next day. The next week-end, they will have the New Plymouth open 50, and the Point Chevalier open 60.