RIDERS PROTEST REFUSED 6-Day Cycle Race Nearly Abandoned

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31831, 8 November 1968, Page 13

RIDERS PROTEST REFUSED 6-Day Cycle Race Nearly Abandoned

(Nem Zeeland Pre,., Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH. The Dulux six-day road cycling classic was nearly abandoned in New Plymouth yesterday, before the start of the sixth stage. Competitors had objected to the penalties given in the fifth stage, from Otorohanga to New Plymouth, on Wednesday.

Nineteen riders were penalised three minutes each and three riders fined for consistent breaches of the traffic regulations.

The start of the New Plymouth -to - Wanganui stage was delayed half-an-hour while a group of riders argued with the race manager, Mr A. A. Pennington, in the street.

All competitors were reprimanded by a traffic officer and by Mr Pennington on their failure to keep to the left after being told to do so by race officials. Officials and traffic officers described the riding in Wednesday’s stage as the worst in the history of the race. Grudging Start

Mr J. H. Mahoney, the senior traffic officer in New Plymouth, said that the unofficial cars which joined the race in Taranaki caused a lot of trouble, and In some cases Interfered with competitors.

The riders grudgingly wentto their marks for the start of the sixth stage after Mr Pennington had promised a full meeting In Wanganui last night.

At this meeting the protests of the 19 cyclists were dismissed by the appeal committee, which upheld the decision of the referee, Mr J. Ludlum, to penalise the riders,

The 25-year-old Olympic representative, P. R. Thomson (Wellington), scored a magnificent victory in the sixth stage. Back to his best form after the disappointments of the Mexico City Olympics, he spreadeagled the field to record his second success of the tour.

Relishing the summer-like conditions, the 1965 tour winner burst clear of the main bunch south of Stratford, and there he stayed, through 80 gruelling mile?, Reaching speeds of 42 m.p.h., Thomson had at one stage secured a 3imin lead, but it was whittled down to 24sec at the finish.

A second Wellington ridei, H. Kent, made a tremendous effort to overhaul Thomson over the last 10 miles. However, he had to be content with second placing, 40see ahead of the main buneh, which was beaded to the tape by the 18-year-cld Palmerston North cyclist, M. Vertongen, the youngest competitor in the event. Kent rntde his bid 15 miles out of Wanganui with R. J. Hogan (Christchurch), but only Kent was able to maintain the pare. Hogan, exhausted by the effort, slipped back and did not even figure in the sprint of the main bunch.

Thomson is now in sixth place in the over-all classification. smin 33sec behind the leader, D. Brown (New Plymouth), who was fifth in yes-

terday’s stage. Second place over-all is held by D. Gee, of Wellington, who again showed consistent form. Little separated Gee, Brown, N. R. Lyst»r (Wellington), «nd Vettongen, who now appear the only riders likely to win the tour.

Yesterday’s results were;— Sixth stage: D. R. Thomson (Pofieke), 3:57:51, 1; H. Kent (Wellington), 1:51:15, 2; M. Vertongen (Palmerston North). 1:58:55* 3; N. 8. Lygtor (Wallington), 3:58:55, 4; D. Brown (New Plymouth). 3:58:55, 5; B. Pascoe (Waikato), 3:58:55, 8. Sprints: Inglewood, A. Ineson (Southland); Stratford, Thomson; Elthsm, Thomson; Rgwera, Thomson; Pltea, Thornton. Hili cHmbi: Manawipou, Thomson; Waitotara, Thomson.

Over-all classification: Brown 21:2:31, 1; Gee, 21:5:33. 2; Lyster, 21:0:|O, 3; Vertongen, 21:7:31, 4; M. Davis (Auckland), 21:8:2, 5; Thomson, 21:8:4. 6; G. Croskery (Gisborne), 21:1:33, 7; J. Broome (Auckland), 31:8:47, 8; Pascoe, 21:9:19. 9; B. McLean (Auckland), 21: Ml, 10. King of the mountains: Ineaon. 31 points, 1; Gee, 30, t; Thomson. 21, 3.