BEESTON SACRIFICED OWN CHANCES FOR TEAM-MATE TO WIN Superb Team-Work Was Essence Of Biddle’s Gold Medal Ride

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32359, 27 July 1970, Page 16

BEESTON SACRIFICED OWN CHANCES FOR TEAM-MATE TO WIN Superb Team-Work Was Essence Of Biddle’s Gold Medal Ride

Superb team tactics by the four-man New Zealand cycling team took Bruce Biddle, of Auckland, through to win the gold medal in the 102-mile road race by one-hundredth of a second on Saturday.

The 21-year-old carpenter crossed the line a fraction of an inch ahead of the Australian, Ray Bilney, with whom he broke clear of all opposition about 12 miles from the end. His time was 4hr 38min 58sec,

A second Australian, John Trevorrow, came in third, hundreds of yards behind the first pair. However, if the glory

of a gold medal went to Biddle, the sacrifice that made it possible was given by his fellow Aucklander, Bryce Beeston.

This was the view of the New Zealand cycling coach, W. D. Dalton, who, with the section manager (Mr D. Smith), masterminded the I Kiwi victory.

Planned Decoy “Beeston could have caught the leading medaliwinning bunch with four laps to go, but if he had done Iso he would have taken other | riders with him,” Dalton said. “Bryce elected to stay behind and slow the Englishmen down. He sacrificed his own chances to give Bruce his opportunity to get among the medals. “In training, these two boys have stuck together and no matter how hard I've tried to

draw them out, they consistently perform at the same fast level.”

Beeston confirmed Dalton’s'e appraisal. “I tried to slow c down the ‘Poms’,” he said, c

circuit They came to the conclusion that to stand any chance of getting among the

“We didn't want them getting the gold and silver medal.' again.

“I knew Bruce was the bet ter sprinter, and there was nc point in me trying to get up. One of the Englishmen was a good sprinter, better than Bruce or I, so I didn’t help him at all.

“The only time I took the pace and helped him was over the last lap when we thought we might be chasing the bronze.

Team Increased “It’s no good trying to do things on your own in road races. You have to work and help the others in the team.” I Beeston finished fifth, less than three minutes behind Biddle. The story of the race contained many elements of drama, when the New Zealand team, Biddle. Beeston, Blair Stockwell (Canterbury), and Harry Kent (Wellington), went to the start line, they knew that Mr Smith and Dalton faced possible censure from cycling authorities in New Zealand if there was no success to report.

Mr Smith and Dalton had spent hours surveying the tough, 3.3-mile Holyrood Park

nedals, New Zealand had to lave a four-man, not a twonan team. Yet only two road nen—Biddle and Beeston—tad been included for the Games.

Finally, they added the track riders Stockwell and Kent to the team—“and they did a great job for us," Dal ton said after the race. “Kent covered the early breakaways, and when a dangerous gap of Imin 45sec was opened up on the twentieth of the 31 laps, Stockwell led the chase after the leaders. He picked up 45sec on the twenty-first lap and the rest of the bunch took over and made contact on the twentysecond. Fresh And Ready ' Kent dropped out after nine 'laps and Stockwell retired after getting the main bunch up to the breakaway. "They’d both done their jobs," Dalton said. “We kept Kent’s bicycle as spare.

“The big thing was that at that point we had our two top men fresh and ready to go." Biddle then took up the story of the race. “Bilney called to me then, at the front of the bunch, ‘Let’s go.’ I went and he came after me," he said. Two other Australians joined them, the eventual bronze medallist, Trevorrow, and Dave Watson. First, Watson fell back, tired from setting the pace in a breakaway group over the first 20 laps, and then, with two laps to go, Trevorrow found the pace too hot. Meanwhile, in the main bunch, a second break had (developed, consisting of four I English riders and Beeston The Englishmen wanted to take Dave Rollinson. a road | rider of much experience, and with a fast sprint, to get up with the leaders. Attacked On Hill I Rollinson set off alone, and 1 Beeston dogged his trail, refusing to make the pace, and Rollinson could not get within half a mile of the front three. The last chapter was then written. Dalton and Mr Smith knew that Bilney had a much stronger sprint than Biddle. With four laps to go, they told Biddle to attack strongly

on the hill climb, and these tactics broke Trevorrow and kept Bilney under pressure. As they went round the back of the course, with two miles to go, Biddle told Bilney: “I’ll be sprinting for the silver.” Bilney, himself, and Biddle, believed the Australian would be too strong in the sprint Together they rode the last two miles, down the steep descent, through the tricky reverse camber, “Hell’s Bend," and on to the finish straight. Bilney sprinted first, with 200 yards to go. Biddle chased him, pulled alongside, and they got the chequered flag virtually locked together. Biddle pulled up, panting heavily, his legs like rubber. Hordes of New Zealanders flocked around him. He thought he had finished second, until the news Altered through—“ Biddle is the winner . . . margin one-hundredth of a second."

Beeston and Biddle plan to stay on in England and Europe, and both will be members of the New Zealand team in the Tour of Scotland next week.

After that, they will compete in the world championships in Leicester and the European circuit.