AIR N.Z. EVENT Hard course for cyclists

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32635, 17 June 1971, Page 20

AIR N.Z. EVENT Hard course for cyclists

(By R. M. CAIRNS) When some of New Zealand’s best track cyclists glanced at the qualifying race they have to finish for a trip to New Caledonia this year, they may have been mentally packing their bags.

But when they examine the course for the Air New Zealand Grand Prix final, they are certain to have second thoughts. And the more learned of them may think that Mr L. D. Payne, the national council’s organiser, is, like Churchill some years before him, making clear: "1 have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”

In a field of more than 40 of New Zealand’s best cyclists, there is bound to be a crash or two to provide the blood. The severe hills sorted out by Mr Payne ensure that the whole field will have to toil, and toil very hard.

SWEAT SHED The side-effect is more sweat shed at a week-end than many will shed in a month.

And there will be the inevitable disappointed whose emotions will get the better of them.

There are only three stages on the two days, but it is likely to be the hardest stagerace, of a short nature, held in New Zealand. The first stage is only 45 miles, starting from the Wellington Town Hall, but before very long the riders will have to climb Haywards Hill and the Pauatahanui area towards Plimmerton and the stage finish at Waikanae. The same afternoon, the field will have to cross the Akatarawas before riding four laps of the Mangaroa-Te Marua circuit.

And on the Sunday, July 25, the riders have to cross the most infamous “mountain” in New Zealand cycling: the Paekakariki Hill.

In this case, there is a much better than even chance that specialist roadriders will fill the first three, places. But those accustomed, and attuned, to shorter distances need not despair.

Mr C. J. Hollows, the convener of the New Zealand selection panel, said yesterday that if he was returned as a selector at Saturday’s annual general meeting, his first concern would be to look at track riders. TRACK RIDERS The first three in the national are to be chosen automatically, but two others are to be picked at the discretion of the selectors. And as the programme in Noumea involves as much track cycling as that on the road, track riders must inevitably be chosen. The riding in New Caledonia is spread over a week. On the first Wednesday of their visit. August 18, the New Zealand riders will compete in a track meeting. On the Saturday, there will be an 80 kilometre road race; and the following day, two stages, each of 100 kilometres.

Finally, there will be another track meeting on August 25.