Top riders in cycle tour

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32707, 9 September 1971, Page 24

Top riders in cycle tour

(By 1

R. M. CAIRNS)

The most representative field of top-quality New Zealand road cyclists to ride in Canterbury for the last decade —excepting Olympic Games trials and national championships—will take part in the Farmers’ Tour of Canterbury.

Mr R. R. S. Treloar, the organiser of the tour, which will start on October 8, said yesterday 45 entries had been received, and 22 were from outside Christchurch. As well as the entries of the national representative and New Zealand’s top tour rider, B. Pascoe (Waikato), and the bronze medal winner at last year’s New Zealand championships, V. J. Hanaray, two present internationals are entered. They are J. W. Adams, who leads a strong Southland contingent of seven, and J. I. Ryder (Timaru), both of whom competed with distinction in New Caledonia last month.

The lustre of the North Island representation is added to by the entry of D. J. Gee (Wellington), the former Australian who is a most successful tour rider, and his protege, L. A. Cooper, a distinguished junior four years ago who is making a come-back. Among the most respected visitors in sprinting and hill climb sections of the tour respectively are two more Southlanders. T. H. McLeay, the South Island champion and twice a national champion on the track, will be a very strong contender in any stage or town sprints. And D. K. Grave, the best climber of the Dulux six-day tour as long as 10 years ago, can still go up steep slopes ** well as most.