Stockwell has tour victory in sight

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33065, 4 November 1972, Page 46

Stockwell has tour victory in sight

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH. The Canterbury rider, B. G. Stockwell, will have to do little more than finish today’s final stage to win the 1972 Dulux Auckland-to-Wellington six-day cycle tour.

After yesterday’s 85fmile eighth stage from Wanganui to Palmerston North, Stockwell held an over-all lead of lOmin 27sec.

He was content to remain in the bunch, and finished third in the sprint. B. V. Ulyatt (Hastings) is in second place over-all, with last year’s winner, V. J. Hanaray (also Hastings), third, and B. R. Cornish (Wellington) and M. J. Hughes (Invercargill) equal fourth. When D. Brown (New Plymouth) broke away on his own and looked likely to win the stage, it was Stockwell who got the bunch moving and caught the 1968 winner five miles from the finish.

Brown won all four hill climbs yesterday, setting a pace that was far too hot for his rival, J. I. Ryder (Timaru), who made the initial break with Brown. The bunch caught Ryder at Feilding, 12 miles from the finish. Although Brown was 24 min lOsec behind Stockwell on the overnight’s general classification, Stockwell obviously considered him a threat. At Feilding, Brown’s lead had been cut down to only 45sec, and Stockwell kept the bunch working until Brown had been brought back, too. In a 10-man sprint finish, Ulyat showed his prowess by holding off a determined bid from Hughes, with Stockwell on the outside. Then came Cornish and Hanaray only

inches away. Brown also finished in this bunch. Results: Eighth stage.—Ulyat. 3:33:2. 1; Hughes, 2; Stockwell, 3; Cornish, 4 (all Isec behind). General classification: Stockwell, 23:13:35, 1; Ulyat, 10:27, 2; Hanaray, 10:35, 3; Cornish and Hughes, 10:59, (equal) 4; Ludlam (Taumatunui). 13:19, 6; P. F. Neale (Canterbury), 14:43, 7; M. Collins (Wellington). 19:13, 8; A. D. Morris (Canterbury). 19:35, 9; Brown, 24:55, 10. King of the mountains: Brown, 71 points: Ryder, 55; Stockwell, 20; V. Richards (Auckland). 19; Hanaray, 14.