EDINBURGH WINNER HOT FAVOURITE IN PURSUIT CYCLING

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33442, 25 January 1974, Page 11

EDINBURGH WINNER HOT FAVOURITE IN PURSUIT CYCLING

(Bv

R.M. CAIRNS

Although the most popular cycling tickets have been those for the finals of the team pursuit, the tandem, and the 10 miles on Thursday evening, the best value is undoubtedly Sunday, when the competition will be intensive and in two sessions.

The sprinters, who can cover 200 metres at between 60 and 65 kilometres an hour, will first he on show in the sprint series, and the strength-speedsters, vtho must average near SOk.p.h. for about five minutes, will ride their early round of the individual pursuit.

The two cyclists defending 1 their Gaines ' titles will also be riding , — .John Nicholson, the tustralian sprinter, and ! England’s pursuit champion, lan Hallam, both of whom are overwhelming favourites. Hallam’s position is a little more clear-cut than) that of Nicholson. On Euro-j pean tracks, he is consistently capable of riding in I the region of smin. Although; there is a competitive angle, 1 to pursuits (two men, on op- j posite sides of the track,' trying to catch each other),! they are in the nature of al time trial. Hallam will need to be at] his best to better smin on Denton Park. It is not a fast

] pursuit track, although at [his first effort on the new surface, the New Zealand } champion, Blair Stockwell, was in the region of smin Bsec. Main rivals But Hallam still should win, with Stockwell his keenest opposition, Willi Moore (also of England) another potential medal winner, and [the relatively unknown Australians, Gary Reardon, John iSanders, and Gary Sutton,! i posing a threat. [ It was one of their countrymen, Danny Clark, who [went to Edinburgh three 'years and a half ago as a brash young Tasmanian of ,18 barely known outside the ! island state. The Australian hero was Jan Bylsma, yet Clark won the silver medal. It might well have been the gold, for Clark blamed his final defeat — by Hallam —- on Stockwell, who gave him a strenuous and exciting semi-final ride. It is significant that two of the Australians this time are aged 18 and 19, and Sanders is aged 22. Nicholson described them as young and strong; perhaps they are a little better than just that. Sprint serifs The sprint series is more complex, and it should more correctly be termed a matchrace series. It is a constant source of confusion to nonregular spectators to hear it described as a sprint, when the contestants might circle for 800 metres at snail’s pace, and even stand still. Tactics are the key. It depends largely on a rider’s . preference for either leading ’ out (making the pace from } the front) or for coming ] from the back. Ohl adversaries i The two best tactical ’ riders likely to be on show, ’ and two who must be reckoned on winning medals ' are Nicholson and the New 1 Zealander, Bryce Preston. ' I They are old adversaries; 5 1 Preston went closer by far r | than anyone to beating [Nicholson at Edinburgh. >i Since then, their ways t [ have been diverse. Nicholson - has been to Europe for s world championships, while Preston went into a tem- - porary retirement, from 1 which he only emerged a - year ago. s Experience should be decii sive, and Nicholson may r emerge with another gold ’ medal. But Preston, although r his international experience is limited to the 1970 ex-

peamon to hamnurgn and the world championships, and a minor trip as a youngster to Australia in 1968, has a very old head on his shoulders. Not since Warren Johnston 12 and 16 years ago has New Zealand had a man quite so likely to win a medal. 18 in sprints There are only 18 entrants in the sprints, which is a relatively low figure, and the standards have been lowered dramatically. Clark, who could have ridden this event or the pursuit; the suspended Jocelyn Lovell, of Canada; and the omitted Harry Kent (New Zealand) are fast men who would have added a glow to the field. So, too, could have Jacob Schriek, the runner-up to Preston at New Zealand’s championships, but chosen only for the kilometre time trial. i Trinidad and Tobago [usually provide a fast man [for the Commonwealth ] Games. At Kingston, there was Roger Gibbon, at Edinburgh, Leslie King. But their standard this time does not look of the same calibre, so that the medals seem sure to come again from the three who should dominate the Denton Park track: England, Australia, and New Zealand. The Australians are more

bloody-minded than the others, and Nicholson’s supporting pair, Greg Barnes and Greg Williams, complete the strongest single trio. Nothing that Ernie Crutchlow has done for England or Britain since Edinburgh suggests he will progress any further, and •the country might be looking more to Maurice Burton, aged 18, whose forbears came from the West Indies. Paul Medhurst is New Zealand’s second seed but until he can improve on bronze medals at New Zealand senior championships, he can not be regarded as a real prospect for greater honours. However, the implied suggestion that he was not quite up to it worked wonders with Nedhurst at the international meeting on Sunday, and he might be poised for a breakthrough. Non-specialist John Dean is the most experienced international in the New Zealand team, and one of the most naturally ] gifted cyclists to be proiduced by the country. But I his successes in virtually • every facet of cycling have j meant that Dean has not completely mastered any one of them, and his placement in the sprints hints at a desire to field a full home team in each event, rather than any looking for a medal from Dean. What might each country expect from these two events by Tuesday evening? Try two medals each for England, Australia, and New Zealand, but there are no predictions as to the colour of their glow.