CYCLING BADLY PRESENTED

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33455, 9 February 1974, Page 4

CYCLING BADLY PRESENTED

(By

R. M. CAIRNS)

Cycling' to a far, far greater degree than any other sport, lost a great deal of ground at the Games. It was not .just the standing of New Zealand’s individuals competing, but the image of the sport suffered heavily. The presentation of the cycling deserves more criticism than the performances of the New Zealand team, disappointing though they were. There were reasonably good crowds at the cycling, and it is a fair assumption that many of them — the casual watchers of cycling — were there because of the pre-Games racing, going as far back even as the South Canterbury circuit at the New Year.

The lesser-informed spectators were not likely to know that the heavy programme of scratch and handicap races would not be repeated at the Games. Instead, there were sprints I more correctly labelled matched races), pursuits and a time trial. These are exciting events to the cycling purist but to the very occasional watcher of cycling — and these far out-numbered the specialists — they were perplexing. Only the 10 miles was basic and understandable.

The programmes described the nature of the events very well, but the men responsible for running the meetings deserve

no praise for their treatment of the public. The controller (Mr R. T. Sowry) had to bear the brunt of the criticism, which is probably a little unfair, not least because he is relatively inexperienced at running a cycling meeting. The greater share of the blame should be attached to the cycling control committee, headed by Mr H. R.

Duttdn, the director of cycling, which was responsible for the programme. The ill-treatment of the public was never more highlighted than on the Wednesday afternoon, when team pursuit and tandem qualifying rounds were scheduled. For very good reasons, each of these was held in the nature of a time trial and the disgust of the spectators who, between sessions, tried to sell their tickets for the evening could be understood. It was not just the spectators who were disgruntled A great number of technical officials — perhaps as many as 75 or 80 per cent — were vocal in their expressions of frustration at the damage being done to their sport Obviously the greatest sufferer will be Canterbury cycling: track racing is better organised and controlled, and more exciting in Cantprhnrv than in anv

other centre of New Zealand. But because so many potential new customers received an unsatisfactory first or second impression, the new market, may not be tapped. It is thai which makes the high-handed conducting of the Game.' cycling by mainly Wellington people even more unpalatable.