Cyclists’ European tour ‘disappointing'

Press, 27 July 1976, Page 6

Cyclists’ European tour ‘disappointing'

■ NZPA London : The first New Zealand amateur i cycling team to tour Europe is disbanding this week, having ;iaid the foundation for what the manager (Mr Willi Moore) hopes will be great things to come. “We didn’t do as well as 1 had hoped." Mr Moore said yesterday. “But we did all that could reasonably have been expected in our debut on the ; tough European scene. “j hope this will prove to be ; the take-off point for New Zealand cycling. We have gained a I tremendous amount of expedience, and should now go on to ; greater things." The New Zealanders, who ended their tour with a disappointing ninth placing out of 10 teams in the Scottish Milk Race, which finished on Sunday, chad made their mark in Europe. • Mr Moore said “I have no doubt that we will get a lot of invitations to come back, and evervItiling will depend on the finance being available." 1 The New Zealanders, whose llmain event in Europe was the . i Tour of Britain Milk Race, were I plagued by injuries and trouble • I throughout. Paul Wallace ’ suffered serious chest trouble in • the last few weeks, the national road champion, Biair Stockwell, was badlv injured on the eve of .' the Scottish Milk Race and had Ito pull out, and his replacement, • John Mullan (Christchurch), had ' I little time to prepare lor his ■ las’ minuie substitution. • All the New Zealanders’ ■•troubles seemed to come in the jiSOO-mile. five-day Scottish event. Paul lesson, the main hope, “crashed on the first day and lost: lian hour, .lack Swart was dis- » qualified lor missing the start of jSaturday's stage (but was later ’ reinstated:, and Max Vertongen - punctured just after the start of the final leg yesterday. , Jack Swart went back to help 1 him. but with the pace really on, 1 both men were left far behind and retired without finishing Despite his first-leg crash. Jes.son went on to show some

fine form, finishing second Thursday's stage. Mullu finished highest of the Neu Zee landers in the race, twenty-third of the fit) competitors, in IShr :19min 21sec. This was less than 22 minutebehind the winner. I.udek Kubias (Czechoslovakia), 19:17:41), who was followed b\ a Belgian. Room Diilen <19:19:241. and a Czech. Jiri Bartolsic (19:23:45). The other New Zealanderfinished as follows: Rlackwe! 19:59:17 , 43; Paul Jes.son. 20:21:5) 49. Paul Wallace <20:48:42), 52 A British team won the team event.