East Europeans dominate cycling

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 6

East Europeans dominate cycling

NZPA-Reuter San Cristobal Eastern Europe grabbed another five medals in three events yesterday at the world track cycling championships The Russians, as expected, won the women's pursuit through the diminutive Vera Kuznetsova, and again, as predicted, Czechoslovakia took the tandem sprint medal ahead of Russia. But, surprisingly, the Eastern Europeans picked up another two medals in the points race expected to go to Western Europe. The race was won by the Belgian Constant Toume who, together with Poland s Jan Faltyn, the silver medallist, and hronze medallist Nikolai Makorov, of Russia, managed to get a one lap lead on the rest of the field. I The race, contested by 30

riders, ended in confusion with the British and Italian terjns both claiming they should have had the bronze medal. They contended that Makarov had not taken a lap on the field, but officials, backed bv a film of the race, stuck to their placing* and Britain had to be content with fourth and fifth spots and Italy with tenth

The result was a bitter disappointment to the British riders lan Hallam and Anthony Dovle, who rode with great Intelligence and team-work to dominate the race for much of the 50 kilometres.

The women’s pursuit was something of a foregone conclusion with Miss Kuznetsova completing a clean sweep of the women s track gold medala for Russia in the team's first appearance at 1974 wor 'd championships since