N.Z. cyclists bow out

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 6

N.Z. cyclists bow out

NZPA Staff Correspondent London. New Zealand ended its bid in the track section of the world cycling championships at Munich yesterday with the disappointment of an early elimination from the team points event; Alter encouraging performances by the Commonwealth gold medallist. Alike Richards, in the 4000 m individual pursuit and by New Zealand in the teams 4000ni pm suit last week, yesterday's' final event was a disappointment. • The team manager, Mr Bill Main, told the NZPA from the 1972 Olympic cycling \ elodrome the team points event had been ■’father an anti climax'’ for the New Zealanders. The original selection of 20- / ear-old Palmerston North rider Anthony Cuff' and the Lower Hutt veteran. Neil Lyster. was changed by the riders themselves yesterday—they substituted Rich, aids for Lyster. Cuff road off in the first heat.

collecting the points tor New Zealand, but this was not good enough to put him amongst the top 12. Richards rode next but JJr Main said: "It wasn't very inspiring. It just appears that this event is not his kettle of fish ana he didn’t really haxe anj enthusiasm for it."

The 19-sear-old Auckland student latei withdraw from his ndxt qualifying heat—removing any faint hope the New Zealand team might have had of progressing further

The New Zealanders win leale Munich todax for the Netherlands, where they will spend the next week in iraining for He road race section of the world championships, to be siaged ai Nurburgring. New Zealand has Cufi and the Morrinsville carpenter. Jack Swart, in the 2t)okm ;oad race, supplemented b\ Gary SumJc: and Paul Jesson —two specialist road racers who have spent the last season in Europe competing in amateur events.