Milk Race cyclists

Press, 28 November 1979, Page 6

Milk Race cyclists

The executive council of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association announced the six riders for the 1980 Milk Race, at a monthly meeting in Wellington last evening. The squad is: Jack Swart, Vem Hanaray, Stephen Cox. Roger Sumich. Gary Bell and Keith Lucas. Maurice Brown was named as the reserve. Swart and Hanaray are the only riders so far named in the national cycling team for the Moscow Olympics. The Milk Race is intended as a vital part of their preOlympic build up. Cox won the Dulux road[ race earlier this month. He competed at the 1977 Milk; Race and was a national team; member to the 1978 Red Zinger tour in the United States and to last year’s’

Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. Sumich’s inclusion was automatic. At the 1977 Milk Race, Sumich became the first New Zealand rider to ever win an honour at the prestige international road classic by taking the last stage. Bell's past accomplishments include a first at the 1975 Dulux classic and a third at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. Lucas has shown consistently fine form competing in New Zealand after the season he spent racing in the Netherlands last year. The national association has received $3BOO from the organisers of the Milk Race towards the cost of sending a team to Great Britain. The appointment of three officials has yet to be decided.