Games cycle setback

Press, 9 September 1982, Page 32

Games cycle setback

By

RAY CAIRNS

There was nearly a fairytale start to the Healing toiir of the South last evening, and at the same time a significant — ’ thought not disastrous — setback to the New Zealand Commonwealth Games road cycling team. Jack -Swart, befitting the second-fastest of New Zealand's individual pursuiters on the track, duly won the Bower Tavern 4 km time trial to find the tour leader, b.ut it was only by ,8s from Greg Cox. the Canterbury rider, a last-minute entry, who is one of the most inexperienced in this field. Left well in the wake of Swart and Cox were Greg Fraine. another New Zealand representative, taking third place from Steve Carton. Blair Stockwell (two more of the Games team) and Paul Hoskin, the best of the professionals, and Greg Hume, a junior and a B grade rider to boot. The other members of the

Games team. Steve Cox and Roger Sumich. were eighth and thirteenth respectively, but' it is early days, and it is unlikely they will still be there when the tour finishes on Saturday. After all. it has been widely speculated that the five Games riders will compete as a team, and Swart, pressed for a commitment, admitted as much.

“Well be riding to get the best result we can." he carefully conceded. “After all. we can’t afford to have 'a B grade rider in front of us a week before we go aay - barring bad luck, of course." But Cox’S' sterling performance. only four days after he returned from the graveyard of many a road cyclist, the Tour of New Caledonia, has thrown a new complexion on the tour. The form of Fraine. totally without luck on his recent national team tour of Tasmania, is also pleasing. Then there is the finest performance of the lot, that of Hume. The Hagley High

School lad has made a dramatic rise this season, his second in the sport, and while he could wallow in the self-satisfaction of his best result in this time trial, he should now be looking at not only chasing the B grade honours, but also a respectable over-all performance. With Swart to be given a rounded-off time a second in advance of Cox when the tour leaves the Shirley Lodge this morning, the time trial times were:-

J. J. Swart. 4:54.1: G. Cox. 4:54.9; G. J. Fraine. 5:02; S. Carton. 5:08: B. G. Stockwell. 5:09; G. Hume and P. Hoskin. 5:11, S. C. Cox. 5:12; P. J. Miller. W. Hillary. 5:13; B Cox. 5:14: S. P. Doherty. 5:15: R. Sumich. 5:16: S. McDonnell. 5:17; R. Nevall. W. ,1. E. Rastriek. A. P. Fuller. 5:18: P. Coates. 5:19: P. A. Clare. G. Howie. 5:22: B. M. Slanaway. 5:23: B. R. Kircher, 5:25: N. Dalberg. 5:28: A. . Salole. G. Wilson. A. Mortimore. J. H. A. Cleary. 5:3(1; T. D. Gyde. 5:31; R. J. Lauder. 5:32; 8., D. Thomson. 5:38; M. McLister. S. Challenger. 5:39; W. McLellan. 5:44.