Cycling Uwe Raab, of E. Germany beats Swiss

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 20

Cycling Uwe Raab, of E. Germany beats Swiss

NZPA Altenrhein Uwe Raab, of East Germany, defeated a local hero, Niklaus Ruettimann, in a classic sprint finish to the men’s amateur road race at the World Cylcing Championships at Altenrhein, Switzerland, on Saturday. Just over a bike length separated the battling riders at the line after a superb last-lap duel for the gold medal. Andrezej Serediuk of Poland finished alone in third place for the bronze.

A new name also went on the honours’ list in the women’s road race as Sweden’s Marianne Berglund beat the big American hope, Rebecca Twigg, in a equally fine finale. Ruettimann powered away from the 20-strong leading group soon after the start of the last lap of the 12-lap (179.93 km race.

But the Swiss reckoned without Raab who gave chase and caught his rival with a marvellous demonstration of climbing.

Once the two men were together they took turns at the front as they prepared themselves for a lastmoment charge. The sprint started about 300 metres from the finish. Ruettimann drew alongside Raab with only 30 metres remaining but the 21-year-old East GErman showed why he is rated one of the fastest riders in the business by holding his opponent off. The New Zealander, Brian Fowler, finished in thirthy-eighth place, 4min 38sec behind the leader.

Berglund, aged 20, was never better than ninth in her previous four attempts at lifting the women’s title.

There was daylight between the Swede and Twigg at the line. An Italian,

Maria Canins, snatched the bronze medal from Britain’s Mandy Jones who was determined to hang on to her title until the last possible moment. Results: Men’s Amateur Road Race (12 Laps, 179.928 km): Uwe Raab (East Germany), 4:31:53, 1; Niklaus Ruettimann (Switzerland), same time, 2; Andrezej Serediuk (Poland), 4sec behind, 3; Thomas Barth (East Germany), 4; Sergio Scremin (Italy), 5; Olaf Ludwig (East Germany), 6; Lars Wahlqvist (Sweden), 7; Falk Boden (East Germany), 8; Moroslav Sykora (Czechoslovakia), 9; Ezio Moroni (Italy), 10. Women’s road race (four laps, 59.976 km): Marianne Berglund (Sweden) 1 hour 38min 17sec, 1; Rebecca Twigg (U.S.), 2; Maria Canins (Italy), 3; Mandy Jones (Britain) all same time, 4; Jeannie Longo (France), 5; Cynthia Olavarri (U.S.), 6; Connie Carpenter (U.S.), 7; Thea van Rijnsoever (Netherlands), 8; Beate Habetz (West Germany), 9; Catherine Swinnerton (Britain), 10.