Pursuit team ruled out

Press, 2 May 1984, Page 52

Pursuit team ruled out

There is no chance of New Zealand being represented in the 4000 m team pursuit at the Los Angeles Olympics, according to the manager of the cycling team, Mr Graham Sycamore, of Invercargill.

A Press Association report yesterday had suggested that Craig Adair, Anthony Cuff and Graeme Miller would be riding in a team pursuit, but that event requires four cyclists.

Before the announcement of the Olympic squad, it had been suggested a pursuit

team would have been formed if all four of the track riders nominated — Adair, Miller, Cuff and Murray Steele — were selected. However, Steele’s nomination was declined.

Brian Fowler, one of the three road riders selected, was also being tipped for the fourth position in such a pursuit team, but according to Mr Sycamore there is “no way you can combine road and track racing.”

It would not be logical to put “just any four” riders in a pursuit team, and time for

an adequate preparation was running out, he said.

Yesterday’s report also suggested that the road riders, Fowler, Roger Sumich and Stephen Cox, would contest two races. They will, in fact, ride only one, the 190 km individual event.

However, Mr Roy Dutton, one of the trio of Olympic selectors, has stated that Sumich and Cox are to do everything possible td aid Fowler, who is considered the “chief hope.”