Stockwell holds narrow lead

Press, 3 November 1984, Page 80

Stockwell holds narrow lead

PA Levin Blair Stockwell has a valuable 12 second lead on the field going into the final day of the Dulux cycle race today. But it could have been greater had he not lost 3s to the second and third riders, David Barnett (Wellington) and Steve Fairless (Australia) in the ninth stage to Levin yesterday afternoon. Graeme Miller, Auckland,

set a fast pace for most of the journey from Palmers- _ ton North, bursting clear at the finish to win the stage by half a wheel. Today’s section to Lower Hutt is relatively short, but it includes the testing climb over Paekakariki Hill. Stockwell, currently the “king of the mountains,” is sure he can maintain con--tact with the leaders during the climb. . “I’ve always climbed it

well,” he,said, adclißg~thaU Swart out of the race there was less likelihood of someone blowing the field apart. The morning stage yesterday was won by Fairless. Miller was the most attacking rider throughout the day, however. It was his searing pace in crosswinds just out of Palmerston North which led to 17 riders quickly drifting behind the leading bunch.

—-Results: Foxton sprint.—G. Heine (West Germany), 1; G. Miller, 2; P. Miller (Waikato), 3. Stage nine.—G. Miller (Auckland), Ihr 14min 4s, 1; P. Leitch (Auckland), 2; D. Barnett (Wellington), 3; S. Fairless (Australia), 4; T. Sato (Japan), 5; B. Stockwell (Canterbury), 6; G. Heine, 7; W. Morgan (Wellington), 8; K. Seino (Japan), 9; P. Miller (Waikato), 10.

General classification.— Stockwell, 21hr 49min 595, 1; s Barnett (at 12s), 2; Fairless (at ’ 19s), 3; Tyrell, (at Imin Is), 4; P. Miller (at Imin 345), 5; L. Chapman, (West Coast North Island, Im 475), 6; ? B. Cox . (W.C.N.1., Im 545), 7; R. McCorkill (Australia, Bmin 9s) > 8; P. Leitch (Auckland) and W. Morgan (Wellington at Bmin 9s), (equal) 9. . King of the mountains: B. Stockwell, 24pts, 1; Sato, 23, 2; B Cox. 20. 3.