Corporation gives cycling classic boost

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 31

Corporation gives cycling classic boost

FA - Auckland New Zealand’s premier cycle race has been given a $500,000 boost. The investment bv the Jackel Corporation over the next three years is expected to ensure the Raleigh Classic returns to the days when the annual end-of-season tour was acclaimed as one of the best races in the Southern Hemisphere. This year’s race will start in Wellington on November 1 and finish in Auckland seven days later. The feature promises to be a new stage from Wanganui to The Chateau Tongariro on Mount Ruapehu. Total prize money for this year’s race is up from $20,000 last year to $25,000. The first rider on general classification will take away $2OOO. Details of the race route have yet to be decided, but after an Bkm time trial in Wellington the field will leave on November 2 for Palmerston North. The route is expected to be via Wanganui, New Plymouth, back to Wanganui, National Park, Taupo, Te Awamutu, Hamilton and on to Auckland for a likely Mission Bay finish. The call over the years for

a tougher test appears to have been answered with some obviously gruelling onestage days. For 25 years, under the Dulux banner, the race went from Auckland to Wellington. Many, in the end, felt the race had lost much of its appeal by becoming too predictable. Last year Healing had a brief foray, changed the direction from south to north but struggled to shake off the long-held traditions. The introduction of a third sponsor, and particularly one so closely related to the cycle trade, has given fresh hope to one of New Zealand’s sporting institutions. The field will be limited to 50 riders in 10 teams, with up to six from overseas. Teams from the United States, Eng-' land, Australia, Switzerland, Denmark, France, Norway, Wales, Sweden and Japan have been invited. Last year many riders competed in the race days after riding in the Commonwealth Bank Classic in Australia, thus the overseas challenge quickly faded in the New Zealand race. The race director, Mr Bob

Pratt, was confident there would be a better standard of international rider and, with the longer break between the Australian race and the Raleigh Classic, that the overseas riders would be better prepared. The old B grade has been scrapped in favour of what promises to be a competitive under-21 category. With the swing towards team racing, it is likely only the top 15 New Zealand riders will gain a start. • A field of 43 professional cyclists will line up for the annual Placemakers Timaru-to-Christchurch classic starting at Washdyke on Saturday. The 160 km event has attracted top riders from as far north as Auckland. The Timaru professional, Colin Ryan, who won the race last season in record time, is favoured to win. His main challenges ae expected to come from Peter Haywood of Auckland, and Peter Cox of Taranaki, off the scratch mark. Other riders who could press Ryan are the twice winner of the event, Steve Doherty, of Hornby, and Andrew White, of Timaru.