Close tussle tipped in tour

Press, 11 October 1986, Page 76

Close tussle tipped in tour

By

BRYCE SIMS

A close tussle is expected when several of New Zealand’s leading cyclists line up for “The Press” open two-day tour which starts at Sefton today. The Commonwealth games silver medallist, Brian Fowler, will start as favourite in the five-stage tour with his main opposition, expected to come from Papanui’s Peter Coates, who finished third in the national cycling championships last month in Hawera.

Fowler, who did not race in the national championships, has been short of competitive racing since his return from Edinburgh, but has still been putting in the long miles in training. Coates, who had a good build-up for the nationals, will be out to redeem himself after mechanical problems cost him the title with the line in sight. Hornbys No. 1, Aaron Lauder, who is on the verge of New Zealand selection, can not be discounted for the event either, after clinching a large number of titles during the season. Leading the troupe of visiting riders is a former national representative, Del Woodford, of Dunedin, who finished sixth at Hawera. Also two visitors from the North Island who could be a threat are Kevin Hunt, of WaikatoBay of Plenty, and lan Harris, of East Coast North Island. They were members of the New Zealand team to Tasmania earlier in the year. In the B Grade section, Woolston’s Andrew Fairweather and Papanui’s junior world representative, Mark Lucas, should start as joint favourites with a close battle expected from Tony Lilleby, of Nelson, and Leighton Smith, of Invercargill. Racing will start tomorrow with a 4km time trial at Sefton and will be followed by the 60km second stage raced over a Sefton Loburn-Ashley school circuit.

The final stage of the day will be raced over 100 km in the Sefton Loburn-Ashley Gorge-Ohoka-Rangiora area, and includes the Gientui, Ashley Gorge and Summerhill climbs for the King of the Mountain series plus a sprint ace series. Sunday begins with the testing penultimate stage from Taitapu to Motukarara, Kaituna domain and return.

The last 48km stage includes six climbs over the Cashmere road hill, and also has five primes in the six-lap block.