Anderson calls for wooden track

Press, 8 October 1987, Page 39

Anderson calls for wooden track

PA Auckland Top New Zealand track cyclist, Gary Anderson, wants to see a wooden track built for Auckland’s 1990 Commonwealth Games. Anderson has just returned from the world champion- , ships in Austria where he ’ finished sixth in the 4000 m individual pursuit. He was ,i easily New Zealand’s best's performed cyclist at the championships, which were , staged on an indoor wooden

"If New Zealand is to have the best possible track for the 1990 Games it should be built in wood,” Anderson said by telephone from his Wanganui home yesterday. The plan is to build the 1990 Games cycling track in concrete, mainly because it is more durable. Anderson said a concrete track deteriorated more quickly than most cycling administrators appreciate.

“I’ve raced on both the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games track and the track built in 1983 at the United States Olympic training centre in Colorado Springs,” he said.

“Both are concrete. And neither is now anywhere near as good as when first laid. The problem is that the sub surface moves slightly over the years, the concrete moves with it and the track becomes more bumpy. You don’t get this with wood.”