Incompetence snuffs out N.Z. cyclist’s race chances

Press, 27 September 1988, Page 24

Incompetence snuffs out N.Z. cyclist’s race chances

By

CHRIS MIRAMS

of NZPA in Seoul Total incompetence by a Korean service crew snuffed out any hope the New Zealand cyclist, Madonna Harris, had in the Olympic women’s road race yesterday. Harris, regarded by opponents as a major threat in the 82 km race even though competing without the luxury of team-mates, was riding a superb race until she punctured about 30 kilometres from the finish. Monique Knol, of the Netherlands, won the race. Placed at the front of the 79-strong field as she had been throughout, Harris raised her right hand to signal the service crew she had punctured. The race referee, Ivan Hansen, of Denmark, later agreed the crews had been incompetent and said the chain of events that followed Harris’ puncture was “totally bad.” Instead of the expected 15-second change of wheel the New Zealander had to first "scream and shout” to get the three servicemen out of the truck. Then Harris had to wait an astonishing two minutes before she could rejoin the race. "The Koreans just didn’t seem to understand that they had to change my tyre,” an emotionally distressed Harris said afterwards. “They had to go into the back of the truck, actually take a wheel off another bike and then put it onto my bike. “Then when I got on to the bike it’s a brand new wheel. A piece of junk that’s never been ridden on before. It’s like riding on a sponge. It was one you would put on delivery • carts.”

Harris said the wheel was not tight, the spokes were not tight and the rim was crooked. “I may as well have just ridden my flat tyre. They were so disorganised. The international signal for a rear wheel they just didn’t seem to understand. “In this class of race it should never happen.” The competition manager, Jung Chull Park, defended the backup unit describing the trio as “veterans” claiming each had 10 years experience in road cycling. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Park said the men knew the international signals and so there was no need to have a multi-lingual person in the vehicle. Knol led a mass sprint across the finishing line to snatch the gold in the race yesterday. A photograph was needed to separate the bunch of 45 riders who crossed the line virtually together at the end of the 82km race. After some initial confusion, Jutta Niehaus, of West Germany, was placed second with the Soviet rider, Laima Zilporitee, third. Canada’s Genevieve Brunet was fourth. All the first 45 riders were credited with the same time of 2h 00.525. Jeannie Longo, of France, the world champion for the past three years but still suffering a hip injury from a fall at the world championships, finished twenty-first. East Germany’s Petra Rossner, tipped by Longo before the race as one of the main dangers, crashed on the first lap and retired with a broken collar bone. She was brought down by Hsui-Chen Yang, of Taiwan, who lost control in the tightly bunched pack.