RECORD RIDES

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 51, 29 August 1934, Page 10

RECORD RIDES

A FAMOUS CYCLIST

HUBERT OPPERMAN ARRIVES

SPORT. IN FRANCE

One of the most prominent cyclists in the world, Mr. Hubert Opperman, the Australian, arrived in Wellington this morning from London by the Bangitata. He is proceeding to Australia tomorrow to prepare to compete in the Melbourne Centenary cycling race, and will accordingly not be: able to show his paces to. New Zealanders.

He has been absent from Australia since last March," and until just prior to leaving-by the Hangitata he had been riding almost continually in Prance and England.1 'In England-lie was-successful'in breaking five records, including three during his notable ride from Laud's End to John o' Groats last July. '. For many years. Mr. Opperman had nursed an ambition to break the record-in the British "End to End" race, and, as he told a "Post" interviewer this/morning, his riding. • iii France was done with the object of working up'form for the attempt. WONDERFUL CYCLISTS. He expressed a keen admiration for the French riders aud- for the wonderful manner in which the sport was conducted, and publicly appreciated in France. "France is really the; home of cycling," he said, "and all the best riders in the world go there. In this year's Tour de France 700,000 francs was given by private firms as special prize-money in addition to the actual trophies.' Another sidelight on the way the .sport is' .taken was'that the "Paris Soir," which has become one of the foremost evening papers, in Paris, equipped ho fewer than eight big motor-cars, with 'chauffeurs' and journalists, and an aeroplane to follow ■the race. Test match atmosphere is not in it at the Tour!: It-has a, tremendous interest." The Tour de France was the sporting event of the Continent, he added, and it lasted :a month. He greatly regretted'that he was unable to ride in it this year as lie was in England at the time; i -■ That excellent money was to be made in riding" in Europe Mr. Opperman was only too-"■willing* to admit. In two years, he stated,: one noted professional, had made '.£ 15,000, .and wa.s. i.stili making good money, too. .. Maty. 'of. the principal.-cyclists .were, riding as many as six nights, a week.; '-"Biit the Continental cyclists don't, mind being tired," he'added witlr a'sniliel "That is the';:outstanding feature of their riding, they have courage. A man.who is.a;quitter cannot get anywhere.. It is all; scratch racing, 'of course;,that is a,very .'important..point. It, means that the.man who,4s most .-successful' will .be the/best 'man.'' ,'■.'■ RACES IN CITIES. ' Belgium.was'; even,more crowded with cyclists it'iian' \vas Frar(SS,,he continued. \The;iiiost interestingl'..rtfc(;s. he had' ridden in—and; he had competed insoine thirty Of: them on his tour—had been1 in Belgium. In the Cours do Kermessc | some . sixty' iiders lrom all over the Continent liad taken part. The race had taken place in the centre of Brussels where, from 10 a.m. to C p.m., the trams had-been held up and all'traffic'.stopped',', while the riders completed their 95-mile rac.e. Antwerp held a similar event and races like these, rightin the centre of big cities, were taking place all' the time. "Test cricket; reaches-its. pitch at Test time," ho added, "but in cycling there is that atmosphere all-the time." Big race;* were' being held in various Continental countries right throughout the season, I and the cyclists had a busy time. Ho. I instanced- His own case where he had ridden in the 93-mile road race in Belgium on a Saturday, competed in a 50----mile track race on the Sunday, and on .Monday- had' ridden in, a 50-mile circular road event. ' "It is hard, of course, and you arc tired," he said, .'.' but nearly all the first-class men are doing the same thing." THEi PROFESSIONAL MAN. "You are classed as a professional1 in Australia and A'cw-Zealand if you accept ie S-l prize," said Mr. Opperman in response to a question concerning ; amateurism. "It is not the, same iii.France, however. When you go to France - you. have absolutely to devote all your time to it. As soon as a man goes into business he is done, for the standard as'so high there that you have to keep at it continually. It is the same in Belgium and Italy. "I .think that the rules regaiding professionalism in Australia and New Zealand arc too strict, though T would certainly-not like to see the definition of. amateurism, cut out. I know in cycling of hundreds of boy? who pay pounds and pounds into the game, and get back, say, £5 in prizes. Arid for that they are classed as professionals. In France and in Belgium this type of rider is called an 'independent'—a man who rides in his spare time only and •does not make a living out of the sport. The professionals are those who make .a ■ living from their cycling. "I think it would be in the interest of amateurs if the professional regulations "were relaxed a bit," he said. "It would be a good idea." Mr. Opperman has been riding since he was sixteen and he acknowledges that the game is hard work. "The older you get the harder you have to work in training," 'he confided. "I would like to stop in New Zealand for a while, but it is only six weeks away to the Melbourne race and I'll have to get back into training after the sea trip." He understood that the Melbourne Cenenary race would be over a distance of 1000 miles in seven stages. Ho' would; not have returned to ■ the Southern Hemisphere had it not been for this event; in- fact, from; the point of view of racing', he added, he would have done better to have stayed where he was. The Melbourne race would be the biggest ever held in Australia. THE RECORD-BREAKING RIDE. In making three new-records between Land's End and John o' Groats the Australian champion commenced his journey on Monday, July 16. He covered 431 miles in 24 hours, breaking E. B. Brown's 1931 record by 141 miles. He had not made any special preparation to break that record, but had done it incidentally to the main object of his ride. Continuing, he covered 865 miles in 2 days 9hr lmin, some four hours better than J. W. Bossiter's 1929 performance of 2 days 13hr 22min over 869. miles. Opperman completed the 1000 miles in 3 days 2hr 15min, considerably bettering the time set up by Rossiter of 3 days llhr 58min in 1930. During the first 431 miles Opperman lost 45min of riding time owing to various causes, but maintained a speed of something like 15 miles per hour. In the middle of the race he was obliged to get off his cycle and run into a handy doctor in order to receive medical attention owing to stomach trouble. He broke two other English records on another occasion. Mr. Opperman gave a lecture on hoard the Rangitata on her voyagb out. He is accompanied by his wife, and will leave here tomorrow by the Wanganella'on his return to Australia. He made previous visits to the Continent in 192S and 1931.