CYCLING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 239, 27 September 1930, Page 10

CYCLING

AMONG THE ’’STARS.” There is to bo great things doing amongst the road-racing cyclists oi Australia next month, when the Sydney to Melbourne road race will be decided. The distance to be covered exceeds 700 miles and it is a tedious enough journey by the Sydney Limited, out to tackle the journey on a push bike requires a great deal of enthusiasm. There is plenty of this requisite in Australia apparently, for hundreds of cyclists are training for this cycle Marathon. “Fatty” Lamb last week just for a pipeopener, attacked the Canberra to Sydney record of 12 hours 40 minutes. The distance is 204 miles and “Fatty” clipped 1 hour 7 minutes off the previous best. Then in the Goulburn to Sydney road race of 160 miles. Hubert Opperman took the time honours. He fled over the distance in 5 hours 33minutes 30 seconds, averaging 24 miles per hour. There are many motorists who would be quite satisfied to maintain such a speed in a motor-car. “Opply” is, of course, a hot favourite for the Sydney to Melbourne “sprint,’’ but ho is to encounter spirited opposition from two French riders specially imported for the occasion. France is the home of road-racing, and Jean Bidot and his compatriot

Joseph Mauclair will make the Aussies sit up and take notice. The two Frenchmen are among the world’s best, and Mauclair, in the 1928 Tour do France test, finished ahead of Opperman, who was also a competitor. The presence of the Frenchmen in the race will no doubt add spice to the event.