CYCLIST RETURNS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 15

CYCLIST RETURNS.

RECENT TOUR DE FRANCE. LESSONS FROM BIG EVENT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESFONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Monday. The well-known cyclist, H. G. Watson, who represented New Zealand in tho Tour tie France, the world's most strenuous road cycling contest, returned to-day by the Maunganui. Ho was associated with 11. Opperman, Osborn and Bainbridge, the Australian cyclists, in the big event, which occupied a full month of riding. Watson said the Australia-New Zealand team was faced with many disadvantages, ono of the greatest of which was a lack of knowledge of the course. Another big handicap was the size of the team. Other teams were not only numerically stronger, but they consisted of cyclists who had previously competed in tho race, and who were among the best rider 3 in the world. He thought that if either Australia or ' New Zealand was to be represented in the race again, a bigger team would be necessary, and it would need to be composed of first-class riders, as the opposition was exceptionally strong. The New Zealander said he regarded the Belgians as the best cyclists in the world. The Frenchmen were also exceptionally good, all being thoroughly prepared for the great race. The riding in some of the stages of tho race, particularly over the mountainous country, was exceedingly hard, and it was a new and very trying experience to engage at times in riding by night. The Australia-New Zealand team found the other competitors were more experienced in riding down the steep grades. Nevertheless, the team did well to have three of its four members complete the whole journey of about 3360 miles. Watson is a brother-in-law of B. TV. 'Arnst, who won the Timaru to Christchurch race last Saturday.