CYCLING NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20782, 17 July 1937, Page 16 (Supplement)

CYCLING NEWS

THE EMPIRE GAMES French Endurance Test Recently Hugh Smith of the EnfieldBurwood Club, Sydney, rode a remarkably fast 25 miles in Ih Om 58 3-ss, the fastest to date this season in the Commonwealth. Road riders in New South Wales are particularly concentrating on road racing this season with prospects of selection for the Empire Games’ team. The Games’ event will be over 100 kilometres (roughly 62 miles), and as the event will be from a massed start it is sure to create great interest. Massed start racing on the Continent has been popular for years and has only been introduced in New Zealand. In England, the home of time trial racing. chiefly owing to traffic reasons, massed start racing on enclosed circuits such as Brooklands. Donnington Park, Crystal Palace promises to become very popular this season. The first of a series of eight events will commence on June 6 with a 75 miler at Donnington Park, a circuit of 21 miles in a private estate. After last year’s experience the field will be limited to 60 riders.

The Isle of Man event, won last year by Chas. Holland, then an amateur, will be over two laps of the famous motor cycle racing circuit of 371 miles this year instead of only one lap. Holland rode in the recent Coronation six day’s race turning professional when

e signed up for the event. J He was irtnered by the German rider, ausch, who has won six such events. The failure of Hubert Opperman and uen Rogers of Australia to survive he Coronation six days’ race should not iave occasioned so much surprise as it lid for Rogers was new to the type of vent, while Opperman had done little competition work prior to his departure However, both riders will be barters in an international massed start event next month on the Crystal Palace road circuit. An event which attracts world-wide interest, the famous Tour de France race of over 2500 miles will start next month. Last year the event was won by the Belgium rider Sylvere Maes, who averaged almost 20 miles per hour for the 21 stages. He won from A. Magne, France, by over 27 minutes. This event is regarded as the most severe test given cyclists throughout the world. From the blistering heat of the South of France the riders return over the Pyranees and the extremes in temperature as well as the long strenuous climbs to over 5000 ft. (for which gears ranging from 40 to 44 are used) call for unusual ability, courage and determination. From latest reports it is not certain whether Opperman and Rogers, the Australians’ will be competitors but both intend racing in several long distance events in France prior to the Tour.