CYCLING TACTICS EXTRAORDINARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18451, 30 April 1928, Page 4

CYCLING TACTICS EXTRAORDINARY.

Glancing through some old files the other day. a pressman came across the account of a cycling match race which must surely have been unique for the exaggerated tactics of the contestants. Towards the end of 1896 John S. Johnson, who had been practically unbeatable in the United States, met a Frenchman named Morin in a match race at Paris. Neither rider was willing to take the lead, but spent all possible time finessing for the most favourable position and waiting for the final sprint. When two laps had been covered. Johnson, who was in the lead, stopped suddenly, bringing Morin to the front. For a few moments both men were almost at a standstill, and, while they were trying to preserve their equilibrium without moving, Morin's tyre punctured. and Johnson rode off the track. A second start was made, and Johnson, after leading for two laps, tried to bring Morin to the front by slowing to a crawl, dashing off, and then slowing down again in the hope that the Frenchman might be carried past him by the impetus. Morin was not to be caught, however, and, on entering the home straight, Johnson again rode wide, and, to the accompaniment of derisive jeers from the crowd, indulged in trick riding. The two men slowly worked their way towards the finish, each being obliged to hold on to the rails to prevent himself from falling. This was too much for the spectators, who hooted vigorously. Continuing slowly, the riders reached the top of the lower bend, where they came to a standstill holding on to the barrier. First one and then the other crawled ahead and then stopped, apparently with no intention of going on. The climax was reached when Morin dismounted, and Johnson, thinking he could secure an easy win, rode in alone. Officials at last decided to declare “ no race,” and a third start was made. This time Morin, who wpn, succeeded in covering the 2000 metres (approximately one and a quarter miles) in smin 29sec. Either man could have covered the distance in two minutes in a straight-out race.