NOT TO BE RECOGNISED

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 21

NOT TO BE RECOGNISED

Independent Cyclists

The New* Zealand Cycling Federation will not recognise the category o>f independents, a category until recently prevalent in Europe and the United K'ngdom in particular. The indepedent is neither an amateur nor a professional, but competes for cas»h, something in the manner of New Zeland club cash cyclfiiste.

The federation issued a statement yesterday after its annual general meet.ng in Christchurch held during the national amateur track championships. The statement says that the federation discussed “the question of the independent category of rider ... in the Kight of the directive of the U.C.I. (International Cycling Union), which is to the effect that as from January 1, 1966, the independent category is abolished, the future categories to be amateur and professional only. ’’The official report of the recent U.C.I. Congress in Brussels gives ‘an express direction to suppress the independent category with effect from today (January 1. 1966).’ This ruling was conveyed through the British Cycling Federation, which had d.rect representation at the Brussels meeting and which has s nee been confirmed to the federal on in official U.C.I. correspondence. Fo I’owing this U.C.I. direct ve. this federation cannot rerugose an independent category “The U.C.I. recogmses only amateurs who must be affiliated to the F.I.a.C. (International federation of Amateur Cyclists) P ro^ e-ss:< > n alfi. who must be ■ affiiated to the F.I.C.P. (Inter-; nar onal Federation of Protfess.onal CycZste).’’