CYCLISTS’ TARGET

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31118, 22 July 1966, Page 13

CYCLISTS’ TARGET

Places In N.Z. Final

Qualification for the national final and, later, possible selection for the New Zealand cycling team to tour Australia this season, will be the target for Canterbury cyclists tomorrow. They will be competing In the Canterbury final of the Air New Zealand Grand Prix, over three stages. There will be a 41-mile massed start from Prestons road, Northcote, to Waikari; a 16-mile time trial in a Wai-kari-Hawarden block; an- 3 a 59-mile massed start from Waikari to Amberley. The selection of the Canterbury riders for the national final will be decided by the first four riders on aggregate times and another two chosen by the selectors. The best time trialists are almost certain to qualify, because only one-second intervals will be used in the placings in a bunch finish. Thus, the good time trialists need only to finish in the bunch to ensure selection; the others will need to break away in one or both massed starts.

Two riders, S. J. Stephen (Avon) and J. H. Cleary (Papanui), appear certain of qualifying for the national final. Both are outstanding time trialists and should have little difficulty staying near the front in the massed starts.

The other two automatic qualifiers should come from D. Jones, P. A. Skilling (Avon), and R. J. Hogan (Papanui). Three riders likely to do well in the massed starts, J. S. Danielson, R. D. Mann (Papanui) and C. B. Fitzgerald (Christchurch), will probably find the time trial counting against them but Danielson and Mann could be the selectors' choices for the national final. The younger riders who could surprise are the Papanui juniors, I. D. McLean and B. G. Stockwell.