Cycling.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 194, 19 March 1904, Page 21

Cycling.

From France conies an account of two novel cycle races, recently held in Pans, on the Velodrome track, which 1 commend to the notice of our Exhibition Sports Committee. The first innovation was a contest in which some ten cracks competed, the distance being eighteen laps. At the end of the seoond, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, twelfth, fourteenth, and sixteenth laps the last man to pass the winning post was counted out, the result being a very exciting and interesting contest from start to finish. By the French arrangement, only two men fought out the finish, all the others having had to retire. It would be preferable to leave four men in for the final two laps thus ensuring a strong pace at the finish The other innovation was a distance race in, which the starter could, in any lap, fire the pistol 220 yds from the winning-post, and the first and second men over the finishing line in that particular lap would secure a prize each. Both events were well received by the Parisians, who are no mean judges, and perhaps the hardest crowd to please in respect to cycle racing. Of the two novelty races the former style, termed in Paris "the Last One Out Race," should certainly be given a trial on our race tracks, as there would be much amusement in watching the frantic efforts of the riders in trying not to be last over the line. At the Adelaide Wheel Race meeting, on the 27th ult., Major Taylor beat MacFarland (the other American crack) in the One Mile International Championship, winning by a wheel after a good finish. Don Walker was third. Taylor scratched himself for the five miles race, which MacFarland won easily from McDonald, with the Austral winner, Scheps, third. Don Walker captured the plum of the meeting by carrying off the Adelaide Wheel Race (two miles), from the 30yds mark , McDonald ran second, with MacFarland (scratch) third. Time, 4mm lOsec. Floyd MacFarland, the crack Yankee rider now in Australia, has won fifteen races and numerous places during his few months' visit to the Australian States. His winnings now total close on £500, to say nothing of what he has won in bets, particularly in West Australia. Iver Lawson is going to appeal against his twelve months' disqualification for colliding with Taylor. It is a serious matter to him, as it will prevent him from racing in any part of the world for twelve months. It would keep him out of the big "Sydney Thousand" Handicap, to be decided in Sydney this month, also the world's championships, which are to be decided in London a few months hence, and he is also pre^ eluded from racing on the American circuit. Altogether, Lawsons retirement would mean a loss of probably £1-500 to him.