Unusal Starts in Cycle Read Races

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 31, 29 April 1927, Page 11

Unusal Starts in Cycle Read Races

SEPARATING BACKMARKERS FIVE SECONDS IN 14 MILES! (By “ Velos.”) The handicapping in the 14-mile cycle road race, to be run by the Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club at Mangere to-morrow afternoon, is deserving of some criticism. The list of handicaps is as follows: A Sutherland, scr.; J. Henderson, 5 sec..; F. Prior, 10sec.; W. Hills, 15sec.; J. Adlam, 60sec.; It. Wilson, A. Brennan, 75 sec.; P. Lynch, D. Storey, 90sec; N. Kelly, C. Reid, A. White, 2min.; K. Rae, Healy, H. Pelham, 2*min; F. Townes, W. Archer, B. Dufty, T. Kinnelly, 3min.; Stansfield, 4min: Johnston, Williams, Lawlor, Dean, 6Jmin; Gallagher, Smin; G. Matthews, Perkins, 9£ min. The handicapper’s opinion of the four back-markers is such that he separates them only by seconds. This, over a 14mile journey, is ridiculous. If it comes to only a few seconds over a long distance like this, give these riders the mark they deserve, and which every rider strives for — the scratch mark. They are thus in a position to do themselves, and the handicapper justice, instead of at the present, being nothing but pacing machines for the scratch man. Every one expects to see the scratch man get fastest time prize in these races, but there is no occasion to make it too easy for him.