UNION CYCLISTE INTERNATIONALE Président : Achille Joinard (France) Secretary-General : Rene Chesal (France) JURY OF APPEAL P. Wilwertz (Luxembourg) A. Farina (Italy) E. J. Southcott (Great Britain and V. N. Gailey (Auslrahd) Northern Ireland) D. Ff. Bessell (Australia) COMMISSAIRES Président : L. Dauge (France) R. Magnani (Italy) R. Chesal (France) Secretary : P. Potin (France) AMATEUR CYCLISTS' ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA Président : V. N. Gailey Hon. Secretary-Treasurer : G. W. Jones ARENA MANAGER E. A. Dedman EQUIPMENT OFFICER J. Zinnow RACE CONTROL COMMITTEE D. H. Bessell G. W. Jones FINAL E. A. Dedman C. A. Collier m. s. 1. E. DEMENTIEVA U.S.S.R. .. 2 18-9 2. T. ZENZ Germany 2 19-6 3. T. G. SOBY Denmark 2 22-3 4. G. Berkes Hungary .. 2 23-5 5. E. Cochrane .. Australia .. 2 23-8 6. D. Walkowiak Poland .. 2 24-1 7. P. J. Moody Gt. Britain and N. Ireland .. 2 25-3 8. E. Marion France .. 2 27-9 Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library CYCLING Track Events These were conducted at the Olympic Vélodrome on 3rd December (afternoon and night), 4th (night) and 6th (night). The Olympic cycling track was constructed in wood and surfaced with concrete. The lap circuit measured 333-33 métrés. The track was readily accepted as excellent for the sport and the Olympic events have shown that the Melbourne track was one of the fastest outdoor tracks in the world. At ail sessions of the track events the weather was idéal. Control of the events was effected by officiais of the Union Cycliste Internationale according to Olympic rules and the programme ran smoothly. The events commenced on the afternoon of 3rd December with the first round of the 1,000 métrés scratch sprint race. This, although only the preliminary round of the event, showed that Rousseau (France), reigning world champion, Pesenti (Italy) and Ploog (Australia) would be outstanding to the end. In their semi-final Ploog and Pesenti had won one heat each ; in the third and deciding heat Ploog protested alleging that Pesenti had caused interference. After considération by the commissaires the race was awarded to Pesenti. The final between Rousseau and Pesenti proved Rousseau world champion sprinter and still the master. He won his Gold Medal in effortless style, in two straight races. Pesenti won a Silver Medal for second. Ploog defeated W. T. Johnston (New Zealand) for third place and the Bronze Medal. The Italian team—winners of the 4,000 m. pursuit. With sixteen competing teams, the 4,000 métrés team's pursuit produced many excellent races. In six of the eight élimination heats the winners rode the distance in less than 5 minutes. In the quarter-finals ail winners rode the race in less than 5 minutes. The 1,000 m. Heal 3. Disney (U.S.A.), left, winner. Harrison (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), right, and Mejia (Colombia). really thrilling stage of this event was reached in the semi-finals, when the four semi-final teams, Italy (4 mins. 38-4 secs.), Great Britain and Northern Ireland (4 mins. 40-6 secs.), France (4 mins. 39-0 secs.) and South Africa (4 mins. 41-0 secs.) ail broke the previous Olympic record. Great Britain and Northern Ireland and South Africa raced off for third place with Great Britain and Northern Ireland the victor. The Italian and French teams raced for first and second placings. That they are still the greatest cyclists in the world the Italians proved in winning the race by two seconds in the new Olympic record time of 4 mins. 37-4 secs. In the eight Olympiads since 1920 the Italians have won this race six times and the French twice. The 1,000 métrés standing start (time trial) although not a particularly thrilling spectacle, is a test of merit for the participants. The trial was held on the night of 6th December. The first rider on the track was Foucek (Czechoslovakia) who rode the very good time of 1 min. 11-4 secs. ; it was not until the seventeenth competitor had ridden that this time was bettered when Faggin (Italy) recorded the time of 1 min. 09-8 secs, (breaking the Olympic record of 1 min. 11 1 secs, by 1-3 seconds). The only other rider to record a time of less than 1 min. 12 secs, was Swift (South Africa) 1 min. 11-6 secs, who was placed third. Among the unplaced competitors Scarfe (Australia) rode the best time, 1 min. 12-1 secs. 413 Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library XVI OLYMPIAD The 2,000 métrés tandem event is of keen interest to spectators. It produced excellent racing. The racing in the first round, while exciting, did not indicate the ultimate finalists, though it appeared that France and Italy would again show their cycling supremacy. In the second round, contested by the losers in the first round, the Australian and Czechoslovakian pairs won their way to the quar ter-final s. From this point, many results proved surprising. In the quarter-finals two highly fancied pairs were eliminated—South Africans Shardelow and Robinson by the Australians, and the French pair Vidal and Gruchet by Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The other pairs to qualify for the semi-finals were from Czechoslovakia and Italy. Before the semi-finals it seemed likely that the Italian pair would win Gold Medals, with Great Britain and Northern Ireland taking second place. In the first semi-final, however, the Czechoslovakians Foucek and Machek proved too good for Brotherton and Thompson (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), and in the second semi-final the Australians Browne and Marchant cleverly defeated the Italians Ogna and Pinarello. Thus the finalists proved to be two pairs from the repechage. The final was a triumph for Browne and Marchant. In winning this event they had preserved the prestige that Mockridge and Cox had achieved in 1952 at Helsinki. No crédit can be taken from the Czechoslovakian pair who rode brilliantly. The only really bad fall occurred in the third repechage between Germany and U.S.S.R. Both pairs fell heavily and the Russians Vargachkine and Leonov were unable to continue due to injuries. Trying to combat the heat. Road Race The scene after the crash. The road race was held on a circuit at Broadmeadows about 12 miles from the centre of the city, on Friday, 7th December. The distance of the race was 187-7315 kilométrés (116 miles 1,144 yards) according to a survey made by the Royal Australian Survey Corps for the Organizing Committee, and consisted of eleven laps of 17-0665 kilométrés (10 miles 1,064 yards) over an undulating road which had a few steep slopes. In the morning the weather was mild, indeed perfect for the road ; the afternoon, however, was rather warm. For many participants these conditions proved a telling factor. The race started a little late because two Irish cyclists not belonging to an affiliated association tried to start ; they were removed. In this trial there were two classes-—individual and team : In the individual class 88 participants represented 28 nations ; 20 nations competed in the team section. The early stages of the race were rather quiet with the stronger cycling nations' teams trying to test the strength of the others. After the third lap the pressure was applied. Because of this, and the heat of the day, many riders were left behind. The fast tempo of the race was maintained until the fifth lap when feeding was allowed. During this time, one of the few falls of the race occurred when Trickey (Australia) had a food-bag tangle in his front wheel, causing him to fall heavily ; an Ethiopian, Menghestu Negussie, crashed into him and 415 Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library XVI OLYMPIAD CYCL1NG neither rider was able to continue in the race. In the seventh lap it was clear that many of 1,000 METRES SCRATCH RACE the participants were feeling the effects of the hot humid conditions and at many points around the circuit représentatives and managers were throwing water over their charges. Prenons Olympic Winners During the eighth lap the speed was stepped up. Four groups formed with Baldini 1920 M. P. Peeters .. Holland 1936 T. Merkens Germany 1924 L. Michard France 1948 M. Ghella Italy (Italy) dominating the race and looking a winner even with more than 30 miles to travel. It 1928 R. Beaufrand .. France 1952 E. Sacchi Italy 1932 J. J. van Egmond Holland appeared that the only thing that would rob Baldini of victory would be an accident or machine trouble. He must have realized this fact by constantly accelerating until he was alone There were 19 entries from 19 nations ; 19 participants from 19 nations. in front of the field. Riding brilliantly and slowly increasing the lead over his rivais, he rode the last three laps alone to win the race by two minutes from a bunch of four riders headed by Geyre (France) second and Jackson (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) third. FIRST ROUND France with three riders finishing in the first twelve took the team victory from Great Srd December Britain and Northern Ireland by only one point, Germany being third. The winner of each heat qualified for the Quarter-finals , the eight fastest losers for the Repechage heats. HEAT 1 HEAT 2 After the race an objection was raised against Baldini stating that he had received 1. R. Ploog .. .. Australia 1. M. Rousseau .. France assistance from the photographer's car. After a brief inquiry the commissaires dismissed the 2. E. Godefroid .