From: F.Brown@massey.ac.nz (F.J. Brown)
Subject: NZPost New Zealand Cycle Classic: Stage 9
Summary: NZPost Stage 9
Keywords: racing
Organization: Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
X-Reader: NETNEWS/PC Version 2c
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 92 21:04:09 GMT

NZPost New Zealand Cycle Classic

Stage 9, Thurs Nov 5, Tokoroa - Morrinsville, 103 km (afternoon stage)

From "The Dominion":
Bizarre tactics blew apart the race yesterday, leaving only two overseas
riders in realistic contention of winning the tour, which finishes on Saturday.
A huge and decisive winning break of almost nine minutes dumped tour
leader Alexandre Nadobenko and the three New Zealanders who threatened him
in second, third and fourth places.

Unless the well-disciplined German club Nurnberg botches up the final three 
stages, its new tour leader Stephen Gottschling should win the nine-day 
classic.   Gottschling, 24, with a tour time of 23 h 16 m 41 s after racing 
1000 km since leaving Wellington last Friday, has a 30 s lead over 
Switzerland's Ralph Gartman.   Gartman, however, does not have the powerful
support enjoyed by Gottschling, whose team includes early favourite and
Australian Commonwealth Bank classic winner Mike Weissman.   The first New
Zealander is Brendan Hart, three minutes off the pace in fourth.   Though
New Zealand riders suffered, the greatest losers yesterday were Kazakhstan,
who, despite Andrei Mizourov taking third place, had a miserable afternoon.

The damage came after Gottschling, Mizourov, Stuart Williams and Brendan Hart
attacked and broke from the bunch 50 km out of Tokoroa and were soon joined 
by Paul Leitch, Australian Bart Hickson and Gartman.   The seven-man break 
gradually extended its lead over an apathetic peleton till the township
of Cambridge, after 66 km, where it grew rapidly to six minutes.   With
seven teams represented in the break most riders in the bunch were content 
to let it pull away.   Only Avanti South Island, who wasn't represented, 
stirred the bunch in the last 30 km but lacked the firepower to make a
dent in the lead which was 8 m 52 s at the finish.   

Kazakhstan failed in the basic principles of team racing.   It did not
respond to the dangerous signs of a blossoming breakaway, making little
or no effort to defend Nadobenko's yellow jersey.   Nadobenko missed the
break and after receiving no support, dropped to seventh overall, 7 m 52 s
off the pace, although he still leads the KOM and is second in Sprint Ace 
points.   Kazakhstan manager Valentin Rekhert said the race was now finished 
for the team.   "That was very very bad.   Gottschling will win".

(*It is particularly good to see Brendan Hart doing so well.   Just before
the NZ team was named for the Barcelona Olympics, when he was being
picked as a likely selection, he had a terrible accident.   Out training
on the Port Hills in Christchurch, he rounded a bend and hit a truck head on.
He said in the papers he had been practising his descents, and that it was
all his fault as he just took the corner too tight.   Anyway, he smashed up
his knee and leg, and needed fairly extensive reconstruction.   Only 21
years old, and less than six months after the accident, he certainly seems
to have a bright future.)

1. B Hickson (Aust) 2 h 21 m 17 s
2. S Williams (Akld)
3. A Mizourov (Kaz)
4. P Leitch (Chiquita NZ) 
5. R Gartman (Taits Switz) all s.t.

GC:
1. S Gottschling (Nurnburg) 23 h 16 m 41 s
2. Gartman at 30 s
3. Mizourov at 2 m 37 s
4. B Hart (Smokefree NZ) at 3 m    
5. Leitch at 3 m 10 s
6. Hickson at 3 m 21 s
7. Nadobenko at 7 m 52 s
8. R Cubric (World Comp) at 8 m 26 s
9. G Miller (World Comp) at 8 m 30 s
10. D Rush (Chiquita NZ) at 8 m 37 s

Sprint Ace:
1. D Matuszek (Nurnberg) 34 points
2. Nadobenko 22
3. B McDonough (World Comp) 21

KOM:
1. Nadobenko 44 points
2. Mizourov 40
3. Williams 30

U-22:
1. Mizourov
2. Hart
3. Hickson
 
Teams:
1. Smokefree NZ
2. Kazakhstan at 2 min 49 s
3. Nurnberg at 4 m 55 s

(*As it's now Friday here and I'm off for the weekend, I won't be posting the
 last three stages until Monday.   So expect a two day delay and DON'T PANIC!)

Cheers,

Frith
-- 
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Frith Brown                           E-mail:  F.Brown@massey.ac.nz
Department of Plant Science Level 2   Phone:   +64 06 356 9099 ext. 8800
Massey University                     Fax:     +64 06 350 5614
Palmerston North                      
New Zealand                :-) Ride the bike, ride the bike, ride the bike ;-)
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