The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-01
ALL EYES ON ZIMMERMAN.
Cycling Week Watching Him as the
Coming Worlds Champion.


The Champions of Other Countries.
The eyes Of Savannah cycling men, as
are those of the entire cycling world, are
on Zimmerman, who is now in England.
The history Of cycle racing is full of sur
prises and it is by no means certain who
will wear the laurels at the end of this
year. Since his powers have been fully
developed no rider in this country has
been able to remain anywaynear thinner
man at the finish. Windle, whose tenn
permanent peculiarly fit him for record
breaking, was by no means able to cope
with the long-legged Jersey Skeeter"
last year.
The l.. A w. championships, the results
of which will produce the American eligi-
bles for the various international events,
will be run off at different times before
August, but none of them long before the
time of the greater events. What the
results will be is a puzzle
NEW CHAMPIONS on THE LIST.
1t is not at all improbable that among
the tinely-built young men who were COM
paratively unknown on the path last sea-
son, one will spring into sudden fame
during the contests which will begin at
an early day, and prove himself inyincibIe.
Walter G. Sanger, the Young Milwaukee
giant, has for some time been in system
attic training. He will also 90 to England
and may return a victor and thereafter
NOW down all competitors. johnson, who
is now in training here on the Savannah
wheelmen'S cement track, after his winter
season of skating, may be the winning
man. He is the man who created the phe-
nOmenal record of 1856 3-5 for a kite
shaped track, at independence, Ia John
son is Il slightly built fellow, of mild as
pect Like Windle, his forte is record
breaking rather than competition OF
the two, Windle, without doubt, possesses
the greater amount of fight but, on the
other hand, the Swede is not hampered by
stOcky form.
OsMOND NOT COMING.
The international championship races
will occur in Chicago during the APP
preaching annual meet of the League of
American Wheelmen, Aug to II.
The fact that Osmond, the celebrated
English cyclist, will not be competitor
in the race will be a surprise and a mat
ter of regret for the admirers of thinner
man, the present American champion and
the most popular racing man in the
world.
A combination of untoward circum-
stances prevented a meeting between
the former visited England for the ex-
press purpose of doing battle with the
formidable and hitherto invincible Brit
ish rider. After closing the season of
1891 with a series of easy victories, Os-
mond had gained a reputation for speed
and generalship upon the path which af-
fected even the most implicit believers in
Zimmerman's ability.
HOW THEY DIDN'T MEET.
1t so happened, however, that when the
New Jersey lad reached the shores of Al
biOn early in 1892, Osmond was not i'm the
best physical condition. Zimmerman
raced at Brighton, on the southern coast,
while snow lay upon the hills, and, not
being thoroughly acclimatized, was beaten
by Fowler a promising, eaSy-tempered
boy of great squirting power, who was
generally regarded as OsmOnd's proteCC.
Immediately rumOrs came across the
sea that Osmond was merely Sinking
that he had been chary of riSking a re-
putatiOn which was of much value to him
in the cycle business and that, after Tim
merman's defeat by Fowler he had an
nOunced his refusal to meet the New ,Jer-
seyman in an invitation race, because the
latter had failed to vanquish a second
class man and was therefore not entitled
to demand special race with him. Tim
norman mounted for and won the race,
WlllCH was an eACluSlNG dldlF, nelu on Jhe
celebrated Herne Hill track, near Lon
don, and in which only the best riders in
England were allowed to compete. Os-
mond did not appear
ZIMMERMAN RODE AND WON.
He again refused to ride when thinner
man mounted for the tifty-mile N. c. U.
championship. Zimmerman won.
Shortly after that, before the Ameri-
can had recovered from the stiffening
effects of the longest path ride he had
ever undertaken, and on the eve of his de-
parture for home, Osmoud started for
the ten-mile championship and seemed
offended because Zimmerman would not
compete.
So there was universal disappointment.
But the fear of Osmonds prowess had
worn away and as Zimmerman promptly
announced that he would again visit
England this year, it has been confidently
expected that he would meet and defeat
the man whose winning powers English
cycledom so long believed infaliible.
Zimmerman sailed last week, and Os-
mond is now in Chicago.
MAY MEET YET
While Osmond will probably not be
eligible to enter for the international
championships, it is still quite possible
that he may be able to get into such form
that he can ride in some of the open
events, not only at the big Chicago meet.
but elsewhere, so that there is still large
chance that he may meet Zimmerman.
OF the probable" entries for the inter
national races from countries other than
England and the United States, little is
known Canada has Hyslop, Smith Wells
and other speedy men. Canada's cycling
times are comparatively slow and her
racing men have not been very prOmiuenta at
meets held on this side of the great lakes.
Her climate. no doubt has much to do
with the slowness Of the times. and it is
not unlikely that if some of her men could
be trained on the celebrated Springfield
track the Canuuck might furnish the
world with genuine surprise.
GERMANY's CHAMPION.
August Lehr has for several years been
Germany's champion He is of strong
physique, and was in his prime in 1890.
while the high bicycle still held suprem-
acy At that time he went to Engl nd
and repeatedly defeated some of the best
Britons, returning home in a blaze Of
glory. Zimmerman easily disposed of all
competitors in Germany last year
Tho recently formed amateur union of
France has not yet been admitted TO the
international union, but probably will be-
French cycle racing has long been profess
sionalized. Cash prizes have been in
vogue there for years, and the formation
Of an international union has, more than