Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-03
GREAT CYCLE CONTEST
LEANDER TO RACE DE oUICHARD
TOMORROW NIGHT.
Former Rsached the City Sunday
and Will Train Here-Delays to
Be Counteracted.

France and America will meet in motor
paced conflict at the Coliseum, 14th and
East Capitol streets, tomorrow evening.
Basil de Guichard. Frances great cyclist
and pace follower, Will race against George
Leander. the prairie states champion. who
has defeated Fem and Lester Wilson SO far
this season. Leander Is considered by
cycle fans as the equal OF Howard Free
man. which is saying a good deal, as Free
man is without question one OF the speed
lest, gamest riders in the country.
De Guichard Is managed by p. c. Shee-
han, who also controls Stinson. and Shee-
han is most enthusiastic in praise Of his
foreign acquisition, who. he says, Is a bet
ter man than Albert Champion.
In Prime Condition.
Leander was to race Nat Butler at the
Coliseum last Wednesday night. and after
they got on the track the rain came down
and stopped what promised to be a great
race. Leander was In prime condition and
most anxious for a race. but Butler held
back because of trouble with his motor. As
Leander had to race on the following Fri
day at Cleveland Manager Osgood brought
Freeman from Atlantic City as his substi-
tute. and Butler was easily defeated by
him. At Cleveland Leander rode against
buriy Lester Wilson on an earth-surface
track. in reality a race course third Of
mile in size and made record time, leaving
Wilson well in the rear.
De Guichard reached America only
short time ago, and while still stale from
the long ocean voyage he met Harry Fixes
at the Providence Coliseum last Friday,
and, though beaten, demonstrated that
feared even by Wauthour and Mcfarland
Sheehan, his manager. thinks he has
great find in the youngster, and that with
Stinson also he has a pair that will throw
for the first position.
De Guichard and Leander will meet in a
heat race. probably ten miles in length.
best two in three to the winner. This form
Of race has come to be very popular here,
as It almost guarantees running hight
from the Sun to the bell. Moreover, 1t
gives the contestants the best chance to
make up for any loss OF advantage on &C
count OF motor difficulties. In all prob
ability there Will be a motor race, but that
is not settled yet.
Tomorrow Nights Plans.
Two amateur events will occur, and 1t
has been decided that one of them shall be
a two-mile lap race and the other a handi-
cap of g. mile or half a mile length. But
public reliance will be mainly on the mo-
tor-paced race. and this shows every indi-
cation of being all that is desired.
Leander reached the city Sunday after
noon accompanied by his pacemakers and
two big motors. He got into his training
clothes at once and had a long workout in
the broiling sun. He was elated by his VIC
tory at Cleveland, particularly because 1t
was on an earth track, and he said the
time he made was almost remarkable Il m
riding great now" he said, without any
show of egotism, land so is Freeman. Both
OF us are hard to beat now. De Guichard
must be a better man than I think to beat
me as I am feeling and working now. AT
any rate. it'll be a whipsaw race and either
he will be close to me or I'll be close to
him every lap of the heats"
Purses to Be Offered.
Manager Osgood has authorized Meet
Manager Klosterman to offer unusually
large purses as special inducements for fine
races. Last Friday night he hung up $50
extra for the motor race and it was one Of
the swiftest and most sensational ever
given here. Turville rode against Joe Judge
and they went like express trains on par
allel tracks around the big bowl. Motor
paced races are often trying affairs for
public patience as there Is never any fore
knowledge Of when a motor will hatten or
puncture its tire, break a chain or do some
thing else that will delay race. Mr.. o.
good Is giving special attention to the mat
avoidable. and he promises to prevent them
or at least minimize them. He Is anxious
to have races that shall be evenly con-
tested and free from tiresome delays. Be-
fore long all such improvements as are pos
sible will be made, 80 that the Coliseum
will be able to give an ideal meet OF
worthy antagonists and speedy events The
uptown ticket Offices at Topham's. 1889 F
street. and Stevens. 9th and the avenue.
are fast establishing a large and regular
clientele Of reserved and box seat buyers.
The success of the Coliseum and the in
crease of public interest in motor-paced
races Is manifest every meet night. The
crowds number thousands with many more
ladies and much better general element Of
patronage than last year. The army. navy,
diplomatic corps and society are well repre-
scented among the habitues OF the Coliseum
races.