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KEY POINTS:
One of the most enduring photographs of New Zealanders at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games was not of the five gold medallists but the Kiwi quartet standing dejectedly on the dais after receiving bronze medals at the end of cycling's 100km team time trial.
Jack Swart, Blair Stockwell, Stephen Carton and Stephen Cox had gone into the out and back race as genuine contenders. For much of the gruelling ride they remained on course until disaster struck when Carton's chain jammed and the remaining three riders were left to go it alone.
Fate, and the chance to ride together again, has now drawn the quartet - still regarded among the best road riders this country has ever produced - back to the start line.
Swart, Stockwell and Carton will be among the 100-strong field for the Lion Foundation Cycle Challenge which starts in Wellington tomorrow and finishes after 700km and 13 stages in Pukekohe six days later. They will be watched all the way by race director Cox, the driving force behind race organisers the Waka-Roc Sports Club.
The race takes in parts of the old Dulux North Island race which between them, the four riders won eight times - Swart and Stockwell three each and Carton and Cox once.
The North Island tour, contested every year from 1960-1995, was cycling's showpiece with many winners including Tino Tabak, Bruce Biddle, Vern Hanaray, Australian Phil Anderson and Stephen Swart, going on to professional careers. Stephen Swart, the 1990 and 1995 winner, will join his older brother in the Challenge field.
In his promotional material, Cox boldly claims "7 days, 700km, 13 stages, big hills and one hell of a good time".
The emphasis for this inaugural event will be on participation with many of the riders these days racing in various masters' categories.
"We have got some of the best riders New Zealand has ever seen," said Cox. "And while they may not be as competitive as some of the younger guys racing in the elite grade these days, they still have plenty of ability.
"It will be an interesting concept. Next year we are planning to have a decent elite race and hope to have the best riders from New Zealand and Australia lining up."
Jack Swart was regarded as the Dulux king winning in 1978-1983-1986, when the race switched from the traditional Auckland-Wellington route to Wellington-Auckland.
One year he won the prologue time trial in Auckland, claimed the tour leader's yellow jersey and never surrendered it.
On the race in the reverse direction he rarely showed out early but then unleashed two tour-breaking stage wins - up to The Chateau and, the following morning, from there to Taupo.
On this week's race, Swart said: "I have been wondering why I'm doing it. If [1987 Dulux winner] Dave Mann was riding it would have been more competitive. But it will still be a good ride.
"I was out in the Coromandel over the weekend riding with Stephen [Swart] and I have been going to Tahiti every year since 2002 for the 600km race there. It is a great concept and Stephen [Cox] puts on a great event.
"The biking movement has become so popular everyone is getting into it. Some of us can still go pretty hard and with the shorter stages everyone should get to the finish."
Stockwell, the oldest of the big names, and Carton are coming from Australia paying their $250 entry fee to relive the glory era of New Zealand road cycling.
LION FOUNDATION CHALLENGE
Stage one: Tomorrow, Upper Hutt-Rimutuka Hill summit (16.8km)
Stage two: Tomorrow, Featherston-Masterton (63.4km)
Stage three: Monday, Masterton-Pahiatua (72.8km)
Stage four: Monday, Pahiatua-Palmerston North (30.2km)
Stage five: Tuesday, Palmerston North-Hunterville (63km)
Stage six: Tuesday, Hunterville-Wanganui (57km)
Stage seven: Wednesday, Wanganui-Kakatahi (44.8km)
Stage eight: Wednesday, Kakatahi-Ohakune (51km)
Stage nine: Thursday, Ohakune-Turangi (82.1km)
Stage 10: Friday, Mangakino-Te Awamutu (68.5km)
Stage 11: Friday, Te Awamutu-Hamilton (41.8km)
Stage 12: Saturday, Te Rapa-Glen Murray (76.6km)
Stage 13: Saturday, Glen Murray-Pukekohe (37.5km)
