Cycling: Complaints pay off for Burndred

Complaining has paid off for cyclist Geoff Burndred, who finished second behind banned rider Jeremy Yates in the 160km Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.

Organisers of the race, won last Saturday by Yates, yesterday announced they were to pay Burndred $2000, the equivalent of Yates' winning stake.

Yates' presence in the race offended some riders, including Burndred, who complained the winner's cheque should have been his.

Yates won the event just days after being banned for two years by Belgian cycling authorities for having abnormally high levels of testosterone.

The ban does not start until tomorrow, meaning there was nothing stopping him from lining up in Taupo.

Event director Keith Crate said as well as paying Burndred the equivalent of what Yates won, organisers also decided to increase the prizemoney of places three to 11.

Crate said that organisers were well aware of the feelings of the wider cycling community and "wished the race and allocation of prizemoney to be conducted in the spirit of fair play".

Burndred has responded positively to the gesture, saying he had always taken a strong line against drugs in sport and the decision went some way to addressing the issue of fairness in the race.

- NZPA