1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

17.On your arrival at the Stadium, you must ride half a lap round the Stadiumtrack, beginning from the left. Your time will be taken before this lap isbegun, however.18. In other respects, the competition will take place in accordance with the U.C. I. regulations for racing’s.Thanks to this P. M. the competitors were not obliged to keep onmaking inquiries every now and then, but, as they all acknowledgedafter the race, they were able to ride on knowing very well whatthey had to do. The P. M. was placed in the hands of each nationleaderas soon as he presented himself at the Office of the CyclingCommittee, or as soon as the Committee learned of the arrival of thevarious nations in Stockholm and of their addresses in town.Everything now seemed to be in readiness for the cycling competition“round Lake Mälar”, but it was hardly possible to foretell whatwould happen at the grand road race. It could be seen, of course,from the entries, that the match would be an exceedingly keen one,for the very best amateur cyclists from abroad intended competing,and it scarcely lies within the scope of this report, written by Swedes,to discuss the possibilities for and against a Swedish victory. Thismay be said, however, that those amongst us who took the troubleto try and discover the most dangerous rivals of our representatives,considered that they were to be found among the cyclists from England,France and Finland. But, on the other hand, there were manynations competing, of whose men one knew next to nothing, so thatthere were really dozens and dozens of “dark horses”. In a word,the excitement was intense and the result most uncertain, althoughhopes were entertained of Sweden being placed at least in the teamcompetition. As far as the individual competition was concerned,however, it was considered, and with very good reason, that theSwedes were “out of the running”.RECEPTION OF THE FOREIGN GUESTS. MEETINGS, ETC.Our guests from abroad began to arrive as early as the middle ofJune. The Chilian representatives were the first to put in an appearance,and then came one contingent after another in quick succession,It was a matter of course that all other the competitors shouldwant to cycle over the course once or twice, in order to make themselvesacquainted with it, and to examine the character of the road,which the Committee, in its official correspondence, had by no meansdescribed in too glowing colours, or as a first class one. Duringthe course of all the experimental runs which were undertaken byour visitors from abroad, they were received and cared for, as theyunanimously acknowledged, in the most obliging and hearty fashion,our own representatives outdoing themselves in their endeavours to beof every service to their foreign rivals.Everything, then, pointed to a most successful meeting and, onFriday evening, July 5, the Swedish Cycling Association invited a436