1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

CYCLING.ROAD RACE ROUND LAKE MÄLAR DURINGTHE OLYMPIC GAMES OF STOCKHOLM 1912.ORGANIZATION.hen, in 1910, the Swedish Cycling Association appointedthe Committee which, together with those nominatedby the other Swedish Athletic Governing Bodies, wasto have the task of arranging and carrying out thevarious details of the vast programme of the OlympicGames of Stockholm, the Association mentioned receivedat the same time the far from welcome information that theonly cycle track possessed by Stockholm was to be destroyed, for thepurpose of making way for the new Stadium, and that it was not intendedto build any new track for cyclists — not even for theOlympic Games of 1912. There could not, therefore, be any questionof holding track-races during the Games.Ever since the year 1901 the race “round Mälar” has certainlybeen the most popular road-race in Sweden in cycling circles. Thecompetition in question dates back to 1892—93; but after these twoyears of what may be called premature existence, nothing more washeard of it until the beginning of the new century. In 1912 the eventwas raised by the Swedish Cycling Association from being the SwedishLong Distance Championship Road Race to a place of honour, as thecompetition for the premier cycling honours of the world.The Olympic Cycling Committee was elected by the Swedish CyclingAssociation at the beginning of 1910, and at once began the427