Cycling 14 September, 1960

Hoban and Burton wow the crowds

Better known for his seven Tour de France stage wins, Barry Hoban was once a very accomplished track rider. A 20-year-old Hoban was in fact described as a “pursuing phenomenon from Wakefield” in this issue. He was racing the Meeting of Champions at Herne Hill, an event that was seen as the climax of the British track season.

Hoban was quoted as saying he was feeling “off colour” after an early start and a four-hour drive to London. But he won the five-mile race in a sprint, finished second in the three-mile points race, and “effortlessly made mince-meat of top southerners Ron Jowers and Mike Gambrill” to win the invitational pursuit.