Cycling 19 November, 1983

Elliott turns pro but traditional time trials still rule

The Raleigh-Weinmann team was unveiled at distributor Chicken and Son’s HQ in Bedfordshire with “the hottest property in the British amateur ranks”, Malcolm Elliott, set to lead the team. This would be Elliott’s first year as a professional and in turning pro would preclude a ride at the 1984 Olympic Games. “I’ve ridden one Olympic Games and two World Championships and I didn’t think it was worth the risk of building another year around just one event,” Elliott said, bringing to light the difficult decision a rider had to make about their career back when the Games were for amateur athletes only.