Cycling: Obree prepared for sacrifice

GRAEME OBREE is all for restrictions on bike design even if it means that the crouching style that made him a world- beater would be eliminated, writes Robin Nicholl.

'I would be prepared to sacrifice it if it helps the sport. The regulations on design need tightening,' the world track pursuit champion said after hearing that the world governing body, the International Cycling Union, was suspending his bike from international road events until a report on design was issued in May.

The Union is anxious to stop technology dominating the human element in racing, and Obree agrees. 'It will be detrimental to the sport and unfair to riders who use conventional bikes,' he said. Ian Emerson, the British federation's president, said: 'It is his riding position that is the problem.'

The bike is not forbidden on tracks, so the Scot will ride it when he attempts to recapture the world one-hour record. He has pencilled in April or May for an attack on the 52.270km set by the Olympic champion, Chris Boardman.

Joey McLoughlin, the winner of the Milk Race and Kellogg's Tour, is returning to racing as technical adviser to a new professional team, FS Maestro.