Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic

The Grafton used to have an international field. Back in the 1980s it was
run just before the Commonwealth Bank race, and the overseas riders who came
out for the Bank race would ride the Grafton as well. I can remember
watching it in 1985 when the English rider Paul Curran won from a four man
break in what I think is still the race record of six hours and a few odd
seconds. I thought that his win was somewhat fortunate in that there were
two Swiss riders in the break, but one of them, Thomas Wegmuller, pulled his
foot in the last couple of hundred metres as they were winding up for the
sprint (toeclips and straps in those days).

These riders used to come to Australia for several weeks and would also ride
a series of criteriums in the period leading up the the Bank race.

Nick Payne

"D&M johnston" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Now that the wheels have slightly cooled from the excitement of TDF, which

I

Quoted message said:

enjoyed very much when i could catch it on SBS, great race and fantastic
scenery over there in france, however we have some great races here in
Australia as well like the Grafton to Inverell National Cycle Classic

which

Quoted message said:

this year is in it's 43rd year on 20th Sept 03.

This Classic is a huge one day event that covers 220kms over the Great
Dividing Range and also has some great scenery, not that you'd be that

taken

Quoted message said:

by it busting your gut up 3,000 ft mountain range.

I'm kind of surprised that I haven't seen much publicity about this race
over the last 3 yrs or more especially that Cycling has really taken off
here in Australia.

The Grafton to Inverell classic was almost cancelled this year due to the
new ruling about cycling on public roads and also litigation and insurance
problems but with the help of NSW Cycling Federation there was a

turnaround

Quoted message said:

so that now the event is on. It would be a shame to see such a race being
cancelled after 43 years.Some events have not been so lucky.

I mean 220kms is only 23kms short of the mens Olympic cycle race in Sydney
2000 Olympics which was won by Jan Ullrich, that was one helluva race!!

This is only my opinion but I was thinking that if we could expand some

of

Quoted message said:

these national events and do time trials and maybe many different stages
that could attract international teams like the TDF, maybe we could have a
TDA(Tour de Australia).

I beleive now that our lads have done so well over in France and we have
proven we are as good as other cycling teams, I reckon Australia has the
potential to become a Major Cycling venue.

Wow Nick, that was a fabulous recollection of the Gtn to Inv. race.

I remember when I lived up in Grafton between 1977 to 85 I used to stand up
there at the Copmanhurst turnoff on the Gwyder Hwy to watch the guys ride
past on this event and even though I wasn't a racing cycle fan back then, I
was amazed that one would even contemplate riding a bike all the way to
Inverell as it was quite a fair drive in a car going up O'sullivans Gap
heading to Glenn Innes where I had relatives at the time.I knew nothing
about TDF back then nor the Commonwalth Classic.

It's just been in recent times that I've taken a keen interest of cycling
events here and Overseas that I realised that the past years we all heard
about the Commonwelth Classic (now defunct unfortunately) and the Sydney to
Gong (though not a comp race) and Lindsay in the post above, just reminded
me that there is in fact a Tour Downunder.

I still don't know alot about the racing side of cycling but am
learning.....thanks guys!!

Ride Safe

regards

DJ
"Nick Payne" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The Grafton used to have an international field. Back in the 1980s it was
run just before the Commonwealth Bank race, and the overseas riders who

came

Quoted message said:

out for the Bank race would ride the Grafton as well. I can remember
watching it in 1985 when the English rider Paul Curran won from a four man
break in what I think is still the race record of six hours and a few odd
seconds. I thought that his win was somewhat fortunate in that there were
two Swiss riders in the break, but one of them, Thomas Wegmuller, pulled

his

Quoted message said:

foot in the last couple of hundred metres as they were winding up for the
sprint (toeclips and straps in those days).

These riders used to come to Australia for several weeks and would also

ride

Quoted message said:

a series of criteriums in the period leading up the the Bank race.

Nick Payne

"D&M johnston" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Now that the wheels have slightly cooled from the excitement of TDF,

which

Quoted message said:

I

Quoted message said:

enjoyed very much when i could catch it on SBS, great race and fantastic
scenery over there in france, however we have some great races here in
Australia as well like the Grafton to Inverell National Cycle Classic

which

Quoted message said:

this year is in it's 43rd year on 20th Sept 03.

This Classic is a huge one day event that covers 220kms over the Great
Dividing Range and also has some great scenery, not that you'd be that

taken

Quoted message said:

by it busting your gut up 3,000 ft mountain range.

I'm kind of surprised that I haven't seen much publicity about this race
over the last 3 yrs or more especially that Cycling has really taken off
here in Australia.

The Grafton to Inverell classic was almost cancelled this year due to

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

new ruling about cycling on public roads and also litigation and

insurance

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

problems but with the help of NSW Cycling Federation there was a

turnaround

Quoted message said:

so that now the event is on. It would be a shame to see such a race

being

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cancelled after 43 years.Some events have not been so lucky.

I mean 220kms is only 23kms short of the mens Olympic cycle race in

Sydney

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

2000 Olympics which was won by Jan Ullrich, that was one helluva race!!

This is only my opinion but I was thinking that if we could expand some

of

Quoted message said:

these national events and do time trials and maybe many different stages
that could attract international teams like the TDF, maybe we could have

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

TDA(Tour de Australia).

I beleive now that our lads have done so well over in France and we have
proven we are as good as other cycling teams, I reckon Australia has the
potential to become a Major Cycling venue.