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Cycle Classic Geared Up to Go
The 62nd edition of the Squadron Energy Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic is ready to cement it’s reputation as Australia’s toughest cycling race when it takes to the road from Grafton this weekend. The iconic race between Grafton and Inverell will provide some additional challenges for the 300 plus riders entered in this year’s event.
New Event Format
This year, the AusCycling National Road Series (NRS) event will be conducted over two days on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th April. Saturday will feature the Men’s NRS Grafton to Inverell (228km) race, the Women’s NRS Grafton to Mt Mitchell (119km) race, and the Non-NRS Grafton to Inverell (228km) race. On Sunday, Inverell will host circuit racing for the NRS Men and Women at the Lake Inverell purpose built cycling circuit.
The third year of the Women’s NRS race includes a challenging course modification for the country’s leading female riders. The 119km journey from Grafton to Mount Mitchell now features the iconic 16km climb of the Gibraltar Range and close to 2500m of climbing over the full course.
“The introduction of a new course for the Women’s NRS will see a different dynamic of racing from previous editions that finished in Inverell,” said Mr Thompson. “The climb of the Gibraltar Range will play a key role in deciding the outcome of the race as the summit is only 32km from the finish.”
“We don’t expect to see a large group of riders sprinting for the finish as it will be more of a race of attrition.”
There have also been some changes to the support events. The previous Division 2, Division 3 and Challenge categories are merged into one non-NRS race. The results will focus on overall, age category and team classifications for both men and women.
“We expect to see riders competing for the prestige of being the leading rider in their age category,” said Mr Thompson. “The team’s classification has also attracted riding groups and clubs looking to take on the challenge with the support of their team-mates.”
How to Follow
The event finish in Victoria Park, Inverell will feature a big screen that will display live footage of the last 40km of the Men’s NRS race and highlights of the Women’s NRS race. Festivities will commence from 12pm.
Live commentary of all divisions of the race will be broadcast on Sta FM 91.9 Inverell.
For live race updates follow @NationalRoadSeries and @graftontoinverell on Facebook, @AusCyclingAus and @G2Irace on Twitter, and AusCyclingAus and G2Irace on Instagram.
228kms
(08) 6336 9688
The State Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Lotterywest are major supporters of WestCycle in Western Australia. Sport and recreation creates vibrant, inclusive and connected WA communities.
Elected Director | Off Road
Tim has been in senior leadership and strategic development roles for more than twenty years. He is currently Director of Executive Education in the School of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University and is a past Assistant Commissioner and General Manager in the public service. He is an Accountant (FCPA) and sits on the Divisional Council of CPA Australia.
Tim has been involved in racing mountain bikes, BMX and triathlon for many years, both as a father of two children who race and as a past and current bike racer. Tim is the current over-50 State Champion in downhill mountain biking. He is also a very regular and enthusiastic transport cyclist; frequently seen in a suit and tie riding to meetings in the city on a mountain bike.
Chair | Governance & Risk Committee
Denise Sullivan has a career spanning over twenty years in senior management and executive roles in the state public and not-for-profit health sectors.
In her usual role of Director Chronic Disease Prevention with the Western Australian Department of Health, she leads the development of state chronic disease and injury prevention policy and planning frameworks and contributes to the shaping of the national preventive health policy agenda.
Her professional interests cover many aspects of chronic disease and injury prevention encompassing health communications, health promotion and research, public policy on health and workforce planning and development.
She has a particular interest in furthering collaborations with other sectors with a mutual interest in promoting a more active and healthier WA community, and creating and sustaining environments that support this. Denise is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Leadership WA Signature Program, and an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian College of Health Service Managers.
Denise is a recreational cyclist and recent convert to mountain biking (although trainer wheels still on!).
