Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - Division 2 and Darren Benson (BiciSport Happy Wheels) passes Feed Zone 1 in a breakaway
Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - Travis Shields in the Division 2 peloton passing Feed Zone 1
Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - Klayton Smith (Division 2) passes through the Feed Zone
Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - After the Division 2 finish with (L to R) … Klayton Smith, Travis Shields & Darren Benson
Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - Klayton Smith passes the finish line in Division 2 after a great team result
Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - The BiciSport support team included Alex Simmons, Steve Dixon (both pictured), Peter Shields
Grafton Inverell Classic @ 8 May - Grafton & Inverell both offered some delightful accommodation off the beaten track
Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - Clarence River outside Grafton at the BiciSport accommodation at dawn
Grafton Inverell @ 8 May - the Happy Wheels BiciSport team car for 2022 ? …. sighted at the BiciSport accommodation on the Clarence River … a 1926 Chevrolet International
VALE DAVID HUMPHREYS
Very saddened to report the recent passing of David Humphreys. David was born in 1936 and competed in the Individual Road Race at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. A long time resident of Collaroy and an inspiration to anybody who sought his learned company and advice. David was a member of both Northern Sydney & Manly cycling clubs. One can only imagine the conversation between David & Ross Martin going on about now … miss you both
ST IVES TO BROOME (WA) - GREETINGS FROM LONGREACH
The Burke & Wills peloton led by Eric Dole continues towards the Northern Territory & currently sits at Longreach (Queensland). More reports next week.
GRAFTON TO INVERELL CLASSIC - BICISPORT REPORT
All roads lead to Grafton this week with Round 2 of the National Road Series and the Grafton to Inverell Classic on Saturday 8 May over 228k. The Classic hosted over 300 entries with BiciSport fielding seven starters. In Division 2 it was Darren Benson, Travis Shields & Klayton Smith with Division 3 for Dudley Hoskin, Randolph Baral. Tom Green & Craig Pager.
So, what is in store in this Australian epic ?. Seven shorter climbs out of Grafton before “the biggie” which is the 18k climb of Gibraltar Range. The first Feed Zone comes at Mount Mitchell at the 120k mark, followed by the second Feed Zone at 160k at Glen Innes. The finish at Inverell beckons at 228k. Tom Green neatly summed it up … three laps of West Head before the 18k climb, then three more West Head laps after. Simple really.
Division 2 - Darren made a move up Gibraltar & was caught between the two man breakaway & peloton for a long time. Travis & Klayton supporting the move in the peloton. It eventually regrouped before Glen Innes with Darren & Travis contesting the bunch gallop. A super team ride by Darren, Travis & Klayton
Division 3 - Dudley was in a two man break which formed half way up Gibraltar Range and lasted 60k towards Glen Innes - at the Feed Zone the break had a four minute lead on the Div 3 peloton containing Tom & Randolph, with Craig just behind. It all came back together at Glen Innes. The eventual Div 3 winner attacked solo and the Happy Wheels team took up the challenge and Dudley, Randolph & Tom put it all down at the front of the Div 3 peloton in hot pursuit (both Randolph & Tom would pay for their efforts towards the end and were tailed off just before the Inverell finish). Dudley looked set for a potential podium result until his front wheel was shredded by a fellow competitor only 500m from the finish line & Dudley crashed heavily (thankfully nothing broken) and Duds was registered as a “Did Not Finish” with the finish line in sight. So … 227.5k completed and DNF it was.
Congratulations to all riders in loading up the dedication, the full on commitment, Mike Lawson for making it happen, and Steve Dixon, Alex Simmons & Peter Shields for assisting on the day.
RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK
15-16 May - Cootamundra Weekend (CycNSW), Wombeyan Caves Handicap (Southern Highlands)
16 May - Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (NSCC), Heffron Park (Waratah Masters)
BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES THIS WEEK
Tues 11 May
Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee
Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am
Wed 12 May
Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return
Thurs 13 May
Happy Wheels Waterloo Spin to La Perouse @ 6.00am
Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps
Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee
Sat 15 May - Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am
ONCE Professional Cycling Team - 1989-2006
If you were looking for a Spanish super team then ONCE was it. Sponsors were ONCE (charity), Liberty Seguros (insurance), Wurth (tools), Deutsche Bank, Astana, Eroski (supermarkets) & Castelli (clothing). Framesets were either Giant or Look, and groupsets Mavic or Shimano. The team kit was yellow, but pink during the Tour de France. Both bike setup and team kit were simple as they were highly highly desirable. Team manager was Manolo Saiz.
If Italy (and Belgium) had the Mapei super team then please step aside for ONCE as this was one serious unit loaded with serious talent. Its easier to list what they didn’t win - where they won numerous single day Classics (like Fleche Wallonne in Belgium), medium length stage races (in Paris Nice or Romandy), or multiple stages in the Grand Tours. Laurent Jalabert won the Tour of Spain (1995), then Alex Zulle took the same event in 1996 & 1997. Roberto Heras won the Tour of Spain in 2004. Notable team members included Jalabert, Zulle, Olano, Beloki, Nosal, de Galdeano, Heras, four Aussies (in Davis, Jonker, Stephens & Hodge), Chozas, Lejarreta, Mauri, Breukink, Sastre & Scarponi.
ONCE Professional Cycling Team - Marino Lejarreta
ONCE Professional Cycling Team - Alex Zulle in pink
