RACE director Scott Sunderland has big plans for the Grafton to Inverell Classic which may include another shorter race the following day.
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Sean Lake won the 54th running of the iconic race in searing conditions that did no harm to the race’s reputation as Australia’s toughest.
Sunderland believes the event can only get bigger as some implemented changes and tweaks came off on the committee’s first of a contracted three-year term.
This year the race had a new finishing point in Victoria Park, on the eastern side of town, that Sunderland and co took full advantage of.
A ToughinUp Challenge was held in the park for the UGLY Barmaid foundation, a mini modified triathlon was run for kids, spectators, friends and families of riders, as well as some live music and entertainment during and after the race.
“The new finish worked very well,” Sunderland said.
“Council has said it will lay a new hotmix on the home straight as well.
“The goal is to get families there with an emphasis on sport and a healthy lifestyle.”
While the idea is still in its absolute infancy, Sunderland has come up with an idea of his own to extend the event to two days.
There will be no changes to the Classic, but instead the former cyclist wants to run a shorter race on the Sunday.
“It will be to a nearby town to Inverell’s north,” Sunderland said.
“And much shorter.”
The race is not only for the riders willing to do both but also for their support teams and anyone else who wants to get involved, including a women’s division.
“A handlers’ race,” he said.
“Maybe they can handle the rider on Saturday and then swap on Sunday.”
While Sunderland hasn’t approached the other town yet, he does have a goal to get the first race up and running next year.
The Grafton-to-Inverell is already run by a team of dedicated volunteers and the logistics of another race would be too great for the same number.
The race has been well received by the committee in recent times but maybe out in the too hard basket until now.
“I will knock on doors for some extra help or even knock on heads if I have to,” Sunderland said.
“A lot of good riders come from this region and I don’t think we get the support from Cycling HQ in Sydney we deserve.”
Sunderland believes the landscape of racing in Australia is changing.
There is more racing in January and February now so riders are riding through November to keep their form going through the off-season.
This means that the Grafton-to-Inverell may not always be the last race on the NRS calendar.
“Being last is good and bad,” Sunderland said.
“This event just has so much potential.”