LUKE Deasey is a talented young bike rider itching to ride the annual Calala Inn Nemingha To Nundle tomorrow and, while he rides the shorter 40km race, he will be part of a big day for the Tamworth Cycling Club.
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Mick Sherwood is just back from riding his fifth Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic and, while he didn’t finish the iconic 228km race, he benefits from that training and race in the shorter 100km “out and back” course.
And club president Sam Spokes will be one of the scratch riders as he spends a little time back in Australia before heading back overseas on June 10 for some more international races with his Drapac team.
He’s delighted with the response to both the 100km Nemingha To Nundle race and the 40km race to Dungowan and back for the younger, juniors and novice riders.
“I think we’ll have about 60 riders in both races,” the expectant first-time father said.
“It’s going to be a good day.”
Luke Deasey is excited.
The 13-year-old Year 8 student at Tamworth High has been riding “seriously” for two years.
He’s ridden in State titles and recently rode at Canberra in road races down there.
He also won the D Grade at the Armidale Autumn Festival criteriums but prefers road racing to the shorter criteriums.
The 40km race to Dungowan and back will suit him.
Sherwood admits last Saturday’s Grafton to Inverell was a “tough day”.
“If you are not in the leading group going up the hill (18km rise up and over the Great Dividing Range) then you are no chance of winning,” he said.
“But I’ve still got the k’s in my legs from that for this race. I’m looking forward to it (tomorrow).”
He believes Spokes will be hardest to beat, starting from scratch, and that Mitch Carrington has the sprint to win if the scratch and block groups come together “as they usually do at the dam”, he said.
Spokes is delighted to be back in Tamworth and able to ride one of the club’s traditional races.
“I think we’ll have 60 to 70 in both fields,” he said as The Leader took a promotional picture of him, Greenwood, Deasey and race sponsor Danny Camilleri.
Camilleri has become one of the club’s strongest supporters and loves sponsoring the Nemingha to Nundle.
He’s been doing that for around five years.
“I’m an old bike rider too,” the Calala Inn publican said, recalling some of the charity mountain bike rides he’s done for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
“I love sponsoring it. They are good people.
“I’ve been on a few of the charity rides and had some great times.”
He said former TCC riders such as Kevin Bartlett have expended plenty over the years to ensure young riders such as Luke Deasey have a club and races to ride in and for.