History
Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic History
It was a dream come true for Harold Strahley who had long fostered the idea of a great Australian cycling classic with all the characteristics of the big European events, a race that had the potential for world class status and would attract International competitors. He visualized a bicycle race linking the East Coast town of Grafton with the Northern Tablelands town of Inverell.
But it remained little more than a dream, for separating the town stood the formidable Gibraltar Range with the only way across a winding track built way back in the horse and cart era. Suddenly, the idea was converted to reality when construction of a sealed road over the Mountain Range began in 1960. Immediately Harold Strahley set his plans in motion.
The immediate reaction to the study was one of doubt, with comments of “it won’t be viable, it is too far, no one will finish, it would not receive sufficient cyclists support”; were some expressions of opinion. Undaunted the committee continued its work and within four months reported the race feasible, and backed its judgment with the sum of 1600 pounds sterling in support of the proposal.
Later Local Government, service clubs and the news media were involved and the stage was set for the first Grafton to Inverell bicycle race on Saturday, 16 September 1961.
Mr Jack Griffin, served as the race director for 30 years. He rode it and saw the race grow from a dream, to it being staged as an international race in the 80’s. His passion continues and we still have his presence on current race days.
Grafton to Inverell Segment 1
Could you picture a competitor in the Grafton to Inverell completing the course on a BMX? Strange but true. In 1979, Moree rider Noel Mathiske was with a leading bunch approaching the Twin Swans Motel just 2 kilometres from the finish. In a scrimmage, Mathiske hit the bitumen and in the aftermath Gary Fromhold rode over his bike, rendering it useless. Mathiske saw a youngster standing nearby with a BMX and asked if he could borrow it to complete the 228 kilometre race. The youngster readily agreed, and Mathiske rode into Otho Street to find that officials, unaware of the incident, thought he was some sort of prankster. However, Race Director Jack Griffin noticed the Moree colours and asked that he be allowed to cross the finish line giving him 8th place. The Commissaire Ray Godkin called Mathiske aside and said by the letter of the law he should be disqualified because he had received outside assistance, but in the same breath he said that if he took that action, the crowd would riot at the presentation dinner, so his placing stood. Today Noel Mathiske runs a bike shop in Taree, and is likely to return for this year's 50th celebration.
Grafton to Inverell Segment 2
The first race in 1961 was won by the then Australian champion Alan Grindal from the scratch mark. He saw an advertisement for the race in a cycling magazine and recounts that it mentioned the daunting Gibralter Range, but not the tough climbs like Cattle Creek and Jackadgery before you get to the mountain. Just over 30 riders started the first Grafton to Inverell (a handicap in those days) and many suffered punctures on the 60 miles of gravel. The man who was to become synonymous with this classic Jack Griffin was a starter. The field had been decimated by the time Alan Grindal reached the Gilbralter Range summit. He rode away from Geoff Garden and Tom Tolley on Wire Gully and into Inverell alone. In his words "the crowd in Otho Street was amazing, like a VFL Grand Final, they lined the road from miles out, there is no race like the Grafton". Alan returned to ride the 21st and 25th Grafton, and his son Justin finished second in 1991. Alan rarely misses the race as a spectator and he will return this year for the 50th celebration.
Grafton to Inverell Segment 4
Next time you are in your vehicle and your speedometer reaches 38 kilometres an hour, imagine a cyclist riding next to you.
For 228 kilometres!
That is the amazing feat of English cyclist Paul Curran who won the 1985 Grafton to Inverell in 6 hours and 49 seconds, an average of 38 kilometres an hour. That day boasted 8 international teams with Swiss and Swedish riders filling the placings. Paul Curran was no slouch, winning numerous British track and road titles, and his crowning glory was at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1986 when he won the road race and was part of the gold medal winning team’s time trial. His race record stands today, but came under threat in 2006 when Victorian Robert McLachlan carved out the race in 6 hours 6 minutes and 53 seconds.
GRAFTON TO INVERELL SEGMENT 5
Victorian Jamie Drew stands supreme as the only rider to have won two Grafton to Inverell Classics in its 49 year history. He won in 1997 and 1999, and also won the prestigious Melbourne to Warnambool in 1999 and 2002. Interestingly the 3rd rider home in 1999 was Simon Gerrans, now an accomplished international rider. Many champions have failed in their attempt to win two Graftons. Hard man Craig Saunders won in 1994, but was relegated to third in 1995 and 1996. Damien Forster took revenge on his defeat by Saunders in 1994 by snatching the 1996 race. Peter McDonald saluted in 2004 but was outsprinted into 3rd two years later. Mountain bike champion Chris Jongewaard vowed to improve on his second in 2006 and was favourite in 2008, only to run into David Pell. And Queenslander Glen Wilson must have nightmares about being worked over by brothers Nigel and David Perry in a three man breakaway in 1990 to finish second, and two years later he was the bridesmaid again.
GRAFTON TO INVERELL SEGMENT 6
There's been no more popular winner of the Grafton to Inverell than Remo Sansonetti. For many years he was captain of the Australian Road cycling team and competed at national level with twin brother Sal and younger brother Arch. Remo won the Grafton in 1976, and recalls riding with now Tamworth man Alan Spokes for the last 17 miles. "It was a fierce headwind, we would catch riders and they would sit on, I thought I could beat Alan in the sprint so I didn’t try to drop him , but then I thought what if I get a puncture?. When I see the finish line I put my head down and go like hell!" Remo won 3 National road titles and 2 Commonwealth Games medals, and was a respected role model in the Australian cycling fraternity. He now runs an engineering business in Eltham, Victoria with brother Arch and still speaks highly of his years riding the Grafton.
GRAFTON TO INVERELL SEGMENT 7
The catalyst for Alan Gill winning the 1981 Grafton to Inverell was a plane trip on New Years Day to New Zealand. Gill was a member of an Australian team, and Grafton to Inverell Race Director Jack Griffin was a team mechanic. With Gill recovering from New Years Eve revelry, Jack was in his ear the whole trip across the Tasman about riding the Grafton. Eventually Jack's badgering was worse than Gill's headache, so the diminutive South Australian said "Jack, phone me 4 weeks before the race and I'll come up and win it. Now let me go to sleep". Gill drove his HR Holden to Inverell on the day before the race, drove over the course, and returned to Inverell on his bike the next day to win in 6 hours 24 minutes and 37 seconds. Ironically, Gill returned the following year but during the car trip the bikes were blown off the vehicle roof. They were repaired enough for Gill to finish 4th behind a New Zealand trio.
GRAFTON TO INVERELL SEGMENT 8
Wire Gully, just 18 kilometres from Inverell, will find any weakness in a fatigued rider at the end of the Grafton to Inverell. In 1976, Australian team captain Remo Sansonetti was the best-credentialled rider in the race and was helped by his brother Sal, another fine rider. On the approach to Wire Gully, Sal speaking in Italian urged Remo to make his move on the hill and catch the others unaware. However, Parramatta-Holroyd cyclist Allan Spokes had spent two years overseas and understood what he was saying and was ready, and so when Remo attacked, Spokes jumped onto his wheel and stuck with him to the finish where the Victorian was too strong. Allan Spokes memorable moment in the Grafton to Inverell is being presented with the fastest time prize in 1973 by legendary cyclist Sir Hubert Opperman. It was Sir Hubert who advised Spokes to venture overseas to further his career, advice that was well heeded.
