TWO hundred and forty three cyclists have nominated for the McDonalds Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic (228km) to be held on Saturday, October 25, including Inverell riders Dan Wilks, Mark Wilks, Brett Newton, Mick Hoynes and Ryan Thomas. Ryan ran 64th in last week’s Melbourne to Warrnambool and will ride for GPM Stulz in A grade.
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With gradings still to be confirmed, it is likely the Subaru National Road Series (NRS) A grade will have a field in excess of 90 riders. The B grade will have close to 50 starters, and the C grade has drawn just over the 100 mark.
Twelve of the teams competing in the Subaru NRS will be represented, including series leader Avanti and the team that has dominated the last two Grafton to Inverell classics, Budget Forklifts.
Four of the top five riders in the individual championship will face the starter including Avanti’s Joseph Cooper.
Cooper holds a slender three point lead over Timothy Roe of Budget Forklifts.
The Grafton to Inverell is the final round of the NRS series, and last weekend’s winner of the time-honoured Melbourne to Warrnambool (273km) Oliver Kent-Spark is also among the field.
Mayor of Clarence Valley Council Richie Williamson will flag the A grade field away at 8am on October 25. Competitors will depart from Grafton’s Jacaranda Festival and arrive in Inverell to be welcomed by the town’s Sapphire City Festival.