As the first Grafton to Inverell riders thunder into town on Saturday afternoon, there are two faces locals will be searching for at the front of the pack; Ryan Thomas and Chris Hamilton.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The A Grade pair will be our shot at breaking a 39-year drought. There hasn’t been a local winner in the division since the race lost its handicap in in 1979. Former local Andrew McCosker will also be vying for the top spot with Canberra’s Phoenix Cycling Collective.
Thomas left a mark in last year’s speedy race, coming in 13th, just 30 seconds behind the winner, Neil Van Der Ploeg; who obliterated the previous record by a full 12 minutes.
“I was pretty disappointed not to be in the lead group last year, just because I was feeling so good towards the finish, but that’s just how the race goes,” he said.
He said knowing the course well became a disadvantage, as trying to save himself up for the last 30 kilometres meant he missed out on the leader’s all important break away move.
“I felt like I was strong enough to be there last year, I just missed out, just tactics,” he said.
“I think I’m going to be more aggressive this year and try and be the one instigating the break in the last 60, 70 kilometres, so hopefully that pans out.”
Thomas has had a successful start to the season with the newly formed Brisbane Continental Cycling Team, winning the men’s Anzac 25 in Queensland, and coming second in the State Criterium Championships in Brisbane on Monday.
It may be the maiden Grafton to Inverell for Hamilton, but it is not his first foray into endurance-testing races. A former triathlete, Hamilton is used to four-hour slogs for the half iron man events.
“Racing over that duration doesn’t really worry me,” he said. Hamilton felt the real challenge will be the strategy involved.
“It’s definitely a strong mental game as well that will come into play,” he said.
He will be working on maintaining a strong position over the Gibraltar Range, with the hopes of being in the front two groups as leaders prepare to make their final moves.
The Grafton to Inverell will be Hamilton’s first major race with his team AMR Renault after making the switch from professional-level triathlons to cycling just 12 months ago. He’s been competing since he was just 15, but it was a growing love for cycling that spurred on the change.
His next two events will be the Battle of the Border in the Tweed Valley and another race in Victoria.
It will be a comfort to take on his first big race so close to home.
“It’s going to help knowing that family and friends are there watching. It gives you that extra bit of motivation as well,” he said.