Diabolical weather pushed cyclists in yesterday’s Blayney to Bathurst Cyclo Sportif Challenge to their limit.
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Cold, wet and windy conditions challenged even the best riders as they tackled the 110km long course and the 70km short course.
A crash at the 60km mark, which brought down 40 riders, was followed by another at Perthville as the cyclists were coming in. Twenty riders were forced to retire from the race.
Chief executive officer of Cycling NSW Kevin Young said these were the worst conditions in the history of the event.
“It was a sensational event held in very trying circumstances,” he said. “The riders and volunteers were magnificent.”
Mr Young said it is possible one competitor broke a leg when the pack went down but he was still waiting for confirmation.
“It’s part of the game,” he said.
“The conditions were very slippery.”
Despite this it was a very tight finish as riders crossed the line in a bunch.
Spectators too, had a hard time of it, wrapped in towels and blankets as they huddled under umbrellas.
Mr Young said approximately 1650 people took part in yesterday’s rides, with a total of 2250 participants across the entire weekend.
He said Saturday’s criterium and hill climb events attracted some of the best riders in the country. Four hundred and seven riders took part in the criterium events, while the Hill Climb championships attracted 300 starters.
The B2B Cyclo Sportif Challenge is organised by the Rotary Club of Bathurst Daybreak.
Mr Young said they are ecstatic about the increase in entries this year.
“Over the next five years we will see it continue to grow,” he said. “Next year we are looking into offering a 160km endurance course in addition to the current events.”
A five day junior development camp for riders aged between 12 and 18 will begin today at Bathurst Goldfields. Ninety young riders will stay on in Bathurst to take part.
Mr Young said this was just another way to make Bathurst a cycling centre of excellence.
B2B committee chair Garry Taunton said yesterday was really tough for everyone.
He said organisers of the event proved themselves equal to the task with the whole program running right on schedule.
He said next year’s endurance competition, which is set to run through the village of Millthorpe, will take the event to a whole new level.
