Griffith’s successful staging of a second NSW Masters Road Championships has paid off after the city was awarded the 2016 national masters titles.
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The event will take place on the October 1-3 long weekend and could attract up to 500 riders – nearly 200 more than the number of cyclists who competed at the state masters, which finished on Monday.
Griffith Cycle Club publicity officer Peter Budd said next year’s titles would put the city on the national cycling map.
“In Griffith’s centenary year, I think it’s a huge event for Griffith,” he said.
“Historically, cycling in Australian sport, particularly at the Olympics, is one of the big sports.
“Cycling at a road level seems to be increasing in popularity. A lot more riders are riding every year.
“There's something like 10,000 licensed masters riders in Australia, so we're talking about a pretty big group.”
Budd said Griffith showed it was capable of catering for large numbers of riders at the past two state masters titles.
“The original vision from many years ago was to perhaps host a couple of state championships and then maybe a nationals,” he said.
“We actually think we’re better placed to do a nationals because of our proximity to Victoria, particularly, and South Australia.
“We’re likely to get a good load of Victorians come because we’re reasonably close.”
Courses for next year’s nationals will mimic the circuits used at the past two state events. The road race and time trial will centre around Scenic Hill, while cyclists will head to Benerembah Street near Griffith City Council chambers for the criterium.
Budd said the positive feedback Griffith Cycle Club had received from state masters competitors proved it was doing something right.
“We’ve gone out to raise the bar for anyone who’s hosting these things to give the riders a really good experience,” he said.
Griffith City Council contributed $15,000 to help run this year’s state masters, and Budd is hopeful of receiving more financial assistance for the nationals.
The money complemented the work of more than 70 volunteers and sponsorship from 20 local businesses.
“Council has been tremendous in the support they’ve offered us for state championships, and I can’t see why they wouldn’t support us for a nationals,” Budd said.
“Particularly given this will be a one-off thing. This will be the end of Griffith Cycle Club asking for handouts from council.
“And when we say a handout, it’s more community support for the money these people bring into town.”