Olympic Games gold medallist Brad McGee is the last of the available professional cycling stars to sign up for the Cronulla Grand Prix, which will be taking place at one of Australia's most famous beaches this Sunday, December 16. The competing field now boasts 17 Olympians and twelve Tour de France stars.
Although Cadel Evans, 2007 Tour de France runner-up and Australian sportsman of the year, will not be racing, he will assist with race coverage on Network Nine that will be televising both the Women's and Men's events live.
The 2007 event has attracted virtually every available Australian ProTour rider including last year's winner Graeme Brown, the world's best road sprint Robbie McEwen, Tour de France green jersey winner Baden Cooke, Tour Down under winner Simon Gerrans, 2007 Herald Sun Tour winner Matt Wilson, the Davis brothers, Alan and Scott of Bundaberg as well as Chris Sutton and Mark Renshaw.
However, the biggest coup could be Olympic Games gold medallist and winner of this year's Paris-Roubaix, Stuart O'Grady: the wearer of the yellow and green jerseys in the Tour de France is a cycling phenomenon and the race course will be well suited to his style.
Many of the stars will be keen to add this event to their honours, but for Matt White it will be one of the most memorable days of his life. The 33 year-old from Caringbah, that has competed on every level of the world cycling stage, will contest his last race close to where he commenced his cycling career.
New Zealand will also fly in a contingent around Julian Dean, who will be joined by UK star Jeremy Hunt. Ben Kersten, the big name in track cycling, has also just returned from China's World Cup and will look forward to matching strides with the best pro road racers.
Last year, the race attracted more than 8,000 spectators, and 2007 is appearing to be an even bigger affair with the race televised live nationally.
The women's event, the opening event of the 90 minute televised programme, has once again attracted a world class field headed by Olympic champion Sara Carrigan, World champion Kate Bates and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Natalie Bates, World Cup champion Rochelle Gilmore, World Cup track star Kaarle McCulloch, former World Junior Champion Skye Lee Armstrong and the leading contenders for the 2008 Olympics from all states of Australia. Joining the race from interstate will be Tiffany Cromwell from South Australia, Liz Young from Queensland, Olivia Gollan and Carly Hibberd from Queensland.
