The preparations are complete for Saturday's Eastmon Digital Photo Stores Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic, considered by many to be Australia's toughest one day road race. 200 cyclists will tackle the 228km course starting in Prince Street, Grafton at around 7:30am, and the first riders will finish in Otho Street, Inverell around 2:30pm.
The combined B, C and D Grades along with 16 women competitors will be the first to leave at 7:30. This combined group will contain over 150 riders with 31 in B grade, 55 for C grade and D grade will have 52 riders. Riders ranging from 20 years old to 71 year old Peter Brown from Port Macquarie make up the record field. Ambitions at the start line vary from taking a prestigious victory in the A Grade elite race to finishing in a personal best time. In the case of 1974 winner, Bryan Ferris from Queensland, it will be taking part in his 24th race. Ferris' aim is to be the rider with the most starts in the Classic's history. All these riders are what make the Grafton to Inverell the race all Australian cyclists want to ride, even if it is only once.
