The lead up to the main event were two support races, one being an Under 17 Open which was taken out by local gun Jakob Restall. Following the junior event was the B and C grade combined event. After some tough racing this was won by Byron Tucker in a close finish ahead of his old mate Russell Leary. These two men used to race each other over thirty years ago around the tracks in Tasmania so it was great to see them out there still going hard and also great to see them supporting the sponsors who looked after us again with a VIP down at the watermark drinking a thousand Coronas (each).

Then it was time for the main race to get under way. I must say I was nervous, as I had been talked into lining up ten months after my last race. I was just lining up to support the race but once the flag dropped it was a different story as my heart rate was around 200 by lap two. A mate of mine Paul McRoberts from the Gold Coast was also there to support the race. I remember turning to him on lap three and saying, “s#*t this is going to be a very long race or a real fast one”, as I had the feeling that I would be watching the finish of the race from the sideline.

After fifteen minutes of really suffering I finally started to feel a little better and with about five laps remaining I was able to get away with two other guys who were riding very well. As we entered the last lap it took all my experience I had to get across the line with the win in front of a very fast finishing Chris Klem.

All in all, it was a great event and I made a promise on the stage that I will never pin a number on again, only at club level for a bit of fun together with my boys who are now racing their bikes on the Gold Coast. After a couple of hours talking with people who help make the race possible it was time for a great dinner with friends at the Watermark, thinking about the teams event the next morning.

Sunday I awoke to loud voice of my mate David Mckenzie who is the voice of cycling for SBS during the Tour de France. It was 6.30 am and I was hearing, “all competitors to the mashelling area please”. Dave agreed to come up and do the commentary for my race on the Saturday and also to help the triathlon out by commentating for them as well.

Off we went down to the start. I was doing the bike leg for a local gun swimmer by the name of Nathan Barret and my mate Paul from the Gold Coast was doing the run. My wife Belinda was also doing the bike leg with another gun swimmer from Townsville, Lee Zahner, with Paul’s wife Sally doing the run. The Sunday was a teams corporate event which attracted 350 teams and everybody had fun competing along the strand.

At the end of the day Belinda and I both ran third in our category so we were pretty happy.We also had about ten friends from the Gold Coast come up to compete having a lot of fun.

After a fair bit of work to run the event it was a good feeling to again raise a bit of money for the north Queensland kids in the Nick Gates Foundation.

The day will consist of three events:

1. The first is a juniors race open to Under-15’s and Under-17 riders only consisting of a 20 minute timed-race plus 2 laps around the course
2. Following the junior race, a support race will be held for senior riders including Under-19’s, this will consist of a 30 minute timed-race plus 2 laps
3. The final event for the day is the Cavalier Homes Nick Gates Classic for A-Grade, elite racers, this will consist of a 40 minute timed-race plus 2 laps

The Nick Gates Classic is being held alongside the TP Human Capital Corporate Triathlon which will be held on Sunday September 20, creating a sport-filled weekend. The Townsville Triathlon is the largest event of its kind in Queensland and is expected to attract over 400 teams this year.

Gates said the Nick Gates Classic is the perfect opportunity for Townsville’s cycling community to get out and enjoy a fun day of cycling events.

“We have a lot planned for the Saturday, with a variety of events to suite entrants. The aim of the day is to provide Townsville with an event that meets the needs of the Townsville cycling community,” he said.

“The Cavalier Homes Nick Gates Classic will be the perfect opportunity for cyclists to experience a competitive race in their own backyard along the idyllic Strand course,”

“We launched the event last year with great success, and this year we are happy to be joining forces with the TP Human Capital Townsville Triathlon. We hope that together we can grow the weekend of sporting activities into a major event in Australia,” said Mr Gates.

Local Townsville cyclists, Josh Hislop and Joel Lewis from DM Drafting Cycling Team will be participating in the Nick Gates Classic.

Gates will not only be racing in the Nick Gates Classic but will be participating in the TP Human Capital Corporate Triathlon the following day.

The Cavalier Homes Nick Gates Classic is an initiative by the Nick Gates Foundation to raise money and to support young cyclists in Northern Queensland.

“The Nick Gates Foundation was formed after I encountered Townsville’s young talented cyclists and learned of their problems participating in a sport that received very little funding,” said Mr Gates.

“Many children who cycle in regional Australia do not get the same opportunities as those who live in major cities and metropolitan areas. The Nick Gates Foundation aims to give children living in regional areas across Northern Queensland support in their cycling endeavours,”

“By providing some level of financial assistance to promising juniors the foundation will give them the ability to reach their full career potential and dreams, in the future we also hope to provide workshops and coaching clinics,” he said.

Nick recently returned from a trip to France for the Tour de France, where he cheered on his ex-team, Team Lotto.

Entries for the day’s races will be taken online at www.qld.cycling.org.au, all riders must hold a current Cycling Australia license.

The day will kick off at 2:30pm on Saturday September 19, with the main event the Cavalier Homes Nick Gates Classic starting at 3:45pm along The Strand. The TP Human Capital Corporate Team Triathlon starts at 7:45am on Sunday September 20.

Please Note: Nick is available for interviews on request.

Cycling Queensland

Cavalier Homes

Cavalier Homes are officially the major sponsor to this years NGF race, making it the “Cavalier Homes Nick Gates Classic”. 

Cavalier Homes is one of Australasia’s largest residential building entities with thousands of homes built and under construction in Australia and New Zealand. For more information abut our major sponsor, please visit their website at www.cavalierhomes.com.au

Nick Gates Foundation will be joining Townsville’s 8^th Annual Corporate Team Triathlon on the 19^th September, 2009.  The event is in its 8^th year and has decided this year to bring it to The Strand.  Due to the success of this event, not only have they moved it, it has now been turned into multi festival event, hosted over the 19^th and 20^th September.

Nick has taken this opportunity to stage a criterium on the Saturday, as a lead up to the Triathlon for the Sunday.  Nick shares the same vision as the Townsville Triathlon committee – promote sports and health throughout North Queensland as well as raising funds for kids on bikes.

So far, Nick Gates Foundation has 4 NQ kids in the program.  They have successfully been competing on the Gold Coast and have had training sessions with Nick.

“I love this sport, I want to put something back into it, and supporting our young generation is an investment we need to get behind”  Nick Gates, Nick Gates Foundation.

NGF Photo

On the 9th of May, 4 junior NGF riders made the trek South from Townsville to the Gold Coast for the Goldstars Open Tour. The Tour consisted of 3 stages – a Time Trial, criterium and road race – all held at the Nerang Cycling Complex.

The juniors were racing against competitors from all over Qld, and they performed brilliantly, claiming 5 gold medals on the day. Daniel Lowe won all 3 races and the overall in the u/15 category. He really showed that all the training he’s putting in is paying rewards.

His team mate Matty Ross also has some great results, claiming 4th in the TT, 3rd in the criterium, and again 3rd in the road race. These 2 young talents showed that team work goes a long way at any level of cycling, and in any age group, working well together always staying together.

Jacob Restall competed in the u/17 men and had some good results as well. Finishing 4th in the opening time trial was a great result for a guy who needs a little more distance and a few climbs to really show what he can do. He backed up in the criterium to finish 3rd in a bunch sprint to the line. Then, after lunch, was in the 30km road race around the tough Nerang circiut. The bunch split apart after only 5laps of racing and left 7 young men to fight for the win. The race was won by Gold Coast’s Jesse Kerrison, with Jacob finishing a creditalble 4th.

Our NGF female flag was flown by Maddison Vit. She had a great day taking 2nd in the time trial and criterium, beaten only by the very-in-form Emily Roper. The last race of the day for Maddison saw her attacking Emily at every occasions over the steep climb of the Nerang circuit. These 2 girls dominated the day and showed why they are 2 of the best female juniors in Qld. Maddison finally got her just reward with victory in the road race, won by a great sprint to the line.

Sunday was another day and another chance for the NGF juniors to race the Gold Coast locals. Arundal hosted the event, so we had a 25km warm up ride to the start. All NGF riders raced brilliantly, and showed no little fatigue from Saturday’s hard day of racing.