BUNBURY and South West cyclists will have the opportunity to race against the likes of the legendary Robbie McEwen when the Tour of Margaret River is held next month.
The unique Pro Am format of the event will give club level riders a chance to live the dream and test their skills against the best in the world, including McEwen and Orica Green Edge riders Simon Clarke, Mitch Docker, Damien Howson, Luke Durbridge and Cameron Meyer.
South West Cycle Club’s Bradley Linfield and Ryan Bailie know what it is like to live the dream as professional athletes.
Back in January Linfield finished third in the Under 23 National Road Race and was then selected to compete alongside the best in the world in the Tour Down Under while Bailie has had a stellar year capped off by a bronze medal performance at the Commonwealth Games.
The Tour of Margaret River has developed into the biggest road cycling event in WA.
Linfield will join a strong South West Cycle Club racing team that includes former Australian road champion Peter McDonald.
These local heroes will be looking to lead out McEwen and put him in the running for the Tour of Margaret River green jersey, a prize he has previously won three times at the Tour de France.
McEwen arrives in Bunbury on Tuesday, November 4 and will visit local schools to tell his story.
Support from the Department of Sport and Recreation’s Country Sports Enrichment scheme will result in the whole week being the biggest ever for cycling in the South West.
Cyclists and fans will get the opportunity to hear firsthand not only from McEwen but from local heroes who have realised their dreams, including Peter McDonald and Ryan Bailie, with an informal session for juniors kicking off at 4pm at the Bunbury Grammar School.
This will be followed by an open session at 6pm.
The next morning’s club ride leaving from the Bunbury Entertainment Centre at 7am, providing the chance of a lifetime for local riders to ride their favourite local training circuits with McEwen in the bunch.
He will then visit some local schools before heading to Margaret River where preparation for the tour commences with a Ride with the Pro’s warm up from the Chocolate Company at 8am on the Thursday.
Racing kicks off Thursday afternoon and continues through til Sunday but there will be opportunity for some relaxed socialising in between stages.
This will include a night not to be missed at Arimia Winery on Friday.
McEwen and the riders from Orica Green Edge will be on hand to share anecdotes from their lives on the road in the professional peleton and it promises to be a highly entertaining evening.
