WAGGA cycling legend Barry O'Hagan has taken a swipe at riders from the city over their attitude to the historic Cootamundra Annual Cycling Classic at the weekend.
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Taking aim at Wagga's road racers, O'Hagan yesterday described it as "unreal" they had shown an overwhelming apathy to the event.
"They're (Wagga riders) crying out for handicap racing, but when they get a chance they don't enter," O'Hagan fumed yesterday.
"It's unreal.
"The other week a group of them went down to Nowra for a mass start race.
"Here's a handicap race on their doorstep, and they skip it."
O'Hagan's outburst follows a "disappointing" nomination of only four Wagga riders for the Cootamundra Annual Cycling Classic, one of the great road events in the Riverina.
Despite $6000 in prizemoney for Saturday's drawcard, O'Hagan revealed Wagga's representation would be restricted to veteran Wayne Collingwood and younger riders Daniel Addison, Peter Johnson and Chris Powell.
"It's ridiculous," O'Hagan said.
Significantly, Albury cyclists will also be in smaller numbers than usual on Saturday, with border riders also heading to a two-day cycling festival at Wangaratta at the weekend.
Amid the drain of riders, O'Hagan stressed the Cootamundra Annual would not lose any of its pedal prestige or power.
'There'll be 175 starters, which is about average," he said.
"The quality is excellent.
"There's some very smart young riders in the two bunches at the back."
Headlined by recent Wagga to Albury road race winner Harrison Carter, the Cootamundra Annual has also drawn "heaps" of rising stars in the under-19 and under-23 divisions.
"They're good kids," O'Hagan said.
"A lot of them will be riding overseas next year."
Aside from Carter, Aiden Toovey, who struck gold in Wagga last month, and Sean Lewis will push for honours in the 106 kilometre race.
With Carter, Toovey and Lewis in the powerful scratch pack, other riders will hit the bitumen in nine other bunches - getting upwards of 40 minutes head start.
"There'd be lucky to seven out the front," O'Hagan said.
"Even with 40 minutes (start), they'll find it hard if they lose one or two (riders)."
First staged in 1957, the Cootamundra Annual was originally raced from Cootamundra to Wagga, but now involves a more concise circuit starting and finishing in Cootamundra.
"The course has changed and is good for spectators," O'Hagan said.
"It's a bit like a mini Tour De France.
"People can jump from one spot to another to watch the race.
"Last year there were 200 or 300 people at some points."
Completing the two days of racing at Cootamundra, a 70km Recovery Race will be held on Sunday.
COOTAMUNDRA ANNUAL
When: 12.30pm Saturday
Where: Starts and finishes in Cootamundra
How much: $6000
How far: 106km