Byron Bay Cycle Club hosting Lismore road race for flood recovery and to support Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter

An all-grades inaugural road cycling race – the first of its kind in two decades – is set to boost resilience for the flood recovery effort in Lismore and the wider Northern Rivers. Find out more.

Daryl Pursey of Harris Cycles in North Lismore is pleased to see the new Lismore event come to fruition.

A rare spectacle is pegged for Lismore this Sunday when the Byron Bay Cycling Club hosts an inaugural cycling road race in the regional city.

Byron Bay Cycle Club secretary Mat Johnson said the Lismore road race is open to grade A-D riders in male, female and under-18 categories. The event will also include beginner and e-bike categories.

The race has been organised to assist with the ongoing recovery after the 2022 floods and to raise funds for the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter service based in Lismore.

Byron Bay Cycle Club members on Union St, South Lismore.

Participants must register with AusCycling for a race licence, which is free for new riders on the four week “Come and Try” program. Entering costs $35 (or $20 for under-18 riders).

Harris Cycles Lismore owner and cyclist Daryl Pursey said it has been about 20 years since a similar cycle race was held in the area.

“I’ve seen more riders out last week riding on that part of the circuit so there’s definitely some interest,” he said.

“Group rides have been going for over 30 years (in Lismore), but have fallen flat from a combination of Covid and floods.

“Some of this might get people a bit keen.”

Daryl Pursey of Harris Cycles in North Lismore is looking forward to the inaugural event. Picture: Cath Piltz

D-grade, beginner and e-bike competitors will race to Numulgi Hall and back.

A and C-grade riders will complete laps up the Duncan Road Climb to the intersection of Duncan and Hunters Hill roads, and back to the Woodlark and Molesworth streets roundabout.

North Coast cyclist Liam Bertuzzi, 23, recently placed 11th in the Darren Smith Classic Road Race last month and will be in the starting line-up for the Lismore event.

“He is world class,” Mr Johnson said.

“He competes in the National Racing Series.”

North Coast cyclist, 23-year-old Liam Bertuzzi. Picture: Instagram

The sprint to the finish, where top riders will hit 50-60km/h, is on Molesworth Street at the Zadoc St intersection.

Cycle racing has a celebrated history on the NSW North Coast – Grafton Cycle Club, for example, just clocked up 130 years.

Road closures at the Lismore event include: Woodlark St (between Molesworth and Keen streets), Molesworth St (from Woodlark to Winterton Parade), Woodlawn Rd, Numulgi Rd, Duncan Rd (to Hunters Hill Rd).

Race marshalling will be at 7am and the action kicks off at 7.30am.