Trevor Scallopini live at Aloomba

On a day when lesser riders opted out, the proper tough guys of Far North Queensland cycling lined up for the latest running of the annual Australia Day Great Southern Invitational ride.

While overnight rain in nearby Cairns was a mere 1 inch (a cloudburst by northern standards), the southern township of Gordonvale (25km south) venue for this annual extravaganza had copped a pizzling from the remnants of Cyclones Neville and Olga with 120mm overnight and a further 40mm during the running of the event itself thus ensuring the combatants would do battle on a damp track. But in the best traditions, the show must go on and it did.

A strong bunch of invitee hardmen faced the starters gun at 7.30am for this annual 80km classic held on roads traversing the canefields in the late January heat and humidity and interspersed with some good old Aussie camaraderie and larrikinism.  This is perhaps Australia’s answer to the French “Hell of the North” and don’t be fooled by the photos, the apparent temperature was still 31.7 degrees with 98% humidity.

This year however the peloton had little idea of just what it faced once the battle began in earnest.

With the road rather damp in many spots on the southern leg veteran hardman Don Huyser sparked the attack of the day chased hard by fellow hitters Grahame Allen and Robert Barker, while at the rear of the field Wayne (Kutisarminarf) Nash incurred the wrath of the officials by riding an irregular line leading to the rider more commonly known as Migaloo falling and for a while being feared taken by a rogue Croc, all was ok in the end once he surfaced.

Overall results of the day are yet to be confirmed but we can now report that both Shimano and Campag work pretty much equally underwater and that local bikeshops stand to make a killing this week.  While further research conducted on the day has found 34 tooth chainrings and compact cranks have advantages on the flat that their designers had probably never considered and can become a quite potent weapon in arduous circumstances.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the 2 lovely British backpackers for helping out by scoffing the 2 leftover pies and Lamo’s.

Don “Hardman” Huyser surges as Barker and Allen lead the chase.

Anywhere else you’d say the break then daylight but this is Aloomba.

Where’s Migaloo….or the Croc?