McCaig links to cycling still strong

A BRILLIANT road and track cyclist throughout the 1960s, Frank McCaig had strong links to cycling and was Bendigo’s first Sports Star of the Year in 1965-66.

It was 30 years ago Frank and Raeleen’s second-eldest son, Brent was Sports of the Year.

Eldest son Rik was a monthly winner of the award, and daughter Hollie, youngest in the family, went to and watched a lot of cycling events.

In recent year Alessia McCaig, great-niece of Frank has won several monthly Sports Star trophies and earned the Maxine Crouch Trust Fund award.

At the age of 28, Frank McCaig’s racing career was cut short.

He became a key off-road and track figure for the Bendigo and District Cycling Club, and the Bendigo International Madison of which his eldest brother, Alan had been promoter for its first seven years.

Brother passed the promoter’s reign to brother and years later Frank would do the same as Rik became the carnival’s CEO.

Victorious in the Golden Mile Wheelrace in 1963, 1965 and 1967 when it was run as part of the Easter carnival, Frank McCaig won every major road race in Victoria off scratch.

The only “big one” to elude him was the Melbourne to Warrnambool, although he was a runner-up.

A Victorian road champion on three occasions, Frank McCaig won eight stages across four Sun Tour starts.

He was inducted to the Sports Star Hall of Fame in 2006.

This Thursday night the Frank McCaig Memorial Wheelrace over 1600 meters will be contested at the Tom Flood Sports Centre.

Among those racing will be Toby McCaig who will be “pushed” off his mark by older brother, Wil, and watched by their sister Lucy, and parents Rik and Jane.

Last year’s final was won by Alessia McCaig who is now in Adelaide with the national track squad.

Prizemoney of $1000 is up for grabs in a race supported by Robert Burns of Central Linemarking.

An Olympian and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist in points score, Burns is a dual Bendigo Sports Star of the Year and Hall of Fame member.