Cootamundra Annual Classic
The Cootamundra Annual Classic, also known as the Coota Classic or Coota Annual is a bicycle handicap race starting and finishing in the New South Wales town of Cootamundra. First run in 1955, the race is traditionally held on the last weekend in August. Today it is one of the oldest open road races in New South Wales.
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Date | August |
| Region | New South Wales, Australia |
| Nickname(s) | Coota Annual, Coota Classic |
| Discipline | Road |
| Competition | State Open |
| Type | Road Handicap |
| Organiser | Cootamundra Cycling Club |
| History | |
| First edition | 1955 |
| Editions | 55 |
| First winner | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Jim Bundy (AUS) |
| Most wins | Garry Crowe (AUS) 3 wins |
| Most recent | Aaron Donnelly (AUS) (2012) |
History
The race has run every year since 1955, making it one of oldest races on the Cycling NSW open calendar. Organised by Cootamundra Cycling Club, past winners have included road professional Graeme Brown and 2010 Melbourne to Warrnambool winner Rhys Pollock. Traditionally the race was held in the last Saturday of August each year, it has now moved to fit with the NSW Cycling calendar.
Cootamundra local man Garry Crowe holds the title of the most Coota Annual wins after taking the honours in 1968, 1975 and again in 1991 at the age of 50 years old.
Course
Up until 2011 the course started in Cootamundra, traveled North through the small town Wallendbeen to Young along the Olympic Highway. The race then turned south, travelling to Harden, then West back to Wallendbeen before returning to the finish in Cootamundra. The course was 120 kilometres long.
From 2011 the course was shortened to 106 km with the course resembling a figure '8' centered on Cootamundra
Past winners
| Year | Distance | Winner | From | Fastest Time | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 106 km | Aaron Donnelly | Illawarra CC | Aaron Donnelly 2:27'06" | Illawarra CC |
| 2011 | 106 km | Shaun Lewis | Southern Highlands CC | Stephen Fairless 2:27'21" | Shepparton Cycling Club |
| 2010 | 120 km | Rhys Pollock | Albury Wodonga CC | Rhys Pollock 2:49'21" | Albury Wodonga CC |
| 2009 | 120 km | Stuart Shaw | Canberra CC | Stuart Shaw 2:54'47" | Canberra CC |
| 2008 | 120 km | Matthew Carmellotti | Norwa Velo Club | Blair Windsor 2:48'35" | |
| 2007 | 120 km | Joe McDonnell | Sutherland Shire CC | Joe McDonnell 2:44'35" | Sutherland Shire CC |
| 2006 | 120 km | Charles Gascoyne/Kevin Nicholls | Orange CTC/? | Rob McLachlan 2:41'45" | Canberra CC |
| 2005 | 120 km | David Whyman | Randwick Botany CC | Stuart Shaw 2:41'00"* | Canberra CC |
| 2004 | 120 km | Rob McLachlan | Canberra CC | Rob McLachlan 2:42'30" | Canberra CC |
| 2003 | 120 km | Hector Morales | Hector Morales 2:55'59" | ||
| 2002 | 120 km | Craig Metcalf | Albury Wodonga CC | Josh Collingwood 2:46'46" | |
| 2001 | 120 km | John Leary | Cootamundra Cycle Club | Brian Appleyard 2:46'49" | |
| 2000 | 120 km | Darren Rolf | Darren Rolf 2:48'07" | ||
| 1999 | 120 km | Marcus Hayman | Trent Wilson 2:48'19" | ||
| 1998 | 120 km | Graham Brown | Graham Brown 2:46'07" | ||