FOUR sporting greats will be inducted into the Bendigo International Madison Hall of Fame.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Each of the sportsmen have had profound influence on the annual Madison and their names will now be set in history.
"Each of this year's inductees have been integral to the success of the Madison," Bendigo International Madison Committee secretary Rik McCaig said.
Danny Clark
Clark is one of Australia's most decorated cyclist having won several world championships in addition to a silver medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
Clark is also a five-time winner of the Bendigo International Madison.
- 1975 with Frank Atkins
- 1979 with Don Allan
- 1981 with Paul Medhust
- 1982 with Shane Sutton
- 1986 with Tony Doyle
However, there is one win which stands out, the 1975 victory with Atkins.
"Both of them fell off at some stage during the race and were down a lap," McCaig said.
"They then came back from one lap down to win, it was one of the early Madisons that really built the reputation of the race."
McCaig said Clark was an obvious candidate to be a hall of fame inductee.
"Over the years he has been instrumental to making the Madison what it is today," McCaig said.
Frank Atkins
In addition to the memorable win in 1975, Atkins has also been a key supporter of the event.
After his retirement from cycling he promoted the event to fellow Tasmanian riders that Bendigo was the place to come and race.
"He was instrumental in the early days of the Madison, making it famous with his aggressive riding and never-ending competitiveness," McCaig said.
"He has played a big part in building the culture behind our race."
Frank McCaig
If there is one name that is synonymous with Bendigo Cycling, it's Frank McCaig.
"He worked tirelessly every year on the Madison and had the vision to establish a great cycling event for Bendigo," Rik McCaig said.
McCaig's name has been immortalised at the Tom Flood Sports Centre, with the main stand named in his honour.
RELATED: Champ ends his life cycle
Harold Downes
Downes has been a competitor at several Madison athletics events.
His biggest achievement was in 1963 at Bendigo when he broke the four-minute mile barrier with a time of 3.59.7 seconds.
The record still stood for 20 years after.
"He was an amazing athlete. The day before it had been raining in Bendigo," McCaig said. "He did it with the challenge of a wet track."
The four will be inducted into the hall of fame at a lunch hosted by Olympic gold medallist Scott McGrory at the Shamrock Hotel on Friday March 6 at 12pm.
The event is also run ion conjunction with the The Mailott Jaune Club.
Ticketing information online http://bendigomadison.com.au/hall-of-fame/.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
