Richard Moffatt

 

 

AGE:18
BIRTHPLACE:Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
AGE WHEN STARTED RIDING:14
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST RACE, WHERE WAS IT AND HOW DID YOU GO?
Was a Wagga Wagga club race. It was a 30km road race, but for the last 10kms I had to be pushed to the finish line by one of the Vet riders, in order to keep up with the bunch and then with about 500 metres to go, I found my "sprint legs" and finished
FAVOURITE PLACE TO TRAIN:
Any where in the Italian mountains in summer, and in winter, in my shed on the ergo (nice and warm).
YOUR BIGGEST WIN TO DATE:
Would have to be winning the National Road Series in 2002. And the second best - the 2nd stage of the Canberra Tour, where I crashed badly at about 80km p/h, on a descent. I got back up and on the bike after a minute, then chased for about 30kms to catch the bunch. I then attacked the bunch and rode to a solo stage victory.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WERE NOT RIDING YOUR BIKE:
At Uni, training to become an Ambo.
HERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS TIME:
Hopefully with a pro contract, living in Europe, or as an Ambo anywhere in NSW.
AND IN 20 YEARS TIME:
Very well established with a good family, and a career I enjoy. But who knows? It's too far away.
FAVOURITE PRE RACE MEAL:
Anything with rice.
WHAT SPORTS DID YOU DO AS A KID:
Soccer
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN CYCLING:
I used to ride my mountain bike around town alot. One day I went into a bike shop and asked if there was a club in Wagga Wagga, and I was given the club coach's number, and I started from there.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR CHOSEN SPORT:
The fact I get to see the World and be part of teams, that includes some of the worlds best athletes.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT YOUR CHOSEN SPORT:
Everything is hard about cycling when your trying to make it to the top. The time, the effort, the sacrifices. But that's one of the things I love about this sport.
WHO WERE YOUR SPORTING IDOLS AS A KID:
Probably my dad. I used to watch him play football as a kid, and I thought he was pretty good.

Sporting Hall on Fame Story

Richard commenced cycling in 1998 with the Wagga Wagga Cycling Club.
The ball started rolling in 2000 for Richard when he was inducted into the Southern Sports Academy under Coach Tom Dawson and represented NSW at the National Championships in Tasmania.2001 saw Richard take out the National Time Trail Series, earning him a spot not only in the NSW Institute of Sport, but also on the Australian Team to compete in the World Championships being held in Portugal. Richard went onto win the Australian Road Race Series and became runner up in the Time Trial in 2002. He again represented Australia at the World Championships, but this time it was held in Belgium. In 2003, Richard spent 3 months racing in Italy with the Australian Institute of Sport development squad. 2003 was also the year; Richard signed a contract with Bradley McGee's La Francaised Des Jeux cycling team. It was also the year Richard was inducted into the Wagga Wagga Sporting Hall of Fame. In 2004, Richard had a full AIS scholarship, spending 7 months in Italy racing 1 day events, tours and World Cups. Richard has 3 top 5 finishes in World Cup events in Europe. The highlight of 2005 for Richard was winning his home town state open event, the 112km Wagga Motors Open. In 2006, Richard spent a short time in France, before deciding to leave the sport of cycling, to seek out other career options.

 

Career Highlights

 

2001:
Won the Wagga Wagga Junior Tour
Silver in the NSW road race championships
1st at the Australian Championships Time Trial
selected to represent Australia at the World Championships where I finished 21st-Results

2002:
Won the Southern Division A grade Championships
Won the Wagga Wagga Junior 2 day tour
Won B grade at the Canberra Tour
Won the Riverina points score
Won the Road Race at the National Championships
Represented Australia at the worlds where I finished 11th in the time trial
Finished 6th in the world cup 4 day tour of Italy
Member of the Riverina Academy of Sport, New South Institute of Sport, and the Australian Institute of sport as from 2003.

2003:

3rd in the 230km Grafton to Inverell Classic results

2004:

Selected to ride for McGee-NSW Institute Of Sport in the Sun Tour Photo
2nd Under 23 Road Individual Time Trial Photo National TT

2005:

Selected to ride for Francais Des Jeux (Baden Cooke) in the Sun Tour Photo
5th in the 230km Grafton to Inverell Classic results

4th Jayco Tour of Tasmania results

Won the 112km Wagga Motors Open Handicap Race and Fastest Time

 

2006:
Selected in the United Water Cycle Team to Ride the Tour Down Under