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DUBBO'S cycling community raised in excess of $20,000 at a fundraising dinner and auction on Saturday night, with proceeds funding Darrell Wheeler's bid to claim a second world masters title at the 2015 UCI Masters World Track Championships in Manchester in October.
Wheeler won gold in the individual pursuit (MMAS9 division) at the Australian Masters Track Championships in March this year and he will endeavor to win his second Masters World title in the Individual Pursuit - a title he won at the Masters Track World Championships in 2008.
Dubbo Cycle Club treasurer and event organizer Janette Eather said Saturday's event was a resounding success, with more than 130 people helping to raise in excess of $20,000, which will help both Wheeler and the club's junior development fund.
"I can't believe the amount of support that the club received and we would really like to thank those people that donated items to be auctioned," she said.
Among the items that were auctioned, a team Predictor Lotto jersey signed by Cadel Evans and Robbie McEwan was the top grossing item at $2300, while a set of Shimano Dura-Ace carbon tubular wheels were knocked down to prodigious talent Adam Mitchell.
Special guest Brad McGee, one of seven Australians to wear the leader's yellow jersey in the Tour de France, donated a team Francaise des Jeux yellow jacket, with that item being sold for $1300.
The jacket was given to McGee after winning the stage one prologue at the 2003 Tour de France which earned him the yellow jersey, which he held for the first three stages of that year's event.
Dubbo Cycle Club hosted three special guests for the evening in Olympic team pursuit champion Stephen Wooldridge, Dubbo-born world junior track champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Megan Dunn and McGee, who was the first Australian to wear the leader's jersey in all three of the grand tour events.
Eather said the advice given from the three speakers resonated with the audience, particularly with the club's wealth of junior cycling talent.
"It was an honour to be in the room with our three guest speakers. Between the three of them, they hold over 20 world titles," Eather said.
"They all talked about putting the effort in to get the results and this is what our juniors need to take on board
"Megan (Dunn) mentioned it's not about the equipment you have - you don't need the best bike, or helmet, or shoes, you just need dedication."