Barry Waddell

Robert 'Barry' Waddell (20 October 1936 – 13 April 2024) was one of Australia's best-known cyclists of the 1960s (he was a professional rider from 1963 to 1970). Waddell won a record 5 straight Herald Sun Tours from 1964 to 1968. Although best known as a road cyclist, Waddell was in fact an "all-rounder", having also won a number of national track titles. He won the Australian national road race title in 1964 and 1968. He won the General Classification in the Herald Sun Tour five years in a row (1964-1968) when the Sun Tour was at its most gruelling, covering 1200 miles (1920 km) in nine days. Waddell took fastest-time honours in the Melbourne-to-Warrnambool road race no fewer than three times and won the Sir Hubert Opperman trophy twice, breaking Opperman's record from Adelaide to Melbourne (22 hours). Subsequently, after his professional cycling career had finished, he also won the 1975 world veterans' title in Austria.

Waddell came to Melbourne in 1956, married in 1960 and has remained a Victorian ever since. He was a dominant road rider for two decades and has earned the title "cycling immortal". Although considered a road specialist, his 17 Australian championship wins included several sprints.

In the Herald Sun Tours typically he would ride up to 100 miles (160 km) in the mornings, followed by another 100 miles in the afternoons. During one period in 1965, he won the Melbourne-to-Lakes Entrance road race one weekend, followed by his record-breaking Adelaide-Melbourne ride on the Tuesday, achieved fastest time in the Melbourne-to-Warrnambool road race the following Saturday, and then rode throughout a three-day carnival in Port Pirie before commencing the gruelling Herald Sun Tour the following Saturday (which he won), taking 1st place in no fewer than 14 of the 18 stages.

For over 50 years, Waddell operated a bike shop business on the Burwood Highway, Melbourne, until 2011 when he was 74 years of age.

Palmarès

 * 1958
 * 3rd National Road Championship, Elite


 * 1960
 * 3rd Melbourne Six Day


 * 1961
 * 3rd Perth Six Day


 * 1962
 * 2nd Launceston Six Day


 * 1963
 * 1st Perth Six Day (with Ian Campbell)


 * 1964
 * 1st GC Herald Sun Tour
 * 1st National Road Championships Elite
 * 1st National Road Championships Amateurs


 * 1965
 * 1st GC Herald Sun Tour
 * 1st Launceston Six Day (with Ian Campell)


 * 1966
 * 1st GC Herald Sun Tour
 * 3rd Launceston Six Day
 * 2nd Whyalla Six Day
 * 2nd Melbourne Six Day
 * Fastest Time Cootamundra Annual Classic


 * 1967
 * 1st GC Herald Sun Tour
 * 2nd Launceston Six Day
 * 1st Maryborough Six Day (with Sid Patterson)
 * 1st Whyalla Six Day (with Joe Ciavola)


 * 1968
 * 1st GC Herald Sun Tour
 * 2nd Launceston Six Day
 * 1st National Road Championships Elite
 * 1st National Road Championships Amateurs
 * 2nd Melbourne Six Day


 * 1969
 * 3rd Launceston Six Day
 * 1st Melbourne Six Day (with Ian Stinger)


 * 1970
 * 3rd Melbourne Six Day


 * 1971
 * 2nd in Launceston, Six Day


 * 1975
 * 1st world veterans' title (in Austria)

Death
After several health challenges, Barry passed away suddenly at home on 13 April 2024, aged 87.