Catherine Reardon

Catherine Reardon made a significant impact on women’s road racing in the early 1990s.

At the 1993 UCI Road World Championships in Oslo, Norway, she achieved a historic 6th place in the elite women’s road race - the best result by an Australian in that event at the time.

At the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, Reardon won gold in the 50km team time trial, racing alongside teammates Jillian Nolan, Rachel Victor, and Kathy Watt. She also placed 5th in the individual road race.

“Choosing my most memorable moment in cycling is never easy. Every athlete remembers the thrill of their first international victory, or the pride of standing on the podium with a gold medal. But for me, one moment stands above the rest - crossing the finish line at the Road World Championships in Oslo, Norway,” Reardon said.

“That day felt like everything came together - the months of training, the sacrifices, the strategy, the sheer will to perform at my absolute best. It was one of those rare occasions in sport when everything just clicked, like playing the perfect game, or capturing the perfect picture. I rode the most tactical and disciplined race of my career, completely in tune with the mood of the peloton and the demands of the course.

 “When I crossed the line, exhausted but elated, I knew deep down that I could not have done a single thing better. Finishing sixth in the world might not sound extraordinary to everyone, but for me, it was a defining moment - proof that I truly belonged on the world stage.”

Reardon also delivered an outstanding performance at the 1994 Giro d’Italia. She was second on general classification before an untimely crash on the last stage cost her a podium finish.  She recalled being disappointed with her fifth-place finish overall.

“A German rider took out my front wheel with 1,200m to go,” she said. 

“Under the rules at the time - when the 1,000m rule applied for a mishap going into a finish – I had to wait for a spare bike as the peloton rode past.”

Reardon’s performances during this period were instrumental in elevating the profile of Australian women in international road cycling, inspiring a new generation of riders who have gone on to achieve even more.

“This is a tremendous honour and one that I am extremely proud of,” she said of her induction into AusCycling’s Hall of Fame.

“It is not often that athletes who finish second are recognised, yet I have always valued every medal and achievement along the way. I feel privileged to have been given the opportunities to compete and to be part of a sport that has played such a significant role in my life.”