The August 1 event is now in its eighth year and organisers forecast previous records will be broken with rider numbers. 

Inquiries are coming in from all over and already plans are under way for a team of 14 from Julia Creek to attend.

George Fisher Mine has reportedly amassed a formidable team of more than 30 riders. 

Team manager Ross Lovejoy has thrown down the challenge to the Copper Mine employees and any other mine or company. 

Showing how serious they are, Lovejoy has appointed German former sprint king Cornelius Slotta as coach and mentor. 

Known as the ‘‘Hardman from Hamburg’’ in his racing days, Slotta was once given a 12-month suspension for continually head butting at finish lines and this, by Slotta’s own admission, was before helmets were introduced. 

Slotta said he was hoping to ride alongside Copper Team captain Simon Pope at the finish. 

“Pope has had a lot to say since I arrived in town about me possibly ‘being over the hill’,’’ he said. 

‘‘I hope his helmet has plenty of padding.’’

Asked whether there were any standout riders in the team he replied: “Obviously Mount Isa’s cycling superstar, Steve Carson”.

“We have built the team around Carson and he is currently down in the Hunter Valley for a fortnight doing altitude training, which will be followed by a week in Vanuatu where he will taper off prior to the ride.’’

Those close to Carson have said though this may well mean he’ll be two weeks at a pub on a hill followed by a week sobering up.

Ride stalwarts Glen Rysanek and Roy Pattison will line up for their fifth Border Ride. 

Rysanek said they were confident of improving on previous performances.

 “We were over the moon last year when ‘Patto’ only fell off twice during the ride. Once when he stood still at the start and the other when he had pulled up at the water stop and couldn’t get the cleats out,’’ he said. 

“In fairness to Roy though, the oil he sprayed onto the pedals was actually liquid superglue. With poor labelling, a mistake anyone could make.”

In the lead-up to the ride, the annual Border Ride dinner will once again be held at the Irish Club on July 30. 

Last year’s proved to be an enormous success and organiser Sue Wicks is urging people to book early as there is limited seating. 

Last year, organisers entertained guests by profiling local rider Max Shawcross along with a ride preview presented in a somewhat different way.

Guest speaker Wayne Sanchez kept people laughing with anecdotes from an illustrious cycling career, which he assured everyone was not over. Keeping his promise, Sanchez went out two days later and set a record time of four hours and 54 minutes for the 202-kilometre ride. 

This year’s guest brings stories from Australian and international tours. His name, well you’ll have to come along to find out, although some  know him as ‘‘King Kunda’’.