Watt, Walsh enter cycling hall of fame

One of Australian sport's fiercest rivalries will have its postscript this week when Kathy Watt and Charlie Walsh join the Cycling Australia Hall of Fame.

Watt and Walsh, two of Australian cycling's most influential figures, are among 12 inaugural inductees.

Cycling greats Anna Wilson, Sara Carrigan, Sir Hubert Opperman, Russell Mockridge, Phil Anderson, Robbie McEwen, Sid Patterson and Dunc Gray are also foundation Hall of Fame members.

Long-time administrator Ray Godkin and Gerry Ryan, the man behind Orica-GreenEDGE, will join Walsh as general category inductees.

Tour de France winner Cadel Evans is not on the list because he only retired earlier this year - former riders must be out of the sport for two years before they are eligible.

A notable exclusion is Stuart O'Grady, who had one of Australian cycling's most successful careers on the road and track.

But shortly after retiring in 2013, O'Grady confessed to doping, while insisting he only did it once.

O'Grady may yet be inducted, but it is understood the selectors wanted to avoid the inevitable controversy for the first group of inductees.

While Watt and Walsh were controversial figures themselves at the height of their careers, there is little doubt that they deserve to be included.

Watt won the 1992 Olympic road race gold medal and a host of national titles.

But she fell out spectacularly with Walsh through the 1990s over selection issues.

Walsh, like Watt, was a maverick figure in the sport.

He transformed Australian cycling through the 1980s and `90s as national track coach.

Walsh continues to polarise opinion, especially among his former riders.