July 30, 2013
A little taste of Europe came to the South Burnett at the weekend with the running of the “Tour de Kumbia” and the “Tour de Kingaroy” cycle races.
The races were actually Stage I and Stage II of Round 4 of the 2013 Queensland Road Team Series, organised by Cycling Queensland.
Stage 1 was a 112km road race which began and ended in Kumbia on Saturday.
Local residents turned out in force to watch the start of the race, and enjoy a “decorated bike” competition and vintage car parade organised to coincide with the event.
On Sunday, the focus shifted to Kingaroy.
First up in the morning was a “community ride” organised as a fundraiser for the Mayor’s Charity Trust.
About 130 riders riders completed either a 6km, 13km or 25km course.
After the community ride finished, the real racing began with Stage II of the QRT series, a 144km road race which climbed into the Booie Range north of Kingaroy.
As the racers wound their way to the chequered flag, spectators along Somerset Street greeted the triumphant cyclists with the traditional sound of rattles urging them to the finish line.
South Burnett Mayor Kratzmann congratulated the winners after the event and thanked the volunteers who had made the racing possible.
“Over the next 12 months Council will work with Cycling Queensland to make it even bigger and better,” he said.
Results:
Stage I – Tour de Kumbia
1. Alex Wohler – Team Budget Forklifts
2. Jayden Copp – Pro TDU / Sandsky Developments
3. Daniel Bonello – GPM Data #3
Stage II – Tour de Kingaroy
1. Jake Kauffmann – Team Budget Forklifts
2. Jack Anderson – Team Budget Forklifts
3. Correy Edmed – Pensar SPM Racing
2013 Queensland Road Team Series (after Round 4)
1. Jack Anderson – Team Budget Forklifts
2. Correy Edmed – Pensar SPM Racing
3. Jesse Kerrison – Team Budget Forklifts
- Related article: On Your Bikes!
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[UPDATED July 30, 2013]
“It brought over 200 extra people into the region that needed accommodation and meals, a great immediate boost to the region’s economy,” Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said.
“The effects didn’t just extend to our South Burnett economy but also to our local sportspeople who in their own region could watch a professional cycling race and then join in for their own ‘Tour’.
“These are the types of events Council wants to see more of in the South Burnett. Bringing Cycling Queensland into the Region was proof of the benefits we can receive from sporting events such as these.”
South Burnett Regional Council’s Healthy Communities Program was heavily involved throughout the organisation of the event. The South Burnett Community Ride was sponsored by the ‘Discover the Benefits of Healthy Communities’ Program, a Council initiative to promote health and well-being for adults who are not in full-time work, funded through the Australian Government’s Healthy Communities Initiative.
