June 23, 2014
The highways and byways of Kingaroy and Kumbia tested some of Australia’s best cyclists at the weekend, and local pushbike riders didn’t miss out on the fun, either.
The 109km Tour de Kumbia, raced on Saturday, and the 117km Tour de Kingaroy, on Saturday, attracted more than 100 semi-professional riders eager to earn competition points in Round 3 of the Queensland Road Team Series.
Overall winner for the weekend was New Zealand rider Nick Miller, from Team Scody Downunder, who came second in both the Kumbia and Kingaroy rides.
In Kumbia, the racers were led away from the starting line in the main street by a parade of hot rods and classic cars.
Slightly more than two and a half hours later, and after three laps of the course, Kristian Juel, from Team Budget Forklifts, greeted the judge in first spot. Kristian isn’t new to the winner’s podium in the South Burnett, coming third in the Maidenwell round of the race in 2012.
Cycling Queensland president Mike Victor said roadworks along part of the Kumbia course had not caused any issues for the racers.
However, he said an overnight shower of rain had competitors worried ahead of Sunday’s Tour de Kingaroy, which for the first time this year included a 3.5km dirt section along Schellbachs Road.
In the end the rain merely settled the dust, but the Kingaroy race was not without its spills, with one rider being taken to hospital with a suspected fracture after a collision with another bike.
The 29.3km Kingaroy course featured a number of challenging hills, which tested the riders on the unusually warm winter’s day.
First home after about three hours was NSW rider Daniel Bonello, from GPM Next Byte, who was 3rd in last year’s Tour de Kumbia.
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Results
Tour de Kumbia
1. Kristian Juel – Team Budget Forklifts 2:37:08
2. Nick Miller – Team Scody Downunder +00:01
3. Ryan Cavanagh – Brisbane Camperland +00:04
Tour de Kingaroy
1. Daniel Bonello – GPM Next Byte
2. Nick Miller – Team Scody Downunder
3. Reuben Donati – Erdinger Alkoholfrei – fiets Apparel
Overall for Round 3 of the Queensland Road Team Series:
1. Nick Miller – Team Scody Downunder
2. Daniel Bonello – GPM Next Byte
3. Ryan Cavanagh – Brisbane Camperland
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The second annual “Ride The South Burnett” charity ride was also run on Sunday ahead of the Tour de Kingaroy.
Local riders could either test themselves on one lap of the full 29.3km course, or on smaller 6km or 12km rides.
A total of 65 riders took part, including 23 brave entrants who tried out the professional course.
The morning had some unexpected excitement when one of the cyclists on the 6km ride, South Burnett councillor Ros Heit, spotted a young boy who had been the subject of a police search (see separate report)
All riders paid a fee to take part in the rides, with all funds going towards the Mayor’s Community Trust.
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Tour de Kumbia
The Kumbia community organised a fun morning to coincide with the start of the Tour de Kumbia.
There was a jumping castle and slide for the children set up at the back of the Kumbia Hotel as well as a decorated pushbike competition and displays of historic pushbikes and cars.
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Community Rides
Sunday morning’s community rides attracted a good roll-up of local cycling enthusiats.
Twelve riders took part in the 6km ride, 30 in the 12km and 23 in the 29km ride.
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Tour de Kingaroy
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