Tour de Kingaroy
Daniel Bonello, from the GPM Next Byte team, celebrates winning the 2014 Tour de Kingaroy

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.

* * *

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

Tour de Kingaroy
The unexpectedly warm weather took its toll on the semi-professional riders

* * *

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.

* * *

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.

Tour de Kumbia
A motorcade of hot rods and classic cars led the cyclists away in Kumbia on Saturday morning

Tour de Kumbia
Pat and Des Hoyle, from Kingaroy, inspected a display of historic bicycles 

Tour de Kumbia
Matt Murray and Luke Stenner, from Brisbane, were looking forward to the Kumbia race

Tour de Kumbia
First Aid officer Melissa Tor, Race Director Mike Victor and judge Wendy Sanders 

Tour de Kumbia
Cr Ros Heit checks out a 1901 bicycle complete with wooden rims
Tour de Kumbia
They’re off … the start of the Tour de Kumbia
Tour de Kumbia
The Kumbia race wound its way through farmland in the Alice Creek and Ellesmere areas

* * *

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.

Tour de Kingaroy
The first community ride began at 8:00am on Sunday … these riders travelled a 6km course
Tour de Kingaroy
Paraplegic cyclist Dean Eckart, from Kingaroy, used a hand-powered cycle to compete in the 12km community ride, and finished the course ahead of several able-bodied riders
Tour de Kingaroy
The South Burnett Regional Council’s Healthy Communities Co-ordinator Kerry Oldfield helped organise the three community rides

* * *

Tour de Kingaroy

Tour de Kingaroy
The massed field of cyclists leaves the starting line for the 2014 Tour de Kingaroy
Tour de Kingaroy
For the first time, the Kingaroy road race included a stretch of dirt along Schellbachs Road
Tour de Kingaroy
Competitors in the Tour de Kingaroy take the turn from Crawford-Booie Road into Haydens Road 

Tour de Kingaroy
SBRC Sports Portfolio chairman Cr Barry Green, Jacqui Hull, from sponsors Bill Hull Car Centre, and Deputy Mayor Cr Keith Campbell

Tour de Kingaroy
BIEDO South Burnett Sports and Recreation Co-ordinator Nicole O’Brien with Cycling Queensland president Mike Victor
Tour de Kingaroy
Brisbane riders Tom Coates, Mark Darcy and Ric Baker, from the Mipela-Altitude team
Tour de Kingaroy
It’s all over … third, second and first come home in the Tour de Kingaroy, from left,  Reuben Donati, Nick Miller and Daniel Bonello 
Tour de Kingaroy
Kingaroy winners’ podium … from left, Reuben Donati (3rd), Daniel Bonello  (1st) and Nick Miller (2nd) with Cr Barry Green and Jacquie Hull, from sponsors Bill Hull Car Centre
Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell and Jacquie Hull present the overall winner of Round 3 of the Queensland Road Team Series, Nick Miller, with his prize cheque


 

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