Steep Challenge For Cyclists

20150621 Ciclismo South Burnett — Dylan Newbery, Andrew MacFarlane and Ben Cook, from the Campos team, were looking relaxed considering they had just ridden more than 100km up the Bunya Mountains

June 23, 2015

The South Burnett proved a steep challenge – literally – for the teams of cyclists taking part in the weekend’s Giro d’South Burnett.

The Giro was Round 3 of the Brisbane Camperland Qld Road Team Series, and featured some of the leading riders from Queensland.

Stage 1, on Saturday, headed out to Boat Mountain near Murgon, climbing the South Burnett’s own “heartbreak hill”.

And if that wasn’t tough enough, the teams on Sunday faced the daunting task in Stage 2 of racing more than 100km to the Bunya Mountains, via Kingaroy, Tarong and Kumbia. The road from the Kumbia turn-off to the Bunyas is not only narrow, it is steep …

All the cyclists seemed thrilled by the challenges, and despite there being a few spills along the way, were still smiling at the end of both stages.

Cycling Queensland president Mike Victor said he was very grateful for the support of the South Burnett Regional Council, police, all the volunteers, motorbike riders, sponsors and the local business community who had made the weekend possible.

However, he told southburnett.com.au he was disappointed with the lack of entries in the Community Rides.

There were two Community Rides scheduled in Murgon on Saturday plus one in Kingaroy on Sunday.

The Murgon Community Rides – over 8km and 25km – only attracted 14 riders, five in the longer distance and nine in the shorter route. Numbers were also low in the Kingaroy ride which covered 5km around Kingaroy streets.

Mike said he believed some of the cyclists who would usually have taken part had gone to Brisbane for the Brissie To The Bay Ride.

However, not everyone dropped out. Claire Kapernick, who came home first in the 25km Murgon ride, backed up on Sunday in Brisbane for the charity ride.

There was also only a handful of entries in the 107km and 70km “Great Bunya Challenge” held on Sunday.

Results in these challenges were:

107km – 1. Dave Edwards, 2. Peter Scanlan and 3. Andrew Overton; and
70km – 1. Hamilton Andrews, 2. Jason Jones and 3. Taj Jones.

South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann, who presented the prizes after Sunday’s event, thanked Cycling Queensland for making the South Burnett a part of their competition and said he hoped they would return again.

This is the fifth year that Cycling Queensland has brought the Queensland Road Team Series to the South Burnett.