Wednesday 9 June 2010

$10,000 Up for grabs in Tableland Tour

The region's top cyclists will be competing for a slice of $10,000 in prize money this weekend at the annual Tour de Tableland.

The tour is raced in the beautiful Yungaburra region and has some of the strongest local fields in recent years, with the first stage kicking off at midday Saturday.

With just three days to go, interest in this premier sporting event 'Queensland’s top tour', as it's known, will welcome riders from all over the state to do battle on the Atherton Tablelands over the Queens Birthday long weekend.

The tour has a long history of producing some of Australia’s finest athletes.

Some of the past winners are...
  • Adam Hansen, present Tour De France rider and Australian Time Trial Champion
  • Ashley Hutchinson, 2004 World Team Pursuit Champion
  • Wes Bielski, 1996 World Masters champion and the only rider to ever win the Tour De Tableland twice.

David Edwards, the national representative at this year's World Championships, and newly signed professional Josh Prete, will be two of the local stars taking part in the Tour de Tableland.

The race will be officially launched in Smith Park, Yungaburra by Senator Jan McLucas, along with Cairns and Tableland Sport and Recreation Councillors, Margaret Cochrane and Len Curtis.

This is the 14th tour and will see a revamp to the four stages over three days, with changes to courses, along with a tougher profile for some grades. Racing will be graded events for combined U19, Elite and Masters age groups, with four grades catered for. There will also be events for U17 and U15 competitors. Entry is open to both male and female riders in all the mentioned divisions.

The U17 and senior events will be over three road stages and a time trial. The U15 event will be over three road stages and a town centre criterium.

"We're thrilled with the prospect of the two young stars going head to head on their home turf," said Cairns Cycling Club President Jeff Snoad. "There is an exciting new local dimension to the tour this year, this is a great opportunity for Far North Queenslanders to see their emerging talent while they can."

Club development officer Richie Bates is also optimistic of the locals'.

"Prete and Edwards will be formidable competitors, but they may not have it all their own way, seasoned riders such as the Tonnello brothers and and Moose Rankine are sure to put up a fight."

1 comment:

Pteropus said...

There may not be $10 000 in prizemoney, but while you are in a sporting mood perhaps you could promote another even longer bike ride starting in a few weeks from Cairns to Karumba, the proceeds from which will go to supporting children living in isolated parts of the Cape
http://www.ridefnq.com/frameset/frameset2.html