Organisers of the Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane have today announced an expanded program for Sunday 10 April 2022, including an inner-City duathlon and free events for the whole family.

With a focus on increasing participation opportunities, the event will offer a Free Community Ride, Free Community Fun Run, as well as a 14km River Ride and Duathlon.

The new Duathlon will run in the classic ride/run format. The cycle will start from the Brisbane Showgrounds and cross iconic landmarks including the Story Bridge, Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Victoria Bridge, underground through the Queen Street Bus Station tunnel, onto the Inner Northern Busway before returning to the Brisbane Showgrounds. The run will follow paths through Victoria Park, crossing the flyover over the Inner-City Bypass before returning to the Showgrounds.

The Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane sets itself apart by being one of the only inner-City cycling events held on fully closed roads in the world, offering a range of other distances including a 110km Gran Fondo, 80km and 50km rides.

Race Director Mike Crawley said the 2022 Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane welcomes first timers, recreational athletes, families, as well as professional racers.

“Our focus in 2022 is to invite every Queenslander to join us for a celebration in our City,” said Crawley.

“The introduction of the Free Community Ride, Free Community Fun Run, Duathlon and 14km River Ride is part of our strategy to encourage healthy lifestyles and reduce barriers to physical activity for local families.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the expanded program would encourage more residents and visitors to get outdoors and explore.

“The Duathlon event is a wonderful addition to the Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane program,” Cr Schrinner said.

“It will help encourage people to make good on some of those New Year resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle while showcasing Brisbane’s beautiful landmarks.

“With so many things to see and do in Brisbane, this event will see participants soaking up the city’s beauty, from Victoria Park to the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and our landmark Story Bridge.”

Acting Tourism Minister Scott Stewart said that this is a wonderful addition to a much-loved event on the It’s Live in Queensland events calendar.

“An expanded program for the Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane will attract more families to the region and encourage more people to take part,” Mr Stewart.

“Events like this play a crucial role in raising the profile of Queensland and supporting local businesses and jobs.”

“Not only will people be able to capture some of the iconic landmarks at the event, they will be able to enjoy some of the fantastic tourism experiences in the city”.

Triathlon Australia National Operations Manager Tim Harradine says the Duathlon is a perfect event to add to the program.

“The opportunity to ride and run through the iconic parts of such a scenic city as Brisbane, is not to be missed. The distance is ideal for both seasoned athletes and newcomers, and we are so pleased to see this multi-sport option as part of the broader event program.”

The event is supported by the Brisbane Cycling Festival presented by King St, Australia’s biggest multi-disciplinary cycling event scheduled for 24 March – 14 April 2022.

The Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane will continue to work with official charity The Common Good, an initiative of the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, with the aim to raise $250,000 in funds for medical research.

For more information visit www.tourdebrisbane.org 

The 2022 Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane is proudly supported by Brisbane City Council, through Brisbane Economic Development Agency and the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland.

Q&A with Kerryn Roberts, Project Financial Manager at Australian Unity and Free Community Ride participant in the Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane.

Where do you live in Brisbane?

We live in the Brisbane suburb of Windsor but have only lived there for about two years, having moved up from Adelaide. Windsor is a great location as we can access the Kedron Brook Bikeway which is wonderful bike riding spot for young families.

What distance are you riding in the Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane?

Our family are riding in the Free Community Ride. My husband, Andy, myself and two children Jack (11) and Chloe (9) are participating.

What got you interested in participating in the community ride?

We used to ride a lot in Adelaide but we are still relatively new to the city of Brisbane so we thought it would be such a wonderful opportunity to introduce the family to more Brisbane sights. It is also a great way to enjoy the outdoors and stay active.

What cause are you most aligned to and why?

We are really excited about fundraising for medical research at The Common Good. The area of health research we have chosen to support is mental health, as I think it doesn’t always get the attention it needs. 

What is your favourite thing about bike riding as a family ?

Bike riding is such a great way to get out in the open air and to go on a bit of an adventure. There are so many fun destinations in Brisbane to pick from.

Do you have a tip for bike riding as a family ?

Bike riding can be challenging for small children as they can tire quickly or lose interest. My best tip is some amount of bribery is helpful! We have used a slushie bribe at the end, particularly on a hot day. It also helps if there is something fun to do at the final destination and there are not too many big hills! 

Do you have a fundraising tip?

I think getting the kids involved is a great way to make your fundraising a success. People really get behind the fundraising efforts of children. Also, start by asking those closest to you, your family and friends as they are most likely to be your biggest supporters.  

Do you have any advice for those thinking of doing the Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane?

Have a go – this is the first time we will be participating in a bike ride event. The Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane has a ride length to suit everybody or you can join in the Free Community Ride or Free Community Fun Run.

Just $44 powers one hour of life-changing medical research through The Common Good. Start fundraising your Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane ride to power your hour.

Q&A with Kate Phillips, heart and double lung transplant recipient and 110km Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane rider.

Which distance are you riding in this year’s Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane?

This year I am riding in the 110km distance. I usually ride as a team with my brother and some of my friends.  

Since having your transplant you have competed in not just cycling events but also triathlons. What got you interested in triathlons?

I’d always been keen on triathlons as my family and friends both competed in them but I had only been able to be a spectator as my body before my transplant just wasn’t built for it. After I had my transplant, I really wanted to be able to fully participate by competing. I think I have done around 15 triathlons so far but COVID has meant that there have been less competitions available, particularly as some were held interstate.

What is your favourite leg in triathlons?

I’d have to say swimming is still my favourite as it was the sport I could always do, even when I was unwell as it was the least strenuous on my body. But I do love cycling too – just being able to use these beautiful new lungs and being active is the best thing in the world.

Did you know that this year the Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane will include a duathlon?

That’s fantastic news and is a great way for people who are traditionally runners to give the cycle leg a go, or vice versa, for cyclists to take on a run leg. Adding a duathlon will hopefully open the event up to a new legion of fans who can take part and fundraise for vital medical research.

What do you love about the Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane?

It really is a great event – this will be my eighth time competing in the Tour de Brisbane, or as it was formerly known, The Cycle of Giving. It is an amazing local ride on fully closed roads through some of the best Brisbane locations. To have a race of this calibre is such an asset to the city of Brisbane. For me though, it also gives me an opportunity to raise funds for The Common Good for vital medical research, particularly in the area of organ transplant. The Common Good is a charity that I am so proud to support. I also love that the event raises awareness about organ and tissue donation. The event really encompasses so many things I am passionate about.

Last year your team raised over $10,000 and won the top fundraising team in the Tour de Brisbane. Do you have any fundraising tips for others?

I think just sharing how your training is going with your friends, family and workplace. People really like to hear about what you are up to and particularly like it if you are honest about the ups and downs. Let people know why you are fundraising too, why it is important to you. Our team fundraising also benefitted from the generosity of Merlo Coffee’s dollar matching initiative where, for a set period of time, they matched every donation made, dollar for dollar. Our supporters really liked knowing that when they donated during this time, that their donations would be doubled. 

Do you have a training tip?

Over Christmas and New Year we tend to have a bit of a break which is great but give yourself time to build up to the distance you want to compete in by starting training early enough. Also, train for the conditions that will be part of the ride you have chosen. For example, for some distances there are a few hill climbs so make sure you incorporate these into your training.

Just $44 powers one hour of life-changing medical research through The Common Good. Start fundraising your Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane ride to power your hour.

Which distance are you doing? 

Originally the 110km, but after a netball injury resulting in a ruptured ACL and torn meniscus, I pleaded with my physio to help me get to a point where I can do the 30km so I can still participate.

Who do you train with or do you prefer to ride solo? 

Training is usually done with my sisters or my girlfriend, Bec – it makes it easier to get up early when we know someone else is relying on us! I’ve got a wind trainer at home so was using Lord of the Rings as motivation to spend some solid time in the saddle.

What are you most excited for during the ride and the Festival weekend?

I’m honestly just most excited to have our family and friends together enjoying a day out for a good cause. The fact that we get to have dad with us on the sidelines makes it that much better. He’s been quite in awe at how all of our family and friends rallied while he was unwell and this is sort of the pinnacle of that support.

Why do you love to ride? 

I love to ride because it gets me outside, active, and social. We initially started riding because a group of us got together to do solo and team triathlons at Noosa and then it just kind of stuck as a bit of an ongoing team building and fitness family. A lot of people see cycling as a solo sport but it really is up to you what you make of it. Solo can be very therapeutic sometimes.

For someone who may not have done an event like this before, what’s your top tip pre-event?

Just enjoy it. I’ve only done a couple of triathlons and the energy of the event and people being interested in fitness and sport is really cool. It’s not just the actual day of the Tour de Brisbane, it’s everything that happens around it. Top tip pre-event thought is CARB. LOAD. UP. And remember to taper. You can’t be going in all guns blazing after a week of hard training – enjoy your taper week and let your body reenergise for the ride.

Why are you fundraising, and how is it going?

Our team is fundraising in support of our dad who needed an urgent heart transplant at the start of this year. We’ve raised over $7,500 from our ridiculously supportive family and friends – and even strangers! The generosity of people is so unexpected and astounding. We’ve raised over 126 hours of medical research and honestly, we can’t really believe it. To think of how many families OUR family and friends will help with this research, it’s pretty crazy.

To donate to The Common Good, click here. 

Q&A with Team CVMT (Cardio-Vascular Molecular & Therapeutics) at The Common Good

Which distance are you doing? 

The 5 of us in the lab are covering all of the distances from 30km to 100km.

Who do you train with or do you prefer to ride solo? 

We are a mixed bunch with some of us training with groups/friends to other enjoying the serenity of  solo rides.

What are you most excited for during the ride and the Festival weekend? 

The atmosphere that the festival brings to the city.

Being able to ride on the roads and through tunnels not normally available to riders.

Coming together as a team outside of the lab to do something we all enjoy.

Why do you love to ride?  

The ability to get outside and enjoy the beautiful Queensland weather.

It a great way to explore the city and surrounds.

A great way to keep fit.

For someone who may not have done an event like this before, what’s your top tip pre-event? 

Simply get on your bike and enjoy riding.

Why are you fundraising, and how is it going?

Our invitro human heart laboratory is at the coal face of identifying mechanism of heart failure and has the  opportunity and capabilities to development new treatments to keep failing hearts beating. Funding is critical for all researchers in all fields to continue their work  so we all want to support fund raising efforts where ever we can. So far the team has raised over $2,000!

To donate to The Common Good, click here. 

Q&A with Kate Phillips, heart and double lung transplant recipient and 110km Tour de Brisbane rider as part of team Porky’s Pedallers.

Which distance are you doing? Our team ‘Porky’s Pedallers’ is doing the 110km.

Who do you train with or do you prefer to ride solo? 

I personally train mostly indoors (mainly because I do not always feel safe on the roads and to fit in training around work, I find this works best). But we have also done some weekend training rides as a team.  

What are you most excited for during the ride and the Festival weekend? 

We are excited to finally see the event take place and to see The Common Good benefit from the fundraising efforts that everyone has carried out over the past year and a half. While it was disappointing  having the event postponed twice due to COVID, it has also allowed us to continue to build on our initial goal.

Why do you love to ride? 

Riding is such a wonderful way to keep fit, and is a great way to explore local areas on two wheels.

For someone who may not have done an event like this before, what’s your top tip pre-event?

I am always a ball of anxiety before any event, so probably not the best person to ask. But preparation is key. Make sure you have all your gear ready the night before. Don’t try anything new on the day (whether it be nutrition, new shoes or even a new kit). And just try your best to enjoy the day ahead. It can be really overwhelming at the start line, but just stick with your team and ride your own race.  

Why are you fundraising, and how is it going?

‘Porky’s Pedallers‘ are fundraising for a cause that is close to our hearts. Our team member Kate was extremely fortunate to have received a Heart and Double Lung Transplant after years of declining health. This transplant not only saved her life, but absolutely transformed it, and has allowed her to achieve more than she ever thought possible.

Unfortunately, transplants aren’t forever, and while they are a miracle of modern medicine, recipients face a number of complications post transplant. The researchers at The Prince Charles Hospital are at the forefront of this and are currently working on new and innovative ways to identify and treat these issues. 

So that is why we are riding! With all funds raised through our Tour de Brisbane ride going directly to supporting this work, it will give more people like Kate the hope they need. 

Right now Porky’s Pedallers have raised over $8,500 and are striving to reach $10,000 by July 11. We are blown away by the support we have received, but most of all, are so excited to be able to give back to The Common Good and The Prince Charles Hospital.

To donate to The Common Good, click here. 

With over 6,500 riders registered, the Brisbane cycling community is coming out in droves to ride their bikes on fully closed roads in the Tour de Brisbane partnered with Splatt Lawyers on Sunday 11 July. 

Joining the start line are the Brisbane Chicks Who Ride Bikes, an all-female group of bike riders who hold group rides across the City, targeted at beginners or those nervous about road cycling. 

“Our chicks have been training hard for the 30km and 75km rides at the Tour de Brisbane”, Brisbane Chicks Who Ride Bikes Organiser Cathy Peel said. 

“We have over 3,700 local Brisbane women in our Facebook group aged between 25 and 75, many who ride together or with us through organised rides regularly. Many are looking for a healthy activity that can be done in a supportive, no-pressure, female only group.”

“Given we work mainly with beginners, our rides focus on teaching skills for cycling on busy roads, building rider confidence, understanding basic riding etiquette and showing them Brisbane cycling infrastructure they may not be aware of”. 

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane City Council was embarking on its biggest ever investment in active transport by delivering new green bridges that will create more cycling opportunities and better connect the city to the suburbs.

“Brisbane’s subtropical outdoor lifestyle and year-round clear blue skies provides the perfect backdrop for cyclists and we’re making our bike network even better by starting work on two new green bridges this year at Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek,” Cr Schrinner said.

“So whether you’re experiencing an exhilarating tour of some of our must-see destinations as part of the Tour de Brisbane, or going for a casual ride, Brisbane will be even better by bike.”

“It is fantastic to see so many local riders and groups like Chicks Who Ride Bikes using our city bikeways to prepare for their Tour de Brisbane ride”, says Event Manager Kevin Pready. 

“The Tour de Brisbane is a great once a year extension of this environment to the road, past some of our city’s iconic landmarks”. 

Starting and finishing at the Brisbane Showgrounds, the course covers multiple distances travelling through the city on fully closed and secured roads.

Notable points along the course include the Story Bridge, South East Busway, the Legacy Way Tunnel, and Mount Coot-Tha.

The event offers courses accessible for all abilities so riders can experience the thrill of an international calibre course in a safe environment.

“The Tour de Brisbane provides a stress-free environment for riders to practise these skills on fully closed roads, and for many women this will be the longest road ride they have completed” says Peel. 

This year the event will again run in support of The Common Good, an initiative of The Prince Charles  Hospital   Foundation.

Brisbane Cycling Festival and the Tour de Brisbane partnered with Splatt Lawyers are supported by the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency. 

The Tour de Brisbane partnered with Splatt Lawyers rides into Brisbane City on Sunday 11 July, with one local Brisbane man taking the ride to new heights by completing the 110km bike ride on a CityCycle.

Kent Ohori, founder of the ‘Rebound Club’ is riding the Tour de Brisbane to promote the use of physical exercise to improve mental and physical health. In April 2021 when the original Tour de Brisbane was postponed Ohori completed his own ‘Everesting Challenge’, riding a CityCycle 46 continuous laps of the backside climb of Mount Coot-Tha over 23 hours to raise awareness and funds for Beyond Blue. During the challenge Ohori climbed 9000m over 207km. 

“The idea came about following my personal battle with poor mental health after the death of multiple family members in a short period of time”, says Ohori. 

“I wanted to do something crazy like this to spread the word about my story and show people no matter how low life can get, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. I used exercise to find the light.”

With less than three weeks to go until the 110km Tour de Brisbane ride rolls out, Ohori hopes to connect with local riders to encourage more people to get on the bike and talk about mental health. 

“Cycling gives me the opportunity to relieve any built up stress and anxiety from the day to day chaos that is life. Cycling has given me the opportunity to meet new friends and to be a part of a community full of like-minded people who love to exercise to live a healthy balanced life”, said Ohori. 

Event organisers recognise the benefits of cycling on both physical and mental health, noting that Ohori’s ride will be no small feat. 

“To ride this course on a 25kg CityCycle, around five times the average weight of most road bikes, takes strength and determination and is sure to create conversation among the riders” said Event Manager Kevin Pready.

“We look forward to watching Kent take on the Tour de Brisbane on Sunday 11 July”, said Pready. 

Above all, Ohori aims to continue to promote the benefits of physical activity on mental health throughout the cycling community.

“I hope that I can inspire fellow competitors to challenge themselves in the future and to also give back to the community in their own unique way” Ohori said.  

Q&A with Dr Andrew Haymet, Vascular Surgical Registrar & PhD Candidate at University of Queensland/Critical Care Research Group, with support from The Common Good

“The thing about cycling is it’s unique because it’s one of those things you can do as fast or as slow as you like – short of falling off, you can use it to unwind, you can cruise along all the way up to absolutely hammering yourself and everything in between. I can’t really think of any other sport or activity that’s like that, which I think is what makes it so special.”

How is your training going for the TDB?

My training is variable! Working in a surgical job it’s a bit unpredictable at times but I’ve found the indoor trainer is a good friend of mine. You can get on and be done anywhere from 30-90 minutes and it still keeps you in pretty good shape. I also have a few mates here at work who are pretty keen cyclists as well, so some days we meet at 4:45am to do a loop before work. Having another person to keep you accountable can be really handy.

I also have a Tacx Neo Bluetooth trainer, and I use Zwift to give me lots of courses to choose from. The smart trainer knows how to hurt you, and there’s no escape, but I’ve found if you live a busy life it’s a good way to fit your training in and still do things like Tour de Brisbane.

What part of the 110km course are you most worried about? 

That’s a good question. Coo-tha on its own is enough of a challenge; Coo-tha at the end of a long bike ride like this is that much harder! The mornings when I’ve found a reason not to ride my bike will catch up with me at that point on the ride. I think that the biggest challenge will to be pace myself, once I get to 70 or 80km and have to do Coo-tha that’s when I’ll have to really dig deep.

What part of the 110km course are you really looking forward to?

The start is always awesome because you can feel everyone’s anticipation and excitement, you know what’s ahead of you, you’ve got all the adrenaline flowing. And then equally, at the finish line there’s something about getting off the bike and having some fun with your mates at the end, and maybe having a drink knowing you’ve done a good honest hard set of work.

Where are your favourite places to ride? 

Around Brisbane, Coo-tha is always just a sneaky little bit of punishment for days when you’re feeling a bit stronger, it’s just a good honest yardstick for Brisbane cyclists. Otherwise I’ve found the river loop is simple, but a great way to start the day. There’s something about crossing the bridge and seeing the river first thing in the morning, super placid, with the sun coming up – always puts me in a good mood. It’s the alarm going off that’s the hardest part, but once you’re out there you feel a million bucks!

My favourite Zwift course is a British circuit around Buckingham Palace and the streets of London. Having been over there it reminds me of one of the epic triathlon finishes between the Brownlee brothers – I’m nowhere near as quick as them though!

How is fundraising going? 

Pretty good! I’ve had a few mates get around it once I’ve told them what we are doing, and they’ve backed not only the fact that we’re riding for a great cause but also from the research side as well. Some of them are researchers too, so they have that perspective as well. I’m still campaigning, we’ve got a month to go so it’s full gas with drumming up support!

Why are you fundraising for this particular cause?

I think that some causes are less visible than others, and that is also reflected when it comes to medical research. Events like this re-focus attention to people living with chronic, life-altering illnesses, the impacts of which may not be easily understood, and the difference that the research community can make. This event is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on that. An event like TDB is unique in that a much larger range of people of all different ages and walks of life can get involved.

About Andrew’s Research

My work looks at blood vessels, and more specifically, how the lining of blood vessels becomes damaged across a range of conditions. In particular, I am studying how that lining changes during states that are not natural, such as various forms of cardiovascular surgery and artificial forms of heart and lung support – and what this means for treatment we offer, and how we can improve them.

To donate to The Common Good, click here.