Riding high down under
by Vincent Ciccarello
UniSA staff are being mobilised for next January’s Tour Down Under
but their involvement doesn’t necessarily mean donning lycra knicks.
Marketing efforts around the event have already moved up a cog and the call is out for volunteers to join the cavalcade and support cars for the event.
The University’s presence at Australia’s premier international cycling event will, of course, focus on Team UniSA-Australia, which includes some of the country’s most accomplished and promising riders.
Leading the peloton of Team UniSA-Australia fans will be Patrick Jonker, winner of the 2004 event and a top 12 placegetter in the Tour de France, who has agreed to be Team UniSA’s Supporters Club Captain once again in 2007.
"The team continued to do well in 2006 with teamwork particularly evident
when Russell van Hout and Paul Crake crossed the line together, first and
second, in the gruelling Willunga stage in searing heat. Australian cyclists
continue to have fantastic success
internationally and we look forward to a strong team again in January," Jonker
says.
Team UniSA-Australia took out the overall team’s classification jersey in 2006 amid hot international competition, and we can expect another sizzling performance from our all-Australian team in 2007. Details of this year’s team, which should be announced in December, will be found at the popular supporters’ club website, www.unisa.edu.au/tdu
Jeff Kasparian, the Institute of Telecommunications Research’s business manager and indefatigable cycling enthusiast, is encouraging staff to get involved in either the new 20.5km recreational Fun Tour or either of the more demanding Challenge Tour events.
"It is great that there is a dedicated Fun Tour on the last day of the event that takes participants into the city from West Beach and around the city circuit," Kasparian says.
"I’m keen for UniSA units and schools to encourage a group of their staff to get together and ride in at least one of the three events available. Let’s try to improve on the almost 50 staff who took part last year!"
For those who prefer the turn of intellectual wheels, the successful Thinking on Two Wheels International Cycling Conference will be held for a third year, beginning two days before the Tour. The 2007 program at this rapidly growing event will feature an impressive line-up of Australian and international presenters looking at cycling from all perspectives – health, community and business development and sustainability.
Conference organiser, Dr Stuart Clement of UniSA’s Transport Research Centre, says Thinking on Two Wheels – which is aimed at academics, cyclists, athletes, teachers, students and professionals working in sport, recreation, tourism or transport – goes from strength to strength.
"We really set out to promote cycling as a healthy, fun activity that can directly encourage sustainable transport systems and sustainable lifestyle choices," Dr Clement says.
"This year’s papers cover a broad spectrum of cycling-related topics, ranging from cycle tourism and community cycling to the benefits to public health and the environment, which flow from cycling."
UniSA’s John Petkov and University of Adelaide’s Dr Jennifer Bonham will present a paper on the relationship between the levels of cycling and cyclist safety. Evidently, international studies and local research indicate that as levels of cycling increase, the rate of cyclist crashes decreases – another good reason to get family and friends out for a Sunday ride.