Brisbane to gold coast – Bicycle Queensland

Bicycle Queensland is pleased to announce it has entered into an exciting partnership with Mater Foundation to propel the iconic Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge into the future.

The flagship cycling event returns in 2024 on Sunday 13 October and will be known as the “Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle for Cancer ”. It will continue as a highly credible, respected and safe bicycle ride from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, utilising the Brisbane busway for a traffic-free rider experience.

In addition to benefitting cyclists, the new partnership will improve the health of communities across Queensland by supporting Mater’s world-class cancer research and patient care initiatives across an extensive network of hospitals.

Under the partnership, Mater Foundation will be the primary organiser of the event, backed by its considerable experience and existing resources delivering major community events and cycling activities, including International Women’s Day Fun Run and Mater Smiling for Smiddy.

Bicycle Queensland will remain an active contributor to the continued success of the event by delivering cycling safety and education initiatives, along with maintaining exclusive benefits for BQ’s 15,000+ members.

This partnership is committed to delivering on Bicycle Queensland’s vision of strengthening cycling participation to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities, while also supporting Mater’s mission to improve the lives of people fighting cancer.

Bicycle Queensland members can enter now: visit the Brisbane to Gold Coast website.

As the dust settles from a fantastic Downer Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge, we reflect on some of the incredible stories of the event and the opportunities bike riding brings to people’s lives.

Ollie and his Father Scott took on the 100km challenge this year and completed it like true champions. Ollie, 14, faces more challenges than most when getting on the bike, he is legally blind and was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma (cancer of the eye) at birth. He has spent his fair share of time in hospital fighting his battle, but that has never stopped him from getting back on the bike.

The B2GC event was a massive day for Ollie, completing his longest ride with the added challenge of another 4,300 plus riders in the mix. Scott and Ollie found their rhythm pretty quickly and were on their way to the Gold Coast at a very nice pace. Like normal, Ollie followed Dad’s wheel into rest stop 1 with barely a sweat on, a croissant, mandarin and the boys were back on the bike.

The duo found themselves helping a few other riders along the way by taking the wind in a little pace line that had formed behind them. A quick check-in from Dad received a cheeky “you can go faster if you want”. The pair rolled into the Coomera rest stop in good shape, a quick bite to eat and they were on the home stretch for Ollie’s biggest ride.

Strongly turning the wheels through the last few kilometres of the course, Ollie and Scott hit the finish line just past 9.30 am. Ollie’s Mum had planned to meet her boys at 11.30 am to see them cross the line in Southport. However, Ollie smashed all expectations and was simply too quick for Mum on this occasion.

Scott let us know how proud Ollie was of what he had just achieved, a very impressive milestone to add to his collection. A 100km ride is an incredible achievement for any rider, but to think young 14-year Ollie with Retinoblastoma breezed through this event goes to show no matter what life throws at you, anything is possible!

Thank you to Scott for sending in this wonderful story, we are thrilled to see the happiness bike riding brings to peoples lives and we can’t wait to have Ollie and Scott involved next year.