By TANIA PHILLIPS
THE Tweed Battle on the Border cycle carnival has the potential to become a major festival and event for the Tweed, according to organiser Mike Crawley from QSM Sports.
Mr Crawley was speaking after the four-day, multi-race, multidivisional competition wrapped up at Salt on Sunday afternoon. The event, which has now been run five times, was held on roads around the Tweed from Point Danger to Mt Warning with Salt Village and Murwillumbah acting as focal points during the competition.
“I think it was pretty good,” he said.
“But I think we now have the basis of a very major festival and event.
“This year I think it came of age.”
For the first time this year the top men’s National Road Series competitors took part in the racing – with the women being added to the event.
“We had 18-19 per cent more competitors this year and the course was rated highly with the competitors,” he said that many had commented on how picturesque the area was.
Mr Crawley said they had really worked hard on their safety this year as well as provide challenging courses. He said the event had received great support from the NSW Police to help keep competitors safe on the roads.
Bill Tatchell, head of the Tweed’s peak tourism body Destination Tweed, was also full of praise for this year’s event.
“I think it went very well,” he said.
“It just gets better and better. The quality and level of the riders that come to the event is quite and endorsement for how well it is organised and the appeal of the region.
He said each one of the riders brings in tourism dollars from the elite through to the social riders who took part in Sunday’s Grand Fondo and he said the highlighted the beauty of the area.
