By TANIA PHILLIPS
MURWILLIMBAH’S Jeff Collier proved he could match it with the best Australia had to offer taking out the Masters C Division of the fifth annual Tweed Battle On the Border around the Valley at the weekend.
More than 600 competitors from across the Australia and around the world took part in the multi-discipline, multi-division four-day event, pitting themselves against the Tweed’s sometimes hilly and always picturesque terrain.
Cyclists of all levels from the professionals down to the weekend warriors, and those just wanting a safe but fun ride through the Valley, took part in the event.
However Jeff, Tweed Shire Council’s Aquatic Programs Supervisor, proved that local knowledge goes a long way with a big win in the Division C competition.
Mind you, he’s no stranger to the winner’s circle, winning the World Triathlon title for the 50-54 age group in Auckland late last year.
He set the scene for the overall victory taking out the 92-kilometre road race around Bilambil Chillingham, Tyalgum and Murwillumbah on Friday, first in the criterium in Murwillumbah on Saturday and fifth in the time trial before recording a decisive win in Sunday’s final 78-kilometre road race.
“I broke away at about Murwillumbah,” he said.
“That’s about 40km in – I just went myself.
“You just have to back yourself and be confident in your own ability – the worst that can happen is that they can catch you. It was a great course – tight and challenging going over the Burringbar Range.”
Backing himself paid off, with the talented and experienced riding having completely finished a circuit of the Salt Town Centre Park and gone through to the warm down area before the other riders in his division even made it round the roundabout it to town.
Jeff, who is part of the Bike Force Murwillumbah Cycle Club team will now compete in the five round Queensland series against National Road Racing Series teams -heading to Warwick on June 5-6 with a group of other top Tweed-valley based riders.
