Townsville cyclist in hospital
A TOWNSVILLE cyclist remains in Rockhampton Hospital after she was involved in a horror fall at the Rockhampton Cup on Wheels.
Michelle Whelan was competing in the Division 2 Ladies scratch race, the second last race of the night on Saturday’s program at Kenrick Tucker Velodrome, when she and two other riders came to grief.
Earlier that night, Whelan had finished third in the premier women’s event, the Capricornia Cup.
Rockhampton Cycling Club president Peter Buchanan said the accident happened in the dying stages of the 20-lap race.
“On the final sprint for the line in the final lap there were a couple of touches of handlebars and a couple of girls went down and one lady went over the top of those,” he said.
An ambulance was called and Whelan and Bundaberg’s Shakaya Templeton were transported to hospital.
Templeton was discharged that night, while the third rider – ADFCC’S Amanda Gibbs – received first aid on-site.
Buchanan said everyone involved in the event was sending well wishes to Whelan who is in a stable condition.
This year’s Rocky Cup attracted 95 entries for a total of 99 races over the two-night program.
Buchanan said spectators were treated to some exciting racing, with plenty of close finishes.
“We had riders from Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Calliope, Bundaberg, Brisbane, as well as New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania,” he said.
“The spoils were shared pretty much and it really made for a great weekend of racing.”
American rider Erin Young took the honours in the Rockhampton Cup, beating home University of Queensland’s John Hickson in second.