Tour Down Under’s Premier team ready to roll as Weatherill’s outfit rides to support cancer fight

THE chances of Premier Jay Weatherill being picked up by a professional cycling team are pretty slim, so instead he’s started his own team to ride the Bupa Challenge Tour next year.

Mr Weatherill will be joined by 12 other riders to form the “Premier’s Peloton”, which will tackle the community participation ride during the Tour Down Under on January 22.

Together they will be aiming to raise $100,000 for Cancer Council SA through its “Ride for a reason” campaign.

Mr Weatherill’s team includes retired AFL stars Warren Tredrea and Nathan van Berlo, media personality and Cancer Council ambassador Keith Conlon and News Corp Australia’s SA, WA, NT and Tasmania editorial director, Melvin Mansell.

This week they gathered for the first time to officially launch their team with a training ride and breakfast at Victoria Park.

Since 2009, the Ride for a reason program has raised more than $3m and Cancer Council SA chief executive Lincoln Size said the Premier’s Peloton would make a valuable contribution to the fight.

“We thank the Premier for captaining the team and all those who have joined the Premier’s Peloton for their fundraising efforts and for bringing awareness to an event that makes a huge difference to those affected by cancer,” Mr Size said.

“Because of the continued efforts of all fundraisers, advances in research, prevention and support have contributed to the survival rate for many common cancers increasing by more than 25 per cent in the past 20 years.”

The Bupa Challenge Tour offers recreational cyclists the choice of four distances ranging from 30km to 157.5km starting in Norwood and finishing in Campbelltown.

reece.homfray@news.com.au