FKG Tour oF Toowoomba: Chasing the Dream

The 2012 FKG Tour of Toowoomba kicks off later this morning on the Darling Downs, heralding four days of fierce competition that will see a record field of 23 teams and 138 riders line up in the next round National Road Series event.

Defending champion, Patrick Shaw, will be hoping for a third Tour of Toowoomba victory in a row, having won the first two editions in 2010 and 2011.

CSN caught up with Tour Director, John Osborne, during the week, and gained this informative interview:

CSN-Excitement must be building for this year's Tour. How have things been going in the lead-up to next week?

JO- Each year the team of volunteers working on the tour  aim to elevate the organisation and operation of the FKG Tour of Toowoomba. I am delighted by  the way in which  our Volunteers Co Ordinator, Glenn Trussell has pulled in all the various sections and  assigned the roles. His years of  Army service have really come to the fore.

CSN-I believe you were recently injured while riding your bike. Has this had a big impact on your preparations?

JO- Very definitely. I was really knocked about and  underwent surgery on two occasions on the  compound fractured right elbow then  finished up with a serious infection

CSN-Are you happy with the numbers this year, and the quality of the riders?

JO- Absolutely!!   This will be our biggest tour with 138 riders  23 x 6. There is no shortage of talent. The SA  S I have  for the first time entered a team. Once again our near neighbours, the Kiwis have entered a team. Patrick Shaw of Gennys Wealth is  a definite starter and keen to make it 3 in a  row.

CSN-The media have indicated you want this Tour to eventually reach the status of the Herald-Sun Tour. Is this "dream" fast turning into a reality?

JO- That’s the “dream “ but I will leave others to make the judgement on our progress.

CSN-What makes a tour grow in stature?

JO-Ensuring that the focus strongly remains on basing it on a true Tour format, Hill Top finish, sprints award, as well as the other ingredients that go to make  a good tours and produces a worthy  winner. This year we have added a Teams Time Trial, only a short stage so as to avoid the outcome having any great affect on the GC.

CSN- How much support have you received from various community agencies and sponsors?

JO- While our list of private sector support continues to grow every year, our retention rate sis at 98%.  FK Gardner remains as the Naming rights sponsor; McDonalds has been with us since day1 as the Sprint Jersey  sponsor; Triple Play as the sponsor of the Winning Team Award; The Chronicle , Best Young Rider;

While other major sponsors  TFHire, Music Talk, Overell Transport, Signs N Lines, Coates Hire, IJC Fabrications, Platinum Health Group , Cracker Print and Paper have been with us since 2010. Media supporters still include: ABC Southern Queensland; River 949; WIN television; and the Toowoomba Chronicle  and nationally SBS. The list of specialist electronic media continues to expand.

The list of new sponsors include; Arrow Energy {KOM Sponsor}; WIN News [ Most Aggressive Riders Award] New Hope Group Stages 3 and 4; Highfields Shopping Village [ Stage 2 Sponsors} Capilano Honey Shotz have really got behind the tour as the Sponsor of the Queens Park Criterium {Stage 5} Skytrans; StoneStreet Coaches; Graham Financial; Caltex Queensland:

A range of support sponsors  that have remained solidly behind the tour Brown’s Office Choice; Comtel; Mark Philipson’s Betta Electrical/ Furnishings; Red Comb Designs and Robertson Scannell have been joined this year by Murray’s Art and Framing as well as Wilson’s Towing Service.

The support from our Corporates  are increasing their level of assistance Events Queensland Regional Development Program have boosted their funding as has the Toowoomba Regional Council. The Toowoomba and Golden West Tourism Authority has swung their weight behind the tour as has Tourism Queensland .

We are extremely appreciative of the wonderful support and co operation we receive from; The QLD Government; Department of Transport and Main Roads; Queensland Police Service, Toowoomba Region and the Toowoomba branch of the SES

On the other side of the ledger the cost of actually staging the tour continues to increase at a rate far greater that the CPI. However as a result of the additional income from sponsors we have been able to increasd the prizemoney on offer again this year.

CSN- Are there many changes to the stages this year?

JO- All stages cover new territory this year. A Teams Time Trial has been added this year. There will be two stages on Saturday 16 June a Teams TT as well as a road stage. The morning stage has been eliminated  which will see the focus on the Capilano Honey Shotz 50 km Criterium around the inner city and very picturesque Queens Park.

The tour has been expanded from 3 to 4 days with 5 stages in all.

CSN- Is it a harder Tour on paper?

JO-Definitely. The Highfields Shopping Village [ Stage 2] will prove to be the toughest yet in  the three FKG Tour

CSN- What sort of rider will be favoured by the Tour in 2012?

JO- A fit and strong rider.

CSN- How will you be measuring the success of the Tour this year?

JO-As always , on the feedback from the Team Managers and riders as well as the attendance.

Image copyright Peter Ford (CSN)