The Tour de Cure is an annual event that brings together cycling enthusiasts from all over Australia to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Matt Howard, one of Kingston Building’s directors, is an avid supporter and participant.

This year’s tour started on Friday, March 17th, in Coffs Harbour, and has been riding through a heatwave, with temperatures soaring up to 45 degrees.

Despite the challenging conditions, Matt and his fellow riders have been pushing themselves to the limit, covering long distances each day and facing some tough climbs along the way. Here’s an update after the first four days of riding.

Day 1

On the first day of the tour, they tackled a big climb over the banana farms outside Coffs Harbour, heading towards Nana Glen for a school visit. There, they gave a motivational talk to the kids about staying fit, healthy and happy, while also raising awareness about cancer prevention. After a long day in the saddle, the riders stopped for lunch in Grafton, where the temperature reached 45 degrees. The heat was so intense that salt stains could be seen on their brand-new kits. Despite the challenging conditions, the riders were determined to continue, and they battled a strong headwind all the way to Yamba, where they finally stopped for the night.

Day 2

On the second day, the riders enjoyed slightly cooler temperatures, but the route was still challenging, covering over 108 km. Matt rode in the front six of the peloton, traveling along the smooth motorway for part of the day, allowing him to put his foot down and knock out the kilometres. After a shorter day, the riders arrived in Ballina for an early finish and a swim in the pool, wearing their very own Tour de Cure branded budgie smugglers.

Day 3

This day was a highlight of the tour so far, with a lovely morning roll to The Farm at Byron Bay for coffee and morning tea. The day’s ride was an easy 98km, featuring some hills out to Mullumbimby and a beautiful coastal ride up to Kingscliff.

Day 4

On day four, the riders faced their toughest challenge yet, a 6 km-long hill that was brutal from the start and only got harder. After lunch, they faced more rolling hills, climbing over 1700 m in 116 km. Despite the pain, the team remained determined to continue, spurred on by the knowledge that Tour de Cure has recently announced 100 significant breakthroughs in cancer research, thanks to funding provided by the tour grants.

Support The Tour

The Tour de Cure is an inspiring event that brings together people from all walks of life to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. It’s a challenging journey that demands a lot of physical and mental strength, but it’s also a journey that’s filled with camaraderie, laughter, and the satisfaction of knowing that every kilometre ridden is making a difference in the fight against cancer.

The team at Kingston Building are cheering Matt on from Cardiff and are excited to follow the rest of his journey. At the end of Day 4, the Tour de Cure riders have completed 475 km with just over 546 km still to go.

To help show support for the riders’ dedication, you can donate here:

Donate Here