The New Ireland Provincial Government with support from the Australian Government and Newcrest Mining Limited, will host the inaugural Tour de New Ireland, a cycling event on the Boluminski Highway on 9 March. The much-anticipated sporting event will begin and end at Karu Primary School in Central New Ireland and offers three possible circuits, 10km, 20km and 50km. Cyclists from all around Papua New Guinea, plus two former Olympians from Australia, will meet in Karu to participate, and local bike fans are searching high and low for helmets to be eligible to ride.
Registrations open at 7:30am for a 9am start. The first three to finish in each circuit will win trophies and all participants will be presented with a medal.
“The joint hosting of this cycling event on a new section of road on the Boluminski Highway is a tribute to how Papua New Guinea and Australia are working in partnership to improve infrastructure for better sporting and tourism opportunities and achieve sustainable improvements in the quality of life for all Papua New Guineans,” said Ben David Minister Counsellor, representing the Australian High Commission in PNG.
Two Australian Olympic cyclists, Mr Michael Milton and Ms Olivia Gollan, will be joining the event and setting the pace for the fastest cyclists from New Ireland and Papua New Guinea. Milton is a Paralympic skier, cyclist and para-triathlete with one leg who has won six gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Gollan contested the individual road race at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and turned pro in 2005 with German squad Equipe Nuernburger Versicherung.
“We are looking forward to seeing families and young people participating in the rides during the event and watching our athletes ride with Australian Olympians,” said Memafu Kapera, Executive Chairman of Tourism, New Ireland Province.
The theme of the event is “Riding together to end domestic violence”, supported by Newcrest’s Trupla Man Trupla Meri program. A group of Newcrest employees will join the ride and help spread the anti-violence message along the Highway.
“Trupla Man Trupla Meri helps our employees and communities to be happy, healthy and respectful at home as well as at work” said Isikeli Taureka, Newcrest Executive Manager PNG. “Safety is very important at Lihir; but we also want our people to be happy and safe at home. Trupla Man Trupla Meri encourages dialogue and trust to change behaviours away from violence and disrespect. When we find ourselves stressed or angry, it’s about choosing a different way to respond, so we don’t hurt our loved ones.
Newcrest previously ran an awareness-raising bike ride on the Boluminski Highway in 2017.
To register for this free event, email: [email protected]
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100
A portion of the newly sealed Boluminski Highway in New Ireland Province.
Olympic Cyclists Olivia Gollan (2nd from Left) and Mike Milton (3rd from left) with members of the Australian High Commission Transport Infrastructure Team.