Stevo and I headed up to Brissie to join Lance Armstrong and Robbie McEwen to support the fundraising for the victims of the recent floods. A few of our Go for Gold riders also made the trek to Brissie to support our fellow QLD’ers and to meet Lance Armstrong. Maree was interviewed so keep your eye out on the TV!
Lance Armstrong & Robbie McEwen lead Brisbane ride to raise funds for victims of the floods.
Courier Mail | 24/01/2011
A sea of spandex rolled through Brisbane as thousands of cyclists joined sporting hero Lance Armstrong and took to the road for flood victims.
Premier Anna Bligh – dressed in figure-hugging pink Lycra – also got on her bike for the 25km fund-raising ride, while former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd waved the cyclists off.
Ms Bligh told the excited crowds she was proud to see so many people taking part in Queensland Ride Relief.
“For those people who had the stuffing knocked out of them with these floods, Lance Armstrong is an inspiration,” she said.
“He has recovered from cancer and won the Tour De France. What a great symbol he is for achieving and recovering against the odds.”
Armstrong spent time signing crowd banners and talking to flood victims before the event kicked off at the RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills about 10.30am.
“It was important for myself to do whatever I could,” he said.
Also taking part was Brisbane-born cyclist Robbie McEwen and Channel Seven’s Dancing with the Stars presenter Daniel MacPherson, who is a keen cyclist.
“When I heard this was going on I just wanted to get on board,” he said.
The event had a strong police presence with 75 officers and 19 police motorcyclists.
Armstrong’s enormous popularity drew more than 2,500 ecstatic fans to the 25-kilometre ride, raising more than $125,000 for victims of the state’s flood disaster.
US cycling hero Armstrong came to Brisbane straight from riding in the Tour Down Under in Adelaide on Sunday, his final international race.
But the keen Twitter user forgot to check how to spell the flood-hit city’s name before sharing his excitement earlier today.
“Brisbaine, (sic) here we come,” the American wrote on his Twitter account today, but he soon realised his mistake.
“Oops I spelled ‘Brisvegas’ wrong,” he later Tweeted.
“Not enough sleep last night.”
With Armstrong’s involvement expected to raise up to $500,000 for flood victims, it’s unlikely that his legions of devoted fans will care about the slip.
“We’ve had an outstanding response so far and thanks Robbie for getting me on board to help out Queensland in its time of need,” Armstrong said in a statement on Sunday.
McEwen said he felt he had to help out his fellow Queenslanders, especially with some of his own family hit hard.
“I needed to do my bit to help out. It was lucky we were in Adelaide at the Tour Down Under and the opportunity arose to come up to Brisbane to assist,” he said.
