Bike course moves up gear

By Rebecca Fraser
THOUSANDS of spectators flocked to Lysterfield Park last week to watch the Commonwealth Games mountain bike competition.
The recreational facility was placed under the international spotlight when some of the world’s best riders raced along the new $3 million mountain bike course to claim victory.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford attended the major race day on Thursday and said it was great to have such a world-class venue right on the city’s doorstop.
He encouraged residents to utilise the new facility that includes 10-kilometres of new and upgraded mountain bike and adjacent trails.
“The viewing platforms made spectators feel as if they were within arm’s length of the riders on Thursday,” Cr Bradford said. “There was an incredible sense of being really involved in the event.”
Cr Bradford said the only issue that marred the event was the fact that spectators endured a long and grueling walk from the car park to the track.
“It was not only the competitors who deserved a gold medal. Every spectator who walked from the car park found themselves navigating a difficult course to get there.
“The heat did not help either. I think it would be have been better to have shuttle buses up to Lysterfield.
“It was at least a three to four-kilometre walk and it was very hilly and uneven,” he said.
The Narre Warren SES was on hand during the four-day event and media liaison officer Kanny Lee said everything had run very smoothly.
“We were there in case any of the competitors, spectators or officials became injured and needed to be lifted out of the bush,” she said.
The SES also helped with communications and mapped and marked out the course so that if an injury occurred, people could easily pinpoint their whereabouts.