Cycling tragedies lead to more awareness

Last year, two young Australian cycling hopes sadly passed away while out training on local roads. On April 27 this year, while riding with his good friend Alex Tomlinson, Ben Mikic, a talented 15 year-old cyclist from Mittagong, New South Wales, was killed after he was involved in a collision with a car. Ben's tragic accident came just four months after Scott Peoples was killed while training on the Maroondah highway in the Victorian town of Merton. 19 year-old Peoples had just capped off a great season with two stage wins in the Tour of the Southlands in New Zealand and seemed destined to become one of the next generation of Australians taking on the professional circuit in Europe.

To raise awareness as well as protect riders while out training, the Ben Mikic foundation is selling fluoro green reflective slap bands as well as silicon, glow in the dark wrist bands, many of which have been spotted on riders in the Herald Sun Tour. The bands are available through the Foundation's website.

After Peoples accident, a foundation was also set up in his honour, which is organising an event to commemorate the talented youngster this December. Scotty's race will start and end at the Queens garden in Shepparton, Victoria and will be open to all Men’s A, B and C grades as well as Open women. More information on the event can be found on the foundation's website at www.scottpeoplesfoundation.com.au.