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Photo from Kapara Residential Care Home gym, with residents participating in a cycling challenge.

ACH Group Cycling Challenge at Residential Care Homes

The Tour Down Under is one of South Australia’s most iconic sporting events, bringing together cycling enthusiasts from around the world. This year, ACH Group residents embraced the excitement by participating in an in-home gym cycling challenge.

The event spanned three stages, each using different exercise bikes. Stage winners were honoured, and the total distance travelled by each home determined the overall team champion for the week. What made the challenge special was the SA Tourism team equipping residents with official t-shirts, polo tops, hats, and visors, adding an authentic touch.

From enthusiastic participants to dedicated allied health staff, the challenge highlighted the power of movement, connection, and community.

ACH Group CEO Linda Feldt shared that this challenge was a fantastic way for residents to stay active and connected to the community during one of South Australia’s South Australia’s most exciting and lively times of the year.

Let’s take a look back at the incredible journey, hear from those involved, and celebrate the inspiring achievements of residents.

The challenge begins…

The cycling challenge kicked off with great enthusiasm, as ACH Group Executive Manager Customer Care, Kate Dobie, joined FIVE AA’s breakfast show to share how residents are gearing up for this unique event. “This challenge is a fantastic way to keep residents active while fostering a sense of togetherness. It’s about more than just cycling – it’s about building connections and celebrating what’s possible at every stage of life,” Kate shared.

Our thanks also go to ABC Adelaide for shining a spotlight on the challenge.

The wheels are spinning and the excitement is building!

Residents at Colton Court Residential Care Home were clocking impressive distances on their exercise bikes, fuelled by cheers and a touch of friendly competition. Later that week, they took that energy outdoors! Kapara Residential Care Home residents watched the start of TDU Hahn Stage 4 from Glenelg.

At Highercombe Residential Care Home, Beth, Community Connector Lead, shared, “The energy in the gym is electric, buzzing with excitement. The allied health team is doing an amazing job, with great support from the social team. Residents are embracing the challenge, and we’re excited to see them getting involved.”

At Perry Park Residential Care Home, the competition was going strong, with Pauline, Rodney, and  Percy achieving impressive results.

Joining the festivities – Katey and Mary-Anne

Katey Elding, ACH Group’s Head of Social and an avid cyclist, reflected on how the Tour Down Under fosters a strong sense of community, both on the road and within residential homes.

“The beauty of events like the Tour Down Under is how they bring people together. Whether you’re a professional cyclist or someone cheering from the sidelines, there’s a shared sense of celebration. It’s been amazing to see that same spirit,” Katey said.

This year, ACH Group  Physiotherapist Mary-Anne Frost embraced the excitement of the Tour Down Under by joining some of the events.

Claiming the ACH Group Cycling Challenge title

The 2025 ACH Group Cycling Challenge has wrapped up, and what an incredible effort from residents and teams! Congratulations to Healthia, the overall winner, with a remarkable 866 minutes of cycling by the top three residents – an impressive 14.8 hours in total! 

Here’s how the top 3 total minutes stacked up:

  • Healthia – 866 minutes
  • Perry Park – 563 minutes
  • Highercombe – 551 minutes

A huge shoutout to all participants!

As Luke Mapunda, ACH Group Health Services Team Leader, shared: “The competition adds to the fun, but it doesn’t define success. What truly stood out was seeing residents push themselves, support each other, and embrace health and exercise in such a positive way.”

Congratulations to Phil, Irene and Owen

King of Recumbent Bike – Phil Mueller from Kapara

With an impressive 40.1 kilometres across five days, Phil Mueller from Kapara was crowned King of the Recumbent Bike in the ACH Group Cycling Challenge!

Phil’s dedication was outstanding, especially as the recumbent bike requires greater coordination and functional ability – often considered the most physically demanding of all three bikes in the challenge.

Queen of the Pedal Bike – Irene Kacar from Highercombe

With an outstanding 275 minutes of pedalling over five days – an impressive overage of 55 minutes per day – Irene’s dedication and competitive spirit were remarkable! Irene’s commitment is an inspiration to everyone, showing that determination and consistency can lead to amazing achievements!

The pedal bike was chosen by the Health Services Team as the most accessible option in the cycling challenge, aimed to encourage residents to participate even if they’re not comfortable to use a gym-based machine. With lightweight aluminium pedals, participants can cycle seated anywhere, actively engaging their leg muscles in each session.

King of NuStep Bike – Owen McDonald from Healthia

Owen clocked an amazing 23,500 steps over five days on the NuStep T4R HUR Australia bike, averaging an impressive 4,750 steps per day!

The NuStep provides a low-impact, total-body workout, engaging both upper and lower limbs. It served as the mid-level option in our event – more accessible than an exercise bike while still offering a challenge. Plus, with adjustable resistance levels, it caters to individual fitness needs.

Looking ahead

The ACH Group Cycling Challenge was a remarkable way to get active and celebrate connection alongside the Tour Down Under. With residents already looking forward to next year’s event, it’s clear that the wheels are set in motion for even greater participation in the future.

Thank you to all residents and their families, ACH Group allied health and social teams, and staff who made this challenge such a success. 

About ACH Group

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