Monash international student's success in Around the Bay in a Day

Wednesday 21 October

Miles Rodriquez - Media Intern

The annual Around the Bay in a Day Melbourne cycling event was held last Sunday, with over 450 TeamMONASH™ participants in a field of over 15,000. A number of wonderful stories come out of the Monash camp on the day, as the legacy of the University grew once more.

Guatemalan student Annie Godoy has been training with Monash’s Saturday morning training group along beach road after seeing TeamMONASH™ advertised on the internet.

Miss Godoy completed the 100km event on Sunday and absolutely loved it. The ride was very different to cycling in her home country, which she says involves driving outside of the city and then paying someone to drive behind you as a safety precaution as you ride.

Another international Monash student named Bob Zapella was exhilarated by he first ever cycling event. “It was great fun coming down the West Gate!” he said. “I think I’ll have to come back to Melbourne next year just to do it again.”

Jane, a Monash alumnus, was touched by seeing TeamMONASH™ cyclists riding in the event. “I was the first and only member of my family to go to university. It made me so proud of my old university to see the Monash team entered,” she said. “You are doing a fantastic thing that may well change a life, just as mine was changed through education.”

Steve Abbott, Evan Henley, Dennis Au, Bob Zappala, Jesper Sidhu and Annika Spiridis relax after their ride

Marcia Larose and the TeamMONASH™ volunteers with the prize for the largest represented University

A participant enjoys finishing the ride