Cycling event insurance: Why Brisbane Roubaix chose Flip Group Active

 “You feel an obligation to look after your riders and give them protection in case something happens. I’d say it’s a must-have. It’s just the right thing to do. You need to look after them, even though they’re responsible for their own risk and actions.”
Cam Taylor, Event Organiser, Brisbane Roubaix 

Inspired by a cycling classic, built for Brisbane

The Paris-Roubaix is one of cycling’s oldest and most famous races, held every April in northern France. Known as the “Hell of the North,” it’s legendary for its brutal cobblestone farm roads, unpredictable weather and the sheer challenge it presents to riders. “It’s like the State of Origin for cycling,” Cam explains. “There’s so much history and so many stories associated with it.”

Brisbane Roubaix brings that spirit to Australia. The event covers 100km around Brisbane, mixing sealed roads with short, rough gravel sections. “We don’t have many cobbles here, so we throw in some gravel, and we finish at a Belgian brewery to keep with the vibe,” Cam says. “It adds local flavour to a classic, and it’s loads of fun.”

Growing participation by focusing on the participant experience

The Brisbane Roubaix is a passion project for Cam, who runs a consulting practice specialising in customer experience and digital innovation. 

For him, the event is about more than just the ride. “It’s about creating something valuable for people,” he says. “This year, I put more energy into developing the experience. Last year, we just finished in a park, but now we finish at a venue. I also put a lot more effort into the marketing and promotion. And when I thought about what extra value we could add, I decided to make Flip’s accidental injury insurance included as part of the entry fee. All of these things had a big impact, and we doubled the number of riders compared with last year.”

Cam’s search for the best cycling event insurance

Cam knew cycling event insurance was a great way to improve the event experience because he had participated in an event that included it. “I did the Hunt 1000 at the end of last year,” he says. “I downloaded the Flip app, plugged in the code and it just worked.” 

That experience stuck with him.

“I’ve worked with insurance companies in my corporate life and a lot of them have a pretty poor user experience and outdated solutions. Flip was very transparent and had a clear, modern, user-friendly experience. That appealed to me.”
Cam Taylor, Event Organiser, Brisbane Roubaix

When it came time to choose bicycle event insurance for Brisbane Roubaix, Flip was on his shortlist. “I looked at a few options, but Flip just fitted the bill. I knew how everything worked and I knew it did a good job, so they were the ones I reached out to.”

Removing friction for riders

Cam knows that insurance can sometimes be a barrier to participation, especially when organisers require people to have specific memberships or policies. “As an event organiser, if you’re mandating that people have Cycling Australia or some sort of specific insurance, that can be an extra friction point. If you can just provide insurance for them as part of the entry price, then it sort of takes that away and means that people can just sign up with confidence.”

By including Flip’s cycling accidental injury insurance in the ticket price, Cam made it easy for everyone. “It was $6 a rider, which was great value. I tried to keep the ticket price affordable compared to other big events, even with the insurance included. Depending on their personality type, having insurance included might address some worries or concerns they have. They have peace of mind that they’ve got it and then don’t really think about it until they need it.”

Peace of mind for event organisers

The 2025 Brisbane Roubaix was not without its challenges. “We’d had a lot of rain in Brisbane so I had to change the route a few times. On event day, there was a lot of mud around. A few people did go for a slide, but they weren’t badly hurt and nobody needed to make a claim.”

For Cam, the real value was knowing he’d done what he could to protect his riders. “Having insurance built-in becomes a feature of the event. If that’s important to someone, it can remove concerns that might prevent them from making a purchase. And as the event organiser, it gives peace of mind that, if someone does have an accident and hurts themselves, they’ve got cover.”

Why Flip Group Active works for cycling event organisers

What’s next for Brisbane Roubaix?

“We’ll be back again in April 2026, and I’m looking at a few other events too. At the moment, they’re just in a discovery phase,” Cam says.

His advice to other event organisers? “If you want something that’s easy to set up, affordable, and gives you peace of mind that you’ve done the right thing by your riders, Flip Group Active fits the bill.”

Keen to ride Brisbane Roubaix in April 2026?

You can sign up on their website or follow along on Instagram for updates.

Want to give your event participants peace of mind?

If you’re looking for an easy and affordable way to protect your event participants, check out Flip Group Active. It’s easy to set up, covers most event activities and can give people more confidence to get involved in your event. Or, contact the Flip team to discuss how Group Active might work for your event.

Further reading

• How Gridiron Victoria is building trust with Flip Group Active
• Flip gives athletes another reason to love the Noosa Tri
• Thredbo’s extra layer of protection: Flip Group Active in action

Trusted by major brands

With over 40,000+ participants covered at more than 50+ events since 2023, Flip has demonstrated its reliability and commitment to providing valuable cover. Additionally, Flip is backed by HCF Life, which is owned by Australia's largest not-for-profit health insurer, HCF.