Echuca Cycling Club president Matthew Dobeli was the 2025 Spirit of Sport winner. Photo: Holly Daniel.
Echuca Moama Cycling Club president Matthew Dobeli was named the Spirit of Sport winner at the 2025 Echuca-Moama Sportstar awards, being recognised for his years of service to the club and sport as a whole.
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Dobeli has devoted time to making country club racing possible by working to manage road permits and traffic to allow riders from the Echuca-Moama region the opportunity to race on various courses during the year.
He has also worked to ensure the sport of cycling is as accessible as possible to the community, with a particular focus on appealing to new female and junior members.
Such has been the impact of Dobeli’s work that, while many smaller country cycling clubs have struggled to hold races for their riders in recent times, racing is not only more frequent in Echuca-Moama but also attracts riders from other regions.
“It's a bit of a buzz to be nominated and a bit of a buzz to win something sporting when you're not a great sportsman yourself,” he said.
“I mean, I'm the only one winning an award tonight that's, it's not for the sport, it's for organising and the background.”
Dobeli may be selling himself short, as he does still maintain involvement in the sport itself by riding at the club, while he also competed at the 2025 AusCycling Masters and Junior Road National Championships.
Echuca Moama Cycling Club is thriving under Dobeli’s leadership. Photo: Richard Bailey.
But it is very much the work away from the roads that is being recognised with this Spirit of Sport recipient.
Road cycling involves several logistical challenges, mainly concerning approval for permits that require sign-off from several bodies at the state and local level.
Dobeli explained how the previous system the Department of Transport had in place to organise road races was a lot smoother, but the more complex approval process in place now means he usually has to plan races six to 12 months in advance.
“I’ve got the systems down pat where these things just happen, so it’s good,” he said.
“There’s lots of things to do, and it’s taken five years probably to get this system where we can just rinse and repeat and get it done.”
With the club growing at an increasing rate and Dobeli well across the administrative side of the sport, what does the future hold?
“I really enjoy what I'm doing,” he said.
“It can be a bit of a time commitment, it's a bit arduous.
“We're trying different things this year in cycling, we've got some gravel racing, we've changed the night of our daylight saving crit racing from a Friday to a Tuesday.
“I’m conscious of not staying president for too long because there are new things to do and new ideas that are out there, but very happy with what I'm doing.”
Spirit of Sport nominees Doug and Trish Black, Ian Wright and Matthew Dobeli. Photo: Holly Daniel.
Dobeli took out the Spirit of Sport award ahead of fellow nominees, Echuca Moama Pickleball Club leadership duo Doug and Trish Black, and Echuca Hockey Club’s Ian Wright.
