Tour Down Under
Team UniSA-Australia Supporters Club
Team UniSA-Australia Supporters Club
Date of Birth: 4 July 1981 (23-years-old)
Born: Adelaide
Weight: 58-61kg (fluctuates in and out of season)
Height: 1.69m
Occupation: Cyclist. I live in Europe most of the year and it takes up so much time training and travelling to different places that I don’t have time to do anything else.
Cycling competitively: Since I was 14.
Club: Adelaide Cycling Club. I’ve been with the club from the beginning.
Professional team: I was with Saeco in 2004 and I’m riding with Zalph this year.
Bike: Giant. They’re looking after me while I’m back home in Australia.
Sponsors: Giant (a long running sponsor that has been very good to me), Oakley and VC Shoes.
Fastest speed clocked on a bike: Last year training for Down Under. We were doing motorcade sessions out in the Barossa and I clocked 120 km/hr when I was tracking behind a motorbike. You don’t want to think about what would happen if you fell off at that speed.
Longest distance on a bike: I did some races in Italy this year that were around 240km. That would be the longest distance I’ve ridden. In training it takes forever to do that type of distance, but when you’re racing it doesn’t take that long at all. I think about four and a half to five hours is the longest time I've spent riding.
Recent achievements:
Career highlights: Being on the AIS Under 23 program for four years. Winning the Australian Under 23 title two years ago. I also won the Palme di Cosenza, an Italian 1 day tour. And winning the Junior World Title in 1999.
Ambitions for 2005: There are a number of Italian one day races I really want to ride well in, such as the Italian Baby Giro. I’d also like to get that professional contract I’ve been chasing for so long. With a bit of luck, hopefully things will come my way.
Overall cycling ambitions: My biggest goal is to turn professional. Other than that it's to get the results I need to become professional.
Years with Team UniSA: Five years..
Years in the Tour Down Under: Five years.
Best part of the Tour? I think the Willunga stage is fantastic. Ever since I’ve been riding in the tour it has always been a highlight of the week for me. The crowds are always amazing, people decorate their houses and the weather has always made it really beautiful down there.
How do you prepare for the Tour? I ride between 800 to 1000km a week. I mainly train in the mornings, especially in the heat. I’m always out of the house by about 8.30am and get back just after lunch. I go to the gym three times a week for six weeks and then phase that out and build up the kilometres closer to the race.
What do you hope to achieve in the Tour? I’d really like to take a stage win. I came close in 2004 in the stage that went to Victor Harbour. I want to put things right and turn it around.
Nickname: I don’t have a nick name.
Pets: I have a dog called Patch. A border collie.
Someone you look up to: I look up to Stuart O’Grady – he is very successful but at the same time he is really grounded, He’s really nice and easy to talk to. Many sports people aren’t like that at all. They can be big headed, but he’s not.
A saying or motto you like: Try and be as professional as you can, in all aspects.
Fave music: I love everything. But it does depend on the time of day and the mood I’m in. I listen to FreshFM in the morning. I also like Incubus, Powderfinger and all Ministry of Sound music.
Fave TV show: I don't ever have the time to watch TV!
Fave movie: I just went and saw Oceans 12 – I love going to the movies when I’m home.
Fave actor: I’m a big fan of surf films, so although he’s not an actor, perhaps Australian surfer Mark Occhilupo.
Fave food: Nutrigrain. Although in my week break after the tour, before I go back to Italy, I try to eat as much good Australian food as possible, such as Pavlova and BBQ’s.
