Simon Clarke
See Simon Clarke's blog "Riding the Tour Down Under"
Date of
birth: July 18 1986 (21 years old)
Born: Melbourne, Victoria
Lives: Selby, Victoria and Varese, Italy
Height: 175cm
Weight: 63kg
Occupation: Part-time student/full-time cyclist
Club: Carnegie Caulfield
Professional team: South Australia.com AIS Cycling Team
Bike: Teschner Team Race
Longest distance on a bike: 310km, Melbourne to Warrnambool
Career highlights: Best Young Rider, Tour Down Under (2007); Best
Young Rider, Herald Sun Tour (2007); 4th overall, Tour of Regioni ITA
(2006); Winning the Junior World Teams Pursuit Championships (2004); 13th,
Junior World Road Championship (2004)
Ambitions for 2008: To sign a professional road contract and ride in
the Grand Tours
Tour Down Under appearances: 2006, 2007
How do you prepare for the Tour? Training in hot weather over similar
distances to race stages, monitoring diet to avoid excess kilos
What do you hope to achieve in the Tour? Finish in first five places
and win the white jersey for the second year in a row
Someone you look up to: My very active 94-year-old grandma
Favourite music: Dance music
Favourite TV show: Sporting events including cricket, golf, tennis,
swimming and lifesaving
Favourite food: Gnocchi