By EMMA SUN
SELBY’S cycling star Simon Clarke is still on cloud nine following a historical team win at the Tour de France (TdF) recently.
His team Orica-GreenEdge, which includes cyclists Simon Gerrans, Matt Goss, Brett Lancaster, Cameron Meyer and Stuart O’Grady, won the third stage of the race.
“The experience has been incredible, not only being my first TdF but to have the success we have had and to be able to re-write the history books is something very special,” he said.
“The fact I have been a part of re-writing history would suggest that I have been performing right up there with the world’s best and I feel individually that I am going as good as ever in my career.”
Mr Clarke, 27, credits his successes to his nine week build-up leading up to the event, including three weeks at 2200m altitude in Tenerife, three weeks racing block with Bayern Rundfahrt and Tour du Dauphine and three weeks final preparation including one week active recovery from the racing block, one final week of solid training and one week tapering and motor pacing.
He finished the race ranked 68th.
He said the Aussie support has been tremendous.
“I have some of my family over here in France following some of the Tour, but the amount of Aussies over here is incredible,” he said.
“There are Australian flags everywhere along the course every day and to have all their support really makes me proud to be Australian.”
Mr Clarke spends most of his time in Varese, Italy, where he has been living for 11 years.
His family still resides in Australia, and he visits his home country in November and December.
This year, he will participate in the Vuelta Espana, the Spanish equivalent of the TdF and the World Championships in Florence, Italy, before coming back to Australia in October.
“I look forward to coming back to catch up with family and friends and share the experience I have had this year, particularly at the TdF,” he said.
“And also enjoy a bit of Australian summer.
