It’s not long since Olympic Gold medallist and yellow jersey wearer, Brad McGee, announced his retirement as a professional cyclist. He will step down from an illustrious racing career after his last event at the Revolution to take on new challenges as Directeur Sportif at CSC / Saxo Bank.

 

They say those who have ridden at such a level will never lose their competitive edge. Despite appearing nonchalant about not racing a bike again and instead taking the driver’s seat of the CSC Director’s car, just what was Brad McGee doing when I phoned him for an interview?

 

“Excuse me, sorry about that, I was just on the rollers of all things, trying to do some training for this race,” he answered. Well, I suppose he could be forgiven for wanting to put a decent performance in on his last race as a professional.

 

The 32 year old Australian’s professional career began in 1998 with the La Francaise des Jeux team, and it wasn’t long before McGee was picking up results in prologues and pursuits alike. With time to finally look back on his career, which result would he class as the highlight of his 10 years in the pro peloton?

 

 

“As far as results go, the Tour de France prologue when I got the yellow jersey was as huge as it gets for me. Then, of course, my Olympic Games gold medal. But I can’t split them, it’s like they’re two different sports,” he explained.

 

McGee is one of the few riders who is just as famous for his exploits on the track, as he is on the road. While a lot of his success has been held over similar distances, finishing Grand Tours is a different challenge altogether. Balancing different fitness requirements is difficult, but McGee insists that there’s an entirely different challenge to consider.

 

“It’s more of a mental game, switching from one to the other. In 2004, I wanted top 10 in the Tour of Italy, so it’s like concentrating for 3 weeks on the one target. And then a few months later, I had the Olympics on the track and was preparing for the 4km events.”

 

But like most athletic careers, it hasn’t been an easy or painless journey. Consistent results proved difficult after a recurring back injury, facing McGee with both physical and psychological problems.

 

“It was hard in the Tour when I pulled out in 2004, which was basically the start of my niggling back injuries. You get in amongst the whole atmosphere of the Tour, and within a week I was sat on my arse at home, so that was really hard to put up with. But in other years, I’ve just watched it from the sidelines, taken the role of a spectator and really enjoyed the Tour; it’s a whole different experience on TV than being in the action.”

 

McGee moved to Team CSC for the 2008 season after a long spell with La Francaise des Jeux, a move which, when looking back, he would have wanted to do earlier, “I would have left FDJ a few years early, not to say it was a bad time there. But I felt, when I did change, if I had of capitalised on a move a few years younger, maybe I could have got a few better results,” he revealed.

 

It may come as a surprise to some that McGee’s retirement came not as a result of not wanting to race anymore, but the acceptance of an opportunity too good to refuse. McGee was still getting results, and was still playing his role within the team. In fact, McGee was originally intending to keep racing until the offer sidetracked his racing ambitions.

 

“It was just merely by opportunity that was put on the table with Riis. It was, yes, if you want to stay on the bike, great. But we also need to fill a Directeur Sportif role and I was their number one pick. That opportunity would only come around once in my own life time, if I’d have waited another couple years of the bike, there might have been no positions to be filled, and I’d find myself back in Australia or anywhere. It was quite an easy decision in the end.

 

“The challenge is scarier than anything I’ve ever done on my bike. I’m really embracing the responsibility and opportunity. I’ve already started basically, with the World Road Championships, I was up there with the team of directors putting things together for next year. It’s given me a real feel about what it’s going to entail,” he added.

 

But in the meantime, McGee’s thoughts will no doubt be on the current job in hand; racing against the other stars at the Revolution. Brad has been an ever present figure during the past few seasons of the Revolution series, and his last track event will certainly be a special one, McGee is remaining realistic though.

 

“I’m not looking for any fairytale ending, but I’ll be in there. The racing is good, it’s fast, it’s exciting, but the bunch track races are at the wrong time of the year. I’ve just got off the rollers then and my form is slipping away very fast! I’m more doing paperwork these days than I am doing bike riding.”

 

Using the Revolution as his retirement race also gives a perfect opportunity to introduce McGee’s son, Rory, to his day job. Now four years old, he’s yet to see his Dad race a bike, so Brad is bringing the whole family to Manchester.

 

“That was actually the whole idea behind it, bringing the boy across and showing them what it’s all about. Who knows, it could instil something into him for the future, he’s actually just learned to ride a bike himself.

“I’m glad I’ve got the opportunity to finish on the track. I’m really looking forward to having one last little dig. And of course, Manchester’s the perfect place to do it; some of my greatest success came on that Velodrome in the individual pursuit, Commonwealth Games 2002. I’ve got good memories there.”
 
The Revolution wishes Brad McGee the best of luck in his racing tonight, and the future with his new role at Team CSC / Saxo Bank.