By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
Old-timer cycling champion Simon Clarke, who currently rides for Israel-Premier, will be heading to Paris to represent the Green and Gold in his second olympics.
It is an exciting and proud moment for the Hills and the Dandenongs community to see yet another member of this community represent not only the Outer East communities but also the nation.
He made his debut Olympic ride in the 2016 Rio Olympics, in 2022 Mr Clarke won the fifth stage of the Tour de France and this weekend, he will be entering his second Olympics.
The second-time Olympian is currently racing the Tour de Wallonie, which is a stage race cycling race on the UCI Europe Tour – it typically runs in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium at the end of July.
“The race in Paris will be 270 km because it’s a one-day race, whereas stage races are normally around 200 km per day,” he said.
“I’m doing a lead up race in Belgium this week, getting ready for my race in Paris.”
He’s been in Belgium since last Sunday 21 July and after his race in Belgium, he will be heading to Paris for the Olympics on Friday afternoon.
Mr Clarke was a resident of Upwey and Selby before he moved to Europe when he was merely 16 while his mother now resides in Kallista.
He attended Selby Primary School and got into cycling through the Great Victorian Bike Ride, which was entered through the school.
“I enjoyed it a lot, and ended up joining a club, and passing through cycling to the top,” he said.
The cycling season in Europe goes from January to October.
“In November and December I usually come back a little bit earlier to the Dandenongs and see my family, I stay on for the race and as soon as the racing’s done, I head back to Europe,” he said.
He’s been a professional cyclist for over 16 years, doing tours in Europe as well as around Australia.
“Every year I race the Tour Down Under Adelaide in January, the week after I often race in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in Geelong – they are the only two races I do in Australia each year,” Mr Clarke said.
He said the biggest challenge for him is moving to Europe which often comes with a language barrier.
“I moved to Italy when I was in my mid teens, I had to learn Italian, and I ended up marrying an Italian,” he said.
“Learning to live life over here, but perform as well as you do when you are in the comfort of your own home and your family’s support, you need to be able to replicate those performances and play around the world with much less support – that’s probably the biggest challenge.”
“I’ve now spent more years of my life in Europe, Australia is still my home, but I also feel very at home living in Europe.”
When he’s not cycling, he loves playing golf but with two young children, hobbies are on the back burner.
“We spend a lot of time away from home, not only with racing, but also with preparation,” he said.
“Prior to this race in Belgium, I spent two weeks in the Italian Alps training for the Olympics, we spent so much time away from home that when I’m not racing and not away, I try to spend time with my family.”
”I’m forever grateful for everyone’s support, I know a lot of people back home follow me, and I really appreciate that – it spurs me on.”
