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Joined January 2013
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'Big Mig' has a lot to answer for. Better known as Miguel Indurain, the five time Tour de France winner is responsible for getting John hooked on cycling in the early 1990's when SBS first started their nightly TV coverage. Yes, the amazing French scenery helped, but so did a face-to-face interview John did in 1997 with Stuart O'Grady just after his debut Tour. Since then John has reported cycling for radio, print and online media. He has only missed one edition of the Tour Down Under (1999) and in 2014 went to the Tour de France for The Roar and ABC Radio. John also loves riding and in March is riding in the Three Peaks Challenge in the Victorian Snowfields.
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As Roar Expert Felix Lowe wrote in his Tour Down Under preview, “stability is a great thing, but stagnation is only just around the…
“I don't think I've got the legs I've had for the past two years.” Richie Porte was either playing the ultimate game of fox…
As I wrote yesterday, I felt Simon Gerrans victory over Corkscrew in Stage 3, would be enough for him to win this year's Santos…
It's only three seconds, but I reckon Simon Gerrans has as good as won the 2016 Tour Down Under. In a nutshell, today and…
Anyone who follows cycling closely or has visited the Tour Down Under would agree that this is an exceptionally well-organised race. Each race day,…
While the sad passing of yet another music legend, Glenn Frey, made headlines around the world yesterday, it was impossible not to make a…
Go riding on any Saturday or Sunday morning and you'll see hundreds, maybe thousands of like-minded people, enjoying one of the best sporting pursuits…
The idea to bring around 100 of the world's best cyclists to Adelaide for a bike race was doing laps around Mike Turtur's brain…
There'll be lots of reflective words written on the 102nd edition of the Tour de France, which for me is the best we've seen…
Could Stage 17 have gone any better for Chris Froome? Don't answer, because clearly, he had a dream day. Tejay van Garderen, the rider…
Rest days do funny things to riders' legs. It's a given that everyone will spend at least some of the day on their bikes.…
So the first chapter of climbing at this year's Tour de France has ended. While I'm sure no one is surprised that Chris Froome…
If, as numerous commentators say, the real Tour starts tonight, then I shudder to think at what's about to happen. Are we about to…
The phrase 'marginal gains' should be familiar to any cycling fan. Brought into the sport by Team Sky and its general manager Sir Dave…
As I tap out the first few keystrokes of this piece, the rain is starting to fall on Rohan Dennis and the other 197…
It didn't take long to realise that last night's Tour de France opener was going to be something special. As the first few riders…
According to the Oxford Dictionary definition, for something to be great, it needs to be “considerably above the average” and “important or the most…
Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur has one of the hardest jobs in Australian sport. Sure, he runs one of the best organised…
It's hard to imagine Cadel Evans raving about the parcours for the 2015 Grand Boucle. Likewise, Sir Bradley wouldn't be salivating at riding this…
The racing in this year's Tour Down Under has been as good as I can remember. As always race director Mike Turtur made only…
15.2km: Cancellara is attacking but can’t escape, Vanmarcke is strong too so Fabian has to wait.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
CRASH! vandenburgh has gone down. lost control and hit a spectator. race over for him.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
The next sector is a five star one. Le Carrefour de l’Arbre and at 2,100 m expect Cancellara to make his final assault. Here we go.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
18.2km: Cancellara can’t quite stick on the wheel so he drops to third place, but this looks like the final selection. They lead by 38 seconds.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
19.7km to race and Cancellara has joined Vanmarcke and Vandenburgh just as we enter sector 5.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
21km: So if Cancellara bridges he will be up against two Omega riders, but will he just psyche them out? What a finish this looks like being.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
22km to race. The gap has again fallen quickly and is down to 14 seconds.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
23km to race. Only one rider could go with Cancellara..Stybar from Omega Pharma Quickstep.They have vandeburgh up the road so he won’t help. The Gap is 22 seconds.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Vanmarcke rides for Blanco who we remember so well from the Tour Down Under when Tom Slagter took out the overall win. They have done very well this season with a number of wins but today would top the lot. Remember, Belgians have won this race twice as often as any other nationality.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
The two vans have a 39 seconds lead with 24.7km to race.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
The lead duo are now on sector 6b Cysoing – Bourghelles at 227km…1,300 m and four stars.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
27.3km: Gaudin attacks Cancellara’s group as others do the same.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Apologies, Cancellara has only joined the second group. Vanmarcke and Vandenburgh still have ten seconds advantage.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
30.3km to race. Fabian has the lead group in his sights. He is only 50m behind them.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
31km: Another four riders have joined Langeveld up the front as Cancellara attacks his group and solos off! Here we go!!!!
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
32.7km to race and Spartacus has Eisel, Terpstra and Boom on his wheel as he enters sector 7, just 500m long. He is 20 secs behind the lead quartet.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Cacellara has gone back to the team car again as the lead group of 12 is now three groups of four. There are just 33km to race now so this race is going to finish early. Cancellara could make it finish earlier but he needs to get a move on.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
35.5km to race: This group is not working together too well and four have gone clear. They are Langeveld, Gaudin, Vandenburgh and Vanmarcke from Blanco. They lead by 15 secs.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
38km to go: still waiting for numbers, but it looks like 12 riders are away as they enter sector 8,Pont-Thibaut, 1,400 m and three stars.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
There is a Greenedge rider there too which looks like Langeveld.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
44.8km to race. 12 riders are clear including Thor and Boasson Hagen and of course Cancellara.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
14.8km to race. Stybar almost goes down but somehow doesn’t crash. He has though been dislodged.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog