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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…
48km to race. Sector 10 is here. This will be crucial as the Mons-en-Pévèle is 3km and rated five stars!
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
49km to race: The break is almost swallowed up. Just six seconds,
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
50km to race now and the pace is really high as Thor makes a move along with vansummeren.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Spartacus is stretching the bunch and the gap is suddenly 16 seconds.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Cancellara still enjoying the protection of his team as the race splits on the pave. Chavanel moving forward too as is Cancellara!
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
53km to race: Schar is looking the strongest of the three with Gaudin closing in fast. But with a gap of 30 secs which is falling quickly, can they hang on much longer?
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
54km to go: The trio lead by 42km as they enter sector 11, 2.6km and four stars.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
it looked all over but then they just kicked. it was strange but Hayman has always been a lover of this race.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
One rider is stuck between the lead trio, Gaudin from Europcar is 29 secs behind as other riders start to attack the peloton. One of them is Ian Stannard.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
It was indeed O’Grady who has been spat out the back. How ruthless is cycling! When your legs go, they just go!
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Couldn’t be sure but it looked like Stuart O’Grady that had dropped to the back of the bunch. :-(. Schar has bridged across and joins Hayman and Steegmans.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
59.5km. C’mon Matty! Onto sector 12 now. Orchies is 1,700m and three stars of pain.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Ladagnous from FDJ and three riders from Vacansoleleil all went down plus an Euskaltel rider.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
61.5km. Schar is nearly with the leaders who are still 1:10 ahead of the bunch. CRASH.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
63km to go. Love watching the riders split into several lines as they try to noegotiate the pave sectors.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
64.5km. The leaders are on sector 13 now with a 1:14 lead but Schar is only 24 seconds behind, O’Grady has just been caught by the peloton. Well done Stuey!
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Schar has dropped O’Grady now and trying to time trial across to Steegmans and Hayman who are eating furiously while they can. The smooth bitumen means they can safely eat and ride.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
68.8km to race. The gap is 1:12 with Sky’s Bernie Eisel joining three Radioshack riders in pursuit of the leading four riders.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Stuey in his funky blue boot covers is wearing number 111 today, but he is starting to lose touch with Michal Schar.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
71.9km. Still a Radioshack flavour leading the peloton with a 1:08 lead over O’Grady and Shar. The lead duo hit another sector of pave. Sector 14.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Plenty of riders have hit the pave in the peloton as they enter sector 15. One who want down is Geraint Thomas who is not having a good day. Meanwhile Kortesky who was in the break has had to change his wheel.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Hayman and Steegmans are now on sector 15, Warlaing – Brillon at 178km. Their lead on the 2,400 m, three star sector is 1:04. CRASH!
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
76.5km to race: Steegmans and Hayman are 5]3 seconds clear of the peloton.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
Steegmans and Hayman have broken away from O’Grady and Kortesky. They have a 21 sec lead over Shar who is 10 secs ahead of the peloton. The lead duo move off sector 16.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog
45.5km to race and this sector is destroying riders with Cancellara in third place.
2013 Paris-Roubaix: Cycling live updates, blog