By Hedwig Kröner Olympic Gold medallist Bradley McGee is turning a page. At 32 years of age, the...
Brad McGee (Image credit: Jon Devich)
By Hedwig Kröner
Olympic Gold medallist Bradley McGee is turning a page. At 32 years of age, the Australian pursuit specialist has decided to end his career as a pro cyclist and become a directeur sportif with his present team, CSC Saxo Bank. Despite having scored many victories, McGee felt the time was right for a new challenge, as the 11th year of his career yet again provided more than enough bad luck for him.
A junior world champion and world record holder in the individual pursuit, Brad McGee collected his first Olympic medal in Atlanta in 1996, two years before turning professional. In 1998, French team La Française des Jeux put its money on him and wasn't let down; the track specialist was also a gifted road racer, which he displayed with stage wins at the Tour de France and the Dauphiné Libéré during his breakthrough year, 2002.
He scaled even greater heights by winning the prologues of two Grand Tours (France in 2003 and Italy in 2004, only narrowly missing one in Spain in 2005). Nevertheless, he had worn the overall leader's jerseys of all three of the world's most prestigious national tours.
