French-born and UK bred cyclist Tom Collier defied strong winds and a “sporting course” at the Merv Craig Sporting Complex at Currumbin Waters this morning taking out the men’s 30-34 individual time trial gold medal at the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast.
The 2010 British Masters Road Race Champion made the perfect start to his debut Pan Pacific Masters Games campaign despite the testing conditions on course.
“It was a really honest course, well we call it a sporting course back in Britain because there is nowhere on the course where it’s easy and you’ve got to work hard the whole way,” said Tom.
“The wind was also really strong, so you’re getting buffeted past the buildings and then there is nowhere where you feel like it [the wind] is helping you.
“It’s a short race so you’ve got to have 100% concentration and commitment and because it’s all over in about 23 minutes you can’t make a mistake.”
After a successful but hectic season with the Pensar Hawk Racing Team, which included some major wins in Queensland and a major crash, Tom said the event was a chance to wind down and have some fun.
“We are a Queensland-based team and we had a good season with a couple of wins but the competition is tough because you’re up against full-time cyclists whereas we ride whilst having full-time jobs,” said Tom.
“After I had a big crash in August I set myself the goal to compete in a few more events towards the end of the official cycling season.
“I thought it would be a good event to do with plenty of multi-national athletes and I thought it would be a lot of fun.”
His passion for two wheels began as a teenager when he became obsessed with a mountain bike magazine which soon led him to road cycling competitions.
“When I was 13 my friend and I thought mountain biking would be cool and we bought a magazine that we both became obsessed with,” said Tom.
“We got mountain bikes in 1993 and I made the switch to a road bike shortly after.
“In 1995 I actually won the British Junior 10 Mile Time Trial Championship.”
Tom moved to Australia two years ago and, in that time, has had great success winning back-to-back titles at the Ipswich Open and Noosa Triathlon.
“My highlight this year would have to be winning the road race at the Ipswich Open for the second time,” said Tom.
“I was super chuffed because it was promoted by my club Ipswich Cycling Club and I won it in a break away which is what I like because I’m not a sprinter, so I have to get away from the ones who can.
“Also defending the Noosa title was really good because our team raised a lot of money for the charity Black Dog Institute which deals with depression and aims to use sport as a way to get through that.”
This is just the beginning of Tom’s Pan Pacific Masters Games campaign with the Road Race and Criterium events held over the next two days.
“Today I came here to win but I know the road race and criterium will be harder because there is a guy called Steven George racing in my category who is a former international and is going really well at the moment,” said Tom.
“Hopefully I’ll get a few medals in the cabinet by the end of the week.”
Cycling continues on Saturday 10 November from 9am to 4pm and Sunday 11 November from 10am to 5pm.
The new scheme was born here and filagra this is not anything that we would like to see. Caverta although better in some elements but not significant for us.
