The mechanic ever the silent assassin
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday September 7, 2009
PETER McDONALD has never been one to openly seek fame and public notoriety; but nine months into his reign as the Australian road cycling champion, the NSW rider still laughs at how Tour de France star Michael Rogers didn't know who he was when he beat him to win the title.Winning the title in Ballarat in January was the greatest achievement in McDonald's career. And how he managed to get the better of Rogers and his Columbia teammate Adam Hansen with the odds heavily stacked against him was one of the biggest upsets of the domestic racing calendar.McDonald, 30, who rides for the Australian Drapac-Porsche team, knows anonymity won't be on his side when he defends his title next January. "I will be marked, I guess," McDonald said yesterday. "Maybe Michael Rogers will know who I am now. Last year, he didn't even know who I was ..."McDonald appreciates he is hardly a household name in Australian sport and is no high-profile rider in the deep talent pool of Australian road cycling. That can be put down to his calm demeanour, being in a small Australian team that races sporadically around the world in smaller events and by the fact the professional racer is busy moonlighting as a bike mechanic.Sydneysiders may well have sighted him in the early hours training with various groups and wearing the national champion's white jersey, with green and gold stripes, that is his right to wear in every event he races while the title is his.McDonald, who yesterday flew to Japan for this week's Tour of Hokkaido, says he wouldn't have it any other way. Most professional cyclists have ambitions of living and racing in Europe all year around and of becoming a Tour de France star, but he is happy with the balance in his life. "That is probably why I haven't chased a European team. I love living in Australia. I love working and I love riding," said McDonald, who has a mobile bike mechanic business."For me it's perfect to do everything, rather than just focus on cycling. For my age and place in life it is perfect."
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
