Australian cricketing great Peter Siddle will trade the pitch for the peloton at Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo in Lorne, Victoria next month.
The champion fast bowler is set to sign on for the mass participation ride, which this year coincides with the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, for the second time, joining Olympic swimmer Mack Horton and more than 1,900 other cyclists.
Siddle, since calling time on his red-ball career with a match-sealing wicket for Victoria in March, has been on somewhat of a cycling odyssey – riding sportives at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix with Mummu Cycling in April as well as spending a few days at the Tour de France in July.
“I pretty much finished the season and that was like my retirement present to myself,” he recalls of the spring classics.
“I’ve always watched cycling as well, not just road but for years the SBS highlights of the Tour back in the day. I’ve always loved the one-day races. To be able to get over there and watch those and be a part of that was actually a dream come true.”
Asked to weigh in on the Flanders versus Roubaix debate, the avid cyclist doesn't hesitate. “Roubaix for the history, and for the love of it, but Flanders is more exciting to ride,” he says.
Peter Siddle in action on the cobbles. Photo: Supplied
Siddle hasn’t completely retired from the game he made his name in. He'll compete for the Melbourne Stars in the upcoming BBL|15 season from December.
He does anticipate feeling a bit of FOMO as the new cricket season starts in October. After all, it was only six months ago that Victoria's coach apparently tried to twist Siddle’s arm into playing one more. That followed a BBL|14 campaign where the 40-year-old was still slinging down deliveries at over 145km/h.
However, Siddle is also at peace with his decision, especially if it means spending more time on the bike.
“I’ve probably been cycling nearly 15 years. It’s gradually got, not addictive, but I’ve got more passionate about it,” he says.
“From COVID I really started taking it more seriously and riding a lot more, doing different races or rides, going on little adventures. Now, I just absolutely love it. It’s more enjoyable than bloody playing cricket, that’s for sure!
“Cycling just became my little meditation. I’d get out on the bike and ride around new places and just be relaxed and fresh and free out on the road. I found it very soothing. It was through that weird time [COVID] it became quite a comfortable thing for me to do.”
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The Great Ocean Road will be fully closed to traffic for Amy's Gran Fondo and the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships on October 19. Photo: Supplied
Siddle estimates he’s spent four of the past five months abroad, but between rides in the vicinity of 150km and Masters cricket tournaments hasn’t lost any fitness.
“If anything, it’s probably getting better,” he says. “I think having these trips and goals, events like Amy’s, where it gives me something to train for, it gives me something to be prepared for, it gives me that similarity to professional sport where you’re preparing for an event and getting ready for it, it keeps me competitive. Keeps me healthy, keeps me fit. The more of these I can do, especially when it’s on my bike, I’ll try and be a part of.”
Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo doubles as a qualifier for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, which sees the best amateur cyclists from around the globe compete for the sport’s coveted rainbow jersey across age categories.
Siddle is riding Amy’s this year for the love of it, and the cause. Amy’s Foundation advocates improved road safety between motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
“I think being around loads of different people and everyone that’s enjoying it for the same reasons no matter the level they’re at, just getting out and riding, and fingers crossed it’s good weather for us all, it’s always a great weekend,” Siddle says.
“We had a good group last time there, about five of us all rode it together and worked together. It’s quite fun when you do it in a little group like that, you can sort of have that dream of being a pro cyclist in a way, working as a little team and getting around. You feel like it’s really professional.”
However, he hasn't ruled out attempting to qualify for a future rainbow jersey bid at a Gran Fondo World Championships.
“I think I need to do a bit more proper training to do the proper stuff because I am competitive. I don’t want to go in half-arsed,” Siddle says.
“I’ll still be able to be competitive in the recreational one [Amy’s Great Ocean Road Gran Fondo] but maybe once I get a bit more serious over the next 12 months and can be consistently on the bike, I’ll start looking at doing a few more of those.”
Main Image: Supplied