Graeme Brown (l) and Mat Hayman (Image credit: Gennie Sheer)
A host of Australia's pro cyclists commemorated Anzac Day last week with a visit to the Cycling Australia - AIS [Australian Insitute of Sport] High Performance Base in Castronno, Italy, for a traditional 'Aussie BBQ' and cricket match ahead of intensive biomechanics and physiotherapy sessions.
World, Olympic and Commonwealth Games champions including Michael Rogers (T-Mobile), Stuart O'Grady (CSC), Graeme Brown (Rabobank), Matt Hayman (Rabobank), Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros-Wurth), Aaron Kemps (Liberty Seguros-Wurth), Brett Lancaster (Ceramiche Panaria), Natalie Bates (AA Drink), Kate Bates (Nürnberger) and Gene Bates (Team LPR) gathered in Castronno, some with their partners and children, for a social catch up and to christen the new High Performance Headquarters.
"It's really good not only to get yourself back into shape in a 'physio' sense but it's to catch up with the boys," said dual Olympic champion Graeme Brown. The pro riders also put in some road training with the current members of the Australia U23 programme (SouthAustralia.com - AIS) and caught up with the women cyclists in Italy on AIS scholarships.
"I imparted some words of wisdom to Lloydy (Matthew Lloyd) going up the climbs he was taking us up yesterday," laughed Brown, who attended with wife Hayley (nee Rutherford) a former rider with the programme. "It's good for them and for us as far as morale. It's the part of the season where everything is starting to happen, and putting aside the biomechanics and physio it's just a good place to be with a group of Aussies," he added.
