Hi Gordy and once again congratulations on the record breaking 5th elite national road title.  This must give you an average of wins in 50% of your line ups?
GM - I've ridden the nationals 10 times in total (a few missed years due to living overseas). I've won 5 times, 2nd twice, 3rd once, and the 2 years I didn't medal the RR I either won or medaled in the TT.

 

So life has taken on a new tack for you in recent times, with your marriage to Pamela and dare I say it an honest days work needing to be done out of stretch fabrics, where do you see you cycling career going from here?

GM - I am settled in my job now and my work looking after Powerbar and Musashi are really understanding of my racing/training commitments, so I'm happy to stay racing in NZ and target the next Comm Games in India, being based here is clearly not slowing me down.

 

 

This season has been incredible for you on home soil with many victories in the countries best race series, (The Benchmark Homes series) and now the national title where would you rate it amongst the others?
GM - Easily the best� one of my most cherished wins ever infact.

 

 

You started out as a young lad from Dunedin and cycling has taken you all over the world, can you outline the teams you have ridden for, I understand you had a contract with Quickstep back in 2001, how did this not materialize.

GM - I have ridden on pro teams in Europe,GB and the USA. I raced Philly week in 2002 on loan to Domo-Farm Frites from my team RDM-Flanders�I rode really well for the team and impressed management and team leader Fred Rodrigees.. I was offered a verbal contract for the next year to be made formal with a written contract after the Tour de France.

Towards the end of the season I called the team D.S Hendrik Redant to organize my contract and was told Farm frites had withdrawn as a sponsor and the team was joining with Lotto-Adecco and 25 riders would have no contract including me, I cracked and retired (one of the many) and came home.

 

 

This year you have transferred across to the Subway Avanti cycling team, what is your role on the team and is the organization unlike anything experienced by a NZ team before?

GM - It's awesome� More well organized than some of the oversea's pro teams I've been on. I've only ridden nationals with the team� and even after the TT (where we all rode badly) the atmosphere was still good.

 

 

Do you see this team going all the way and becoming NZ s first Professional Continental team?

GM - Definatley..I really like that Greg Hume has tried to build the team slowly.. how many teams have we seen start small and tried to go pro tour the next year and failed.

 

 

You have a beautiful year ahead of you in terms of being able to showcase the national champions jersey at every outing, what will be the biggest showcasing this season and do you envisage a stint abroad representing NZ in any invitationals?

GM - Tour of Southland is my favorite race, so that's the biggy for me� Subway-Avanti are pushing for a spot at the Suntour in October, and so long as I can get the time off work I'm hoping to ride Superweek in the states mid-year.

 

 

To get into shape to pull off the win you did on the weekend must have taken some serious commitment, can you give us an outline on kms and training hours in a typical week for the man we have come to know as the Peoples Champion".

GM -

-Monday: Easy Day 40km with coffee stop all small chainring.

-Tuesday: 50-60km Hilly with intervals

-Wednesday: 100km, Torture Loop (hilly), my work give me Wednesday mornings off to train so long as I make the hours up.

-Thursday: Same as Tuesday

-Friday: 50km, easy coffee ride

-Saturday: race plus km's�between 120 and 160km for the day.

-Sunday: 140-200km bunch ride.

 

All my weekday rides are at 5.30-6.00am before work.

 

 

If you had your start again on the bike would you change anything?

GM - I would have gone to Belguim when I was early 20's (I went when I was 27).

 

 

What advice do you have for any of the young guns in NZ cycling?

GM - Learn to win at home before you go oversea's� all that will happen if you go without good NZ results behind you is that you will get smashed and come home� then most likely stop racing. (how many times have I seen that during my career)

 

 

Of the next generation who do you see making it to the top echelon?

GM - Alexander Ray has really been impressing me lately, my team-mate James Williamson, and Tom Findlay (if he learns to cool his jets a bit)

 

 

Now our favourite part.

 

Crank length? 172.5 Road bike, 175 TT Bike

 

 

Smallest sprocket? 11 of course 

 

 

Biggest chainring you own? 56

 

 

Favourite dish? My wife� oh�food?.... Definetly a Subway Ham n Turkey with all the trimmings.

 

 

Favourite Band? Guns n Roses

 

 

Favourite ride? 100km Torture loop in Waitakere's, I do it every Wednesday, it's a great form finder loop.

 

 

Favourite training buddy? Brian Biggs� or Scotty Wilder (Scott Evil)

 

 

Favourite thing about cycling? Winning �and matching kit

 

 

Gordy its been a pleasure and may there be many more wins.