Young guns state’s best

CYCLING great Phil Anderson will swap his road bike for a mountain bike when he takes on the Giant Odyssey 100km mountain bike marathon.

The 56-year old Commonwealth Games gold medallist, the first cyclist from outside Europe to wear the yellow jer- sey in the Tour de France, will join more than 1000 riders for the gruelling ride through the Otways this month.

“I haven’t ridden the mountain bike since the last time I did the Giant Odyssey in 2011 and I am looking forward to getting out on the new circuit; I enjoy the event more each time I do it,” he said.

Anderson said he rode two or three times a week, totalling maybe 200km.

“We are just three weeks out now and my current level of riding is completely different to when I was a pro, whereas a pro level rider will train and race in excess of 500-600km per week,” he said.

“In any endurance event, it’s all about energy management and because of my lack of fitness I need to take the first two loops easy and then if I’m still feeling OK I’ll push a little harder.

“But it’s all about pacing oneself.”

Anderson said he’d like to finish the race in under 6½ hours, which would be “huge”.

“I can’t imagine being on the bike for that length of time but if that’s what it takes, I’ll give it a go,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to having some fun on the bike with a bunch of people looking to do the same, there’s good camaraderie out there.”

The Giant Odyssey mountain bike marathon is designed for mountain bikers of all levels, from the elite to recreational riders.

It offers three race options: the renowned 100km Giant Odyssey, the challenging 50km Giant Shorty, and the 15km Giant Pioneer designed for kids and newcomers.

Entries to the 2015 Giant odyssey are now open at www.GiantOdyssey.com.au