.jpg)
(3).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.gif)
.jpg)
.jpg){kind=small}
Pat Shaw Interview: Winner: Tour of Gipplsand
By Jarrod Patridge
Q. Pat, congratulations on winning the Tour of Gippsland! Is this win the highlight of your career? A. Thanks, it is definitely my biggest win so far but I find it hard to define the highlight of my riding career to one single moment as I have had some very exciting experiences over the years. Living in France for a year and winning a Coupe de France (French Cup Race), Junior Worlds in Verona, Italy, finishing top 5 twice in Top Rated World Level races in Italy are a few of the great moments in my time as a racing cyclist.
Q. Did you feel like you had good form going into the Tour?
A. Tour of Toowoomba was my last race and winning that gave me great confidence, I came into Gippsland with the desire to produce some good results but at the same time being flexible knowing that I have a very good team and that anyone in the team was capable of riding for the GC win. My early results in the Tour confirmed my form and that is how as a team we decided to ride for me for this particular event, however at the very next event we quite possibly will be riding for a completely different rider in the team.
Q. You were in yellow for a long time, and consistently placed highly in each stage. Can you tell us how you fought off all the challenges from guys like Joe Lewis?
A. Yeah, it was a journey in fact, with the gap to the rest of the field being so tight, but, as a team my Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans team mates remained focused the whole tour and that made things much easier for me. We talked our plan and did our best to execute it. I held the jersey not only because of my stage results but more importantly because of the great camaraderie shown by my team mates, without them victories in the Tour of Toowoomba and Tour of Gippsland would have been unachievable. For each stage of each race, each rider has their duties for the day. We had riders that were asked to go with the attacks and break-aways, other riders were asked to protect me during the stage and some riders in the team were given free status, meaning they could go with breakaways, protect me or try and win the stage.
Q. Can you tell us a bit about Patrick Jonker’s influence on the team, and over the course of this race in particular?
A. For sure, Pat made a huge influence from day one, we all at Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans Cycling Team have the utmost respect for him. He brings so much to the team, not only tactically but also psychologically. Whenever there is a problem during a stage race he finds a solution, not any solution, but more importantly the right one and so far with his leadership and guidance, we as a group in the team are making few errors, that is thanks to him.
Q. We heard over the weekend how you had considered retiring earlier this year. Can you take us through what drove you to that point, and what triggered this strong comeback?
A. I had returned from Italy in October of last year, after spending two big seasons in Tuscany. I had come very close to reaching agreements with Italian Pro Teams, but they fell through and after racing at 100% for seven months, two years in a row and to finish over 40 top tens, but never once see the top step of the podium hurt very much and fatigued me mentally to the point where I needed a break, I needed to remember how to enjoy cycling rather than racing as a chore. I decided I would do Tour of Bright as preparation for my final race, The Australian Open Road Championship, in my home town. However, the form and hunger for results returned and after finishing 3rd overall at a very successful Tour of Bright I was contacted by Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans Management and I accepted their offer of a spot in their Team. But the strong comeback has been triggered by the extremely positive impact that Patrick Jonker has had on me and the consistent backing from my team mates in races, Camo Peterson, one of the most underrated cyclists getting around has been huge in the vital parts of both my tour victories and consistent support from Freiberg, Gillett, Pearson, Hepburn, Roe, Dyball, Law, Tompson, Mowatt and Pryor has made even the most difficult days of racing this season enjoyable! I thank them for reminding me how to enjoy the amazing sport of cycling again!
Q. After such an awesome result, do you feel you can back this up as the year goes on?A. I'm very happy with the success that I have had so far this season but I won't get ahead of myself, this is a long season and many races are still to be run. I don't have any pressure on me after these results, as I am confident that if I am unable to fulfill the leader role that any one of my team mates can step up to the plate and assume that role. I hope that season 2010 continues with further success for my Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans Cycling Team.
Q. Considering your current form, what are your plans for the rest of the year?
A. I will initially ride Tour of Geelong followed by Murray River and Tour of Tasmania, they are all important races on the Australian domestic calendar.
Q. Do you think your role in the team will change much due to this success?
A. I think the great thing about Virgin Blue-RBS Morgans Cycling Team is that every rider in the team is willing to sacrifice their own personal ambitions to help gain team success, no matter who it may be for. We will head to the next race as we have for all the others and that is united and focused on working together towards one goal.
And finally...
Q. If you could be any fictional character in the world, who would you be and why?A. 'Puss in Boots', I won an award for 'book week' in grade 2, when my Mum had handmade the exact copy of the 'Puss in Boots' outfit and I wore it in the competition. Wish I still had it, it was truly the coolest thing I've ever seen!
Above: Tour of Gippsland stage 6 crit & stage 7 road race
For more race videos go to -
For more race videos go to -
Pat would like to thank his sponsors:virginblue.com.au
scienceinsport.com.au
rbsmorgans.com.au
meridabikes.com.au
2XU.com.au
PegasusCycling
Mullins Lawyers
BlueScope Steel
Ausenco
CorpNet and
Brisbane and Westside BMW
Follow Pat in his upcoming race via Twitter at http://twitter.com/shawry_07 
Leave a Comment