In 2007, the country celebrated when local cycling hero and Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Stuart O’Grady, became the first Australian to win the ‘Queen of the Classics’, the Paris-Roubaix.  

The tenacious South Australian raced for over six hours on punishing cobblestones and rough terrain, fought off assaults from fellow cyclists, dealt with high temperatures, a puncture and crash, before securing his historic win. “To race on centuries-old, narrow cobblestone roads, which date back to the Napoleonic era, is a challenge in itself but to finish and be declared the winner is an honour never forgotten,” said SBS presenter and cycling expert, Michael Tomalaris.