When Bradley McGee takes to the boards of Manchester velodrome next weekend at the Revolution track meet (November 15), it will be the last time that the Aussie turns a pedal in anger.
As he announced in September, McGee has decided to retire from a long and successful professional racing career at the end of the 2008 season - and he's picked the Manchester event as his swansong.
McGee's first professional win was the prologue of the Tour of Normandy in 1999. Since then he was won five Olympic medals, a prologue and stage of the Tour de France, worn the leader's jersey in both the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana and many other victories on the road and track.
McGee joins compatriots Stuart O'Grady and Matt Goss as well as young Brit Jonny Bellis on the CSC-Saxo Bank team at the event. They'll be up against the likes of David Millar, Chris Newton, Rob Hayles, Geraint Thomas, Steven Burke and a host of others in the endurance events.
McGee isn't leaving cycling behind, of course - he will become a directeur sportif for CSC for the 2009 season, transferring his extensive knowledge to a future generation of riders.
Revolution is a four-event track series - now in its sixth season - that takes place at Manchester Velodrome. You can find out more at www.cyclingrevolution.com or by clicking on the links below.
MCGEE RIDES 2009 TOUR STAGE ONE TT FOR CYCLE SPORT
Bradley McGee rode the course of the 2009 Tour de France stage one time trial in Monaco for an exclusive feature in the current issue of Cycle Sport magazine.
A Tour prologue winner himself, McGee is also a Monaco resident - so who better to recce the opening day's course and assess its impact on the 2009 race. Measuring 15 kilometres, the course is a hilly affair which will favour the power time triallist and give the winner a chance to put some serious time into his rivals. You can find out what McGee thinks of the course, and who he picks as a winner, in the feature.
Cycle Sport December 2008 issue is on sale now in WHSmith, major supermarkets and all good newsagents priced £4. More details of what's in the issue can be found here.
RELATED LINKS
Future Stars at Revolution track meet
Revolution revels in Olympic success
McGee becomes directeur sportif for CSC
Simon Yates says he took a pay cut in order to join Visma-Lease a Bike
Can a short term energy deficit make cyclists faster?
