Geoff Lyons (Bass, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to talk about some outstanding Tasmanian athletes but, particularly, about a cyclist. I also want to mention Eddie Ockenden who is the TIS Athlete of the Year. He captained the Australian hockey team at one stage during the year.

I congratulate the talented and successful athlete from Tasmania, Matt Goss. Recently, Matt powered his way through a top-quality field of cyclists to win the Milan-San Remo classic. He is the only Australian to have won Italy’s biggest annual one-day bike race. Matt, who is 24 years old and was born in Launceston, claimed the 298 kilometre marathon—his eighth win for 2011. He has added this win to an impressive list of victories, including the 2006 world Team Pursuit Championship and a stage win in the Paris-Nice, Tour of Oman and Tour Down Under races this year. Matt is a very talented and dedicated cyclist who has been rightfully labelled by his team mate Mark Cavendish as a legend. I would like to also congratulate Matt on his success in Italy’s biggest one-day race, the San Remo Classic, and wish him all the best for the future. I am sure that, at 24 years of age, there will be many successes to come.