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

I rise to congratulate Matt Goss of Launceston after his recent cycling success on the world stage. After five second placings in his past eight starts, the 25-year-old Tasmanian sprinter shed his race bridesmaid tag with his team's first grand tour stage win in the Giro d'Italia in a very hectic and crash filled third-stage finish at Horsens in Denmark.

Matt studied at Launceston College in my electorate of Bass. He started cycling at 11 years of age after encouragement from his neighbours, Wes and Bernie Sulzberger, who are also pro-cyclists. He excelled as a world champion track cyclist and is now making a name for himself in the professional road racing arena. His accolades include: 2006 TIS male athlete of the year; 2005 joint TIS male athlete of the year; and 2004 Australian junior male road cyclist of the year. Goss made his debut on the pro international circuit in 2007, and in 2011 he solidified his name by winning the prestigious Milan-San Remo one-day classic. I spoke on this great win last year.

Matt joins the Gilmores, the Grendas, the Rices, the Sulzbergers, the Morgans, the Clarkes and the Wilsons as an excellent cyclist from Tasmania, and I congratulate them all. The Wilsons, by the way, now run Velo Wines, a great winery in Bass. (Time expired)