By Jeff Jones, Chief Online Editor

Scott Sunderland's retirement from the professional ranks after a 15 year career marks the end of an era of the Aussie 'Old Guard'. Scott was the last of a gang of Australian riders that included Phil Anderson, Neil Stephens and Allan Peiper, who were active in the 80's and early 90's and helped pave the way for the next - and very successful - generation of Australian pro's in Europe. Like Anderson and co., Scott was one of the self made men who came to Europe with little preparation but enough determination to make it as a pro in one of the toughest sports in the world. Scott's career has spanned the retirement of Anderson to the rise of Allan Davis, with the still extant careers of Michael Rogers, Stuart O'Grady, Robbie McEwen, Brad McGee, Baden Cooke and Cadel Evans falling in between.

Scott's own career has been a successful one too. From his first professional race win in the Trofeo Pantalica in 1991, to finishing 5th in Milan-San Remo in 1992, being awarded Australian cyclist of the year in 1993, having an excellent spring in 2001, right through to finishing the 2004 Tour de France. It has been marked by many ups and downs, including the life threatening crash in the 1998 Amstel Gold Race, where he was hit by a car driven by TVM's Cees Priem. Scott felt the ramifications of that for the rest of his career as his body has never been the same since. Not only that, the Sunderlands are still trying to win their court case for damages against TVM, which has occupied a considerable amount of their time over the last six years.

Despite this, Scott can look back on his career with a lot of satisfaction and pride after achieving his dream of riding a bike for a living, and all the experiences that go with that. The highs must surely outweigh the lows.

I first met Scott at the 1999 Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic, my first proper race coverage appointment for Cyclingnews. I didn't know too many pro's at the time, but I introduced myself to Scott and immediately found him to be very approachable, personable, articulate and above all, professional. Professional cycling is a job - just like being a journalist. Scott knows this and is always very generous with his time, no matter how important the race at hand is. It has been my pleasure to work with him over the last five and a bit years, and Cyclingnews has been very proud to have hosted his diary since 1998, which makes him one of the longest serving diarists for any cycling website.

During that time I have also got to know the Sunderland clan quite well personally, and they have helped me find my feet in Belgium, where I now base myself for the entire season. As Scott will attest from his early years as a pro, it's not easy living in a foreign country on your own, and I thank the Sunderlands for all their help and support.

I could add a lot more The good thing is that it doesn't end here, but we'll have to wait a few more days to find out the details of his new career...

 
Scott leading the peloton onto the Champs-Elysées during his last Tour de France (2004)