Ex-AFL man Adrian Anderson aims to get Cycling Australia into top gear

GUN-for-hire sports administrator Adrian Anderson will be on his bike today after putting in place a major organisational rebuild of Cycling Australia.

GUN-for-hire sports administrator Adrian Anderson will be on his bike today after putting in place a major organisational and financial rebuild of Cycling Australia.

Among other reforms, he has dismantled a commercial events strategy that was threatening to send it broke despite the huge success on the road and track for the past decade.

Appointed interim chief executive alongside new president Gerry Ryan in November, Anderson has overseen the adoption of a new constitution and the departure of the old board of directors, who will soon be replaced by an independent, skills-based administration.

Anderson, former AFL operations manager, likened the revamp to the move to an independent commission when footy was struggling to keep its head above water.

With the success of Ryan’s Orica-GreenEDGE team and Australian riders succeeding overseas, cycling has been a bit like the proverbial duck on a lake — looking good on the surface but paddling furiously under the water.

Ryan and Anderson have acted with impressive speed.

The revamped Summer of Cycling, featuring the national road championships, the Tour Down Under and the new-look Herald Sun Tour, was acknowledged as the best yet.

It is likely to be greatly enhanced next summer by the introduction of a one-day classic road race in Victoria, featuring a world-class field. It is likely to take in parts of the Great Ocean Road and be named after Tour de France champion Cadel Evans.

Anderson said Cycling Australia would be focusing on establishing a more relevant relationship with recreational cyclists.

[e-mail] Twitter: @Reedrw

Originally published as Ex-AFL man Adrian Anderson aims to get Cycling Australia into top gear