Veteran cyclist Danny Clark set to contest the prestigious Austral Wheelrace in Melbourne

DANNY Clark, possibly the best track cyclist Australia has produced, will contest the prestigious Austral Wheelrace on Saturday — at the age of 63.

JULY 27, 2004: Copy pic of Danny Clark after winning the Latrobe Wheel, December 26, 1981. SUPPLIED PIC - sport cycling athlete #### MUST FILE GRAHAME LONG ####

DANNY Clark, possibly the best track cyclist Australia has produced in the opinion of many fans, will contest the prestigious Austral Wheelrace in Melbourne on Saturday night — at the age of 63.

He will be up against five current or former world champions, all at least 37 years younger, but has been given a handicap of 160m, which is generous enough to give him a good chance of making the final of the 117-year-old 2000m race.

So it’s not simply a sepia-toned exhibition from a gun who won four world championships, an Olympic silver medal, 74 six-day races — and the Austral three times, the last 24 years ago.

His appearance — he is likely to also ride the madison national championship teamed with former winner George Tansley, 21 — is creating plenty of interest, with Hisense Arena likely to be packed with people who remember him as a superstar from decades ago.

“Nobody gives a rat’s where he finishes — they just want to see him,” said veteran handicapper Laurie Norris, who is an old mate of Clark’s.

Danny Clark during the Hurstville Criterium of Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic in 2000.

But having agonised at length over what handicap would be appropriate for someone who “is no ordinary 63-year-old” without being unfair to the rest of the 126 riders who will contest seven heats, Norris is bracing himself for a backlash if the unthinkable happens and Clark wins.

“I’ll get a kicking, for sure _ but that’s why I’m a handicapper,” he laughed.

“He’ll need a lot to go right and a bit of luck to make the final.”

The race will be extremely competitive at the sharp end with five current stars — Jack Bobridge, 25, Alex Edmondson, 20, Leigh Howard, 25, Glenn O’Shea, 25, and Cameron Meyer, 26 — all off scratch.

Clark, a former Tasmanian who lives on the Gold Coast, has been contesting masters road races and A-grade criteriums recently, having never really got off his bike since his 23-year professional career ended 17 years ago.

He said yesterday that providing he can get past a bout of flu, he hoped to do well.

Danny Clark in 1972.

“Being 63 makes it a bit difficult — it’s phenomenal how fast the young blokes go now,” he said.

“I still love doing it and have always been fit and now I’ve retired it’s all I’ve got.

“But I’m not trying to set the world alight. A lot of people are going there just to see what I can do, so I’m under pressure.

“I just want to enjoy it and I hope I can make the final for the public. It will be disappointing if I can’t.”

The experts are unsure what to expect.

“He was incredibly good in his heyday and as far as tactics and skill go, he’s still got it,” Olympic track gold medallist Scott McGrory said.

“It will be a matter of whether he can handle the big gears and the speed the guys will be going _ but having him there will be a good thing.”

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Originally published as Veteran cyclist Danny Clark set to contest the prestigious Austral Wheelrace in Melbourne