Darwin born Olympic champion Graeme Brown returning to his roots to contest Gran Fondo

DARWIN born double Olympic champion Graeme Brown makes his Top End return to ride in the Sunbuild Top End Gran Fondo

Dual Olympic cycling gold medallist cyclist Graeme Brown, set to compete in the Gran Fondo. Picture: Ray Titus

DARWIN born double Olympic champion Graeme Brown makes his Top End return to ride in the Sunbuild Top End Gran Fondo.

Brown is a more than accomplished rider winning Olympic gold medals at the 2004 Games in Athens in the Team Pursuit and Madison.

In addition, he also won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and a host of road titles throughout his 20-year professional career.

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Brown was born in Darwin in 1979 and started bike racing in the Top End but hasn’t returned to his birth home since he left as a child.

But now makes a return as a retired pro to take on the largest ride in the NT set to take off from the Darwin Waterfront on July 25.

“I started bike racing in Darwin. It is a long story however but basically my parents took me to a BMX track as a safe place to ride my bike and as it happened there was racing on that day,” Brown said.

“Since retiring in 2016 I have no real reason to train other than for health and fun. This event takes me literally back to my roots and gives me a reason to train.

“I would love to say I will just roll around the course, but I just don’t have that mindset, even in retired life.

“In saying that, I would dearly love to finish the event in the front however I fear a lack of fitness could just stop those thoughts.

“Hopefully, if it is very windy, an exposed course and some racing knowledge will get me through. One can only hope.”