‘I fast for up to 28 hours on the flight to Europe’
Former professional cyclist turned SBS commentator Bridie O’Donnell has a rather unique approach to long haul travel.
Cycling fans glued to their TV screens watching the world’s most prestigious bike ride will recognise the voice of Bridie O’Donnell, whose commentary on the SBS coverage is full of insight. A qualified medical doctor, O’Donnell competed in Olympic distance and Ironman triathlon races for a decade before switching to road cycling in 2007.
She has represented Australia in three World Championships and broke the women’s UCI Hour world record at the Adelaide Superdrome. The women’s six-day Tour de France Femmes race, a standalone event for the first time, with its own “grand depart”, kicks off on August 12.
My flight hack
I fast for up to 28 hours on the flight to Europe and just drink tea or coffee given I am being so sedentary. Between each movie, I move along the aisles, stretch my calves and flex my lower back. On arrival, I take melatonin to sleep at night and reset my sleep cycle. I need to sync with the Tour. Then it’s go time.
Australia’s best cycling routes
The Gold Coast is great. I love riding the beautiful rolling hills of northern NSW, inland from Brunswick Heads and Byron. I rave about Tasmania for riding holidays; there is so much unspoilt open space. I have raced from Ulverston to a friendly little Tassie town called Penguin. I have raced in heritage rural Victorian towns such as Bendigo (pictured) and Ballarat. The streetscapes are largely unchanged since gold rush days.
My favourite place to eat while on Tour
Megeve in the French Alps is a paradise of chalet architecture, cobblestoned streets and alpine topography. The medieval town centre also has plenty of creperies. Our SBS team ate at the Le Hibou Blanc (the White Owl), which serves fabulous lobster linguine, black truffle omelette, French onion soup and crepes suzette flambeed at the table … decadence in the fresh mountain air.
Women on wheels
I was so emotional attending the first Tour de France Femmes in 2022. Seeing the inaugural jersey presentation under the Eiffel Tower (Grace Brown and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, pictured) in the presence of legendary female cyclists going back to the 1980s was a historic moment.
The beauty of Basque Country
Last year the men’s Tour de France kicked off at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The shimmering titanium looks almost liquid; it made such a visually arresting backdrop for the race. The Basque region has its own identity, music, language and festivals. The race finished in the coastal town of San Sebastian. The postcard-pretty town becomes supercharged with extra excitement at race time.
On your bike
I can’t imagine not having a bike as my main form of transport. Cycling is an amazing way to get where you’re going. If you have not ridden in years, I recommend hiring an e-bike to work on your confidence and pedal at a safe, enjoyable 20km an hour. Then go to your local shop and buy a standard hybrid bike with flat pedals and big fat tyres rather than the thinner sporty ones. Find someone you know who bikes and start riding with them.
Better that than never
Some kids identify where their talent lies early but I was pretty rubbish at team sports. There were faster, higher-jumping girls than me at school but I was a highly motivated athlete who kept trying. By my second year studying medicine, I discovered that my body was a good engine for endurance sports, which don’t require hand-eye co-ordination. I caught the bug; you find out a lot about yourself in a triathlon and analyse your own performance. The Sport Commission’s talent-transfer program recognised that I could make a good rider.
It’s not all about natural ability
I wasn’t the fastest but I was tenacious. I’m the poster child for kids who cultivate aspects besides natural talent: discipline, persistence, being coachable, following a training program. I tell parents it’s OK if their kid is in the C team and isn’t a superstar at 12. It can be an advantage to bloom later. I’m a world record holder who is still going strong. It is intoxicating to pursue a discipline well suited to your body and become as fit as you possibly can. Being among the best in the world at something is an indescribable feeling.
What I love about the Tour de France
Athletes tend to train and eat spaghetti in their accommodation, accompanied on tour by physios and a specialised chef. Travelling as a commentator, I get to experience more local flavour on the road. The Tour de France is synonymous with scenic rural beauty and so you’re guaranteed to pass village bistros on the way that serve delicious country food. In France, fresh, buttery croissants and healthy salads are my road trip staples.
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