MAL RUDOLPH
With an extensive
palmeres including podiums at national titles and a 1st and 3rd at the
Grafton-Inverell. Malcolm Rudolph who is
about to start a year at Drapac PCT our newest pro continental team is happy to
spend some time to answer some questions for his fans.
Hi Malcolm, thanks
for spending some time answering questions for your fans.
Congratulations on
your pro continental Drapac Cycling Team contract, this must be exciting times
for your ahead?
Thanks very much… Yes very exciting times ahead! I can't
wait to begin next season with the team, and as we are taking a step up to Pro
Continental status there are many new and exciting races on the horizon.
To allow the readers
to get to know you more, some quick questions;
Nickname? Well I have a quite a few! but usually just Mal for short
Home club?
Fraser
Coast Cycling Club in Sunny Qld
Favourite local
rides?
I really enjoy doing the
scenic and hilly ride up to Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious. It's proximity to the
Brisbane CBD and the great views always make for a great day on the bike.
Inspirations and role
models?
Warren Docker… a regular soigneur for the Drapac Team, an excellent
chef and always ready for a joke and a laugh. Great guy to have around the
team!
What do you study at
uni?
I am studying a Bachelor of
Secondary Education Majoring in Health and Physical Education
Did you ever have a
AIS or QIS scholarship, any comments?
I have held both QAS and AIS scholarships in the past,
having mixed experiences and results through them both.
Your father was a
national level cyclist and was cycling your first sport?
Yes Dad won a few national track titles when he was younger.
Initially I didn't like cycling at all, having spent many years as a junior swimmer.
But eventually at age 1,5 I became interested in the sport and Dad was always
around to help and guide me.
While you a certainly
not a unknown, with winning the 2009 Grafton-Inverell, 2nd in U23 Australian
Road Race and 3rd in Australian
Criterium champions you seem to slip just under the radar... or is that just
me?
Well this coming season, I will be working hard to change
that!
 |
| Mal is in very good company! |
You raced with
Jayco-Skins with good results for the team,
the people you raced with went on to GreenEDGE, Saxo-Bank and such. Are
you super keen to be a part of the Drapac assault on the pro-continental
circuit?
Through my time at
the AIS I raced with many incredible athletes, who have become good friends
along the way. Very keen to step up to a Pro continental team as it is
something I have been working towards for many years.
The Australia
National Road series has really taken a step up, we have great sponsors and
more press coverage and we are seeing Aussie go directly into the Pro-Tour. How
will Drapac pro continental help with the further development of the National
Road Series?
Without a doubt the NRS is becoming more and more
professional every year. At this stage it is hard to tell as currently Pro
continental teams cannot race NRS level races. Hopefully this rule can be
amended to allow our team to race a few NRS level events to boost the profile
of these events and to challenge the local NRS riders.
In Drapac PCT team
you have Jonathon Cantwell, Cants has certainly shown to Australian cyclists
with persistence and a sense of belief in oneself that you can achieve your
goals despite adversity. How excited are you to race with seasoned pro’s like
Cants?
Many riders on the team have gone through adversity and have
many years of experience racing overseas. I’m looking forward to learning a lot
from the seasoned campaigners of the team with World tour experience
What are your plans
for next year, how much of your race
program is known?
At this stage no race
program has been put together. I want to race well at the national titles in
January and earn a spot for the TDU, however I'm sure that every rider on the
team has that goal!
Seeing that Drapac is
now pro-con, how important is it that Tour Down Under organisation have allowed
a spot for an Aussie Pro continental team? Will this improve the chances of
Drapac PCT getting starts in pro con races? Imagine if you guys walked way with
a win!
It makes sense that an Australian backed team should be able
to race in Australia's biggest event. Its a huge goal for the team, and a win
is certainly not out of the question!
The Grafton-Inverell
a race you have had much success with is coming-up, how do you feel leading into
this race?
Unfortunately this year I am unable to race the Grafton due
to my participation in the Tour of Hainan in China, so I'm looking forward to
some success there instead!
Thanks for your time
Malcolm, do you have any supporters, sponsors or the such that you would like
to thank? Michael Drapac has been a wonderful supporter of cycling here in
Australia any comments?
Michael Drapac has been an incredible supporter of Australian
cycling and continues to provide opportunities for riders like myself to
compete on a world stage. without his passion and commitment to the sport
cycling in this country would be a lesser sport no doubt.
