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

Good on you Mal, I am a teacher too!

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.