Colac cyclist Andrew Cox has been on one hell of a ride since he last rode the Port Campbell to Warrnambool handicap race only one year ago.
The long-time Colac Cycling Club member was struck down with a melanoma scare on his right leg and a cancer on his eyelid in November.
But Cox has made a full recovery and is now back on the bike and preparing to take on the Port Campbell to Warrnambool handicap race once again.
Cox is a pastor at Colac’s Christian Family Church and has been a keen cyclist in the local area for a very long time.
“I have been racing with the Colac club for a long time now and I started back in the late ‘90s when the club got going again,” he said.
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Where To Buy“I done a lot of track racing and stuff on the velodrome all around the state and since having kids I haven’t done near as much.
“But I rode in the Port Campbell to Warrnambool last year and got a bit fitter again to try and give it a go and this year I didn’t think I would be able to do it because I had a bit of a cancer thing going on late last year.”
The 39-year-old said his training and preparation had been interrupted due to the cancer and surgery keeping him off the bike for weeks.
“Last year I had my training shut down completely because I had a couple of surgeries to get the cancer removed but it was only just before Christmas that I could get back on the bike,” he said.
“I then got over that and thought it would be a good reason to get trained up and fit again, so I have done the best to get myself ready again for this year.”
Cox said he was putting no expectations on where he would finish the race on Saturday but instead have a good team and make his family proud.
“I am there to have a good time and if I happened to make it near the finish, I have a pretty good sprint, but we will see if I have any energy near the finish because I haven’t done any 75 km races,” he said.
“I have got a few kids that ride and race as well, so I am keen to get out there and show them what else is around to get into.
“And the Melbourne to Warrnambool is one of the world’s most historic races and I was always keen to have a go at it but as time has gone on, I thought the Port Campbell to Warrnambool would be more achievable.”