Evergreen Simon Clarke eyes big year after third podium

Veteran Simon Clarke is eyeing another big year on the European roads after opening his campaign in Spain in the same manner that he ended his recent jaunt back home in Australia – with an impressive podium finish.

The evergreen 36-year-old Israel-Premier Tech rider opened his overseas schedule on Saturday by finishing runner-up in the one-day Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia Costa Calida race in south-east Spain.

It came less than a fortnight since he ended an eventful spell back home in Australia by finishing third in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, three weeks after he’d also been runner-up in the national championship road race behind Luke Plapp.

In between, though, Clarke had struggled at the Tour Down Under after testing positive for COVID-19, just as he had done after a career-defining, epic win on a brutal cobbled stage of the Tour de France between Lille and Arenberg last summer.

“It was great to bring some form from the races in Australia, and it’s good to get on the podium and get some results for the team,” said Clarke, whose palmares also features two stage wins and the 2012 King of the Mountains jersey at the Vuelta a Espana.

“Hopefully, I can get some more strong finishes in the races to come.”

In the 183.5km slog between San Javier and Cartagena on Saturday, hit by snow and other difficult weather conditions that forced organisers to drop one of the key climbs of the day, Clarke battled through, only to lose out in a bunch sprint finish to Briton Ben Turner.

“When I saw the final, I thought this is my finish,” reflected Clarke.

“I meant it was a little bit dangerous coming into the final there but finding good position like that is my thing so, I just made sure I picked the right side of the corners and lined myself up for the finish.

“Turner just had a better turn of speed than me in that last 100 metres but it was great to be there contesting for the win.”