Nicola Rutzou
We’ve once again dug into the Sirotti archives this week to find some classic shots of Aussie champion Phil Anderson, who was a trailblazer for many cyclists.
In a time when very few Australian riders made it to the world stage, Anderson wore the coveted yellow jersey at the Tour de France in 1981 for one stage. In 1982, he went on to wear the yellow jersey for nine stages and finished fifth overall. He was the first non-European rider to lead the great race.
But his achievements as a rider also included 71 victories during his professional career that spanned from 1980 to 1994, including Giro d’Italia stages and wins in the Tour de Suisse (1985), Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (1985) and the Tour de Romandie (1989).
Since his racing retirement, he’s run his own cycling tour company, leading many tours to races like the Tour de France, and has been ever-present, sharing his knowledge and inspiration.
Anderson received many awards and honours for his contributions to cycling, including the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1987, the Australian Sports Medal in 2000, and the Centenary Medal in 2001. He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Cycling Australia Hall of Fame in 2015.
Read our detailed interview with Anderson here.
