Michael Andrew Wilson

The North West Coast of Tasmania - the home of the famous Coastal Carnivals - has produced some outstanding track cyclists but a young and eager Michael Wilson was attracted to and achieved early success on the road rather than the track.

He first represented Tasmania in 1977 and was an immediate success on the national long distance scene when he won the Australian junior road championship in that year. In 1978, he was the Australian pursuit champion. Also in 1978 he became the youngest ever winner of the gruelling Tasmanian event, the Tour of the North.

In that same year he won the State 200km title, as well as securing fastest times for the Goulburn to Sydney and Grafton to Inverell road races. Following these successes he was an obvious selection in the Australian junior team to contest the 1978 World championships in the USA where he performed with distinction.

Further wins in 1979 in the Australian road championships in South Australia, the Western Australian Kirby Hardware Classic and the Victorian 50km Madison championship saw him gain his second Australian team jersey but this time in the senior team at the World track championships in Holland. This showed his versatility - both track and road representation is a great achievement. Michael then continued his rapid progress on the road and the ultimate selection came when he represented Australia at the 1980 Moscow Olympics where he was the first Australian to finish in the individual road race in a most creditable 25th position.

As well as all of these achievements, this quiet and modest young cyclist twice rode in the prestigious Tour de France. He won numerous events on the Continent, including a stage of the Tour of Italy in 1981. He met and matched some of the world's best cyclists.

Michael Wilson is arguably Tasmania's best performed road cyclist, who, in his very short career, made his mark as one of Australia's top cyclists where he matched it with the best in the cradle of road cycling - Europe. He deserves this recognition because of his determination and skill. He was a very versatile cyclist who represented his state and his country with dignity and honour and was a great ambassador both for his sport and Tasmania.