By Parker McKenzie
Following Yarra Ranges resident Simon Clarke’s win in the fifth stage of the Tour de France, Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Jim Child paid tribute to his success at a council meeting on Tuesday 12 July
Mr Child said he thought it was very appropriate to acknowledge the cycling Australian veteran’s success on Wednesday 6 July.
“Those counselors that are here tonight, a lot of you would appreciate that,” he said.
“Simon’s father was past counsellor Mike Clark.”
Mike Clarke was a Yarra Ranges counsellor from 2015 until 2020 for the Lyster Ward, which covers Belgrave and the surrounding areas. He was succeeded by current Deputy Mayor Johanna Skelton after choosing not to run in the 2020 Council elections.
“Simon’s magnificent last-ditch Tour de France triumphs crowns a 20 year slog on Europe’s roads after a brutal crash strewn cobbles, stage five,” Mayor Child said.
“Any of us that did watch that stage the other night would realise it’s probably one of the toughest stages of the Tour de France.”
Mr Clarke completed the stage in 3 hours, 13 minutes and 35 seconds to win the biggest accolade of his 20-year career. He passed the finish line centimetres ahead of Taco Van Der Horn after throwing his bike across the line at the finish of the gruelling 157km cycle from Lille to Arenberg.
“Simon first went to Europe, at the age of 16. He’s now 36,” Mayor Child said.
“To achieve that stage win was just amazing at that age. To me it just bears such determination. we wish Simon all the very best for the rest of the tour.”
The Tour De France continues until 24 July and features 21 stages, totalling 3,349.8km across the 24-day event.
