Karl Menzies

Karl was poised to have another strong season until a crash at the Reading Classic in early June took him out of competition for the summer. He returned to racing late in August and started to show a return to form at the Tour of Missouri. For 2009, Karl will look to return to the top 5 of the NRC standings once again.

Date of Birth/Location: 17th June, 1977 / Devonport, Tasmania.

Height: 186cm

Weight: 186 lbs, this is quite variable.

Current Residence: Grand Rapids, MI

Education (include years): St. Brendan Shaw College
University of Tasmania, 2 years.
Years Racing: 8

Years as a Pro: 5

Previous Team(s)/Year(s):
Health Net Presented by Maxxis, 2006-08
Advantage Benefits/Endeavour, 2005

Strengths on the bike:
Being able to produce a lot of watts.

Strengths off the bike: My charismatic looks…

Nickname:
Ten, Big Unit, Hollywood, Silverback (although Mike Sayers is the only guy that calls me this).

Family Status: I am dating the lovely Heather Opacki and we have a dog, Winston..

Favorite Movies: I enjoyed RocknRolla, that was the last movie I saw..
Any kind of movie like that: Snatch, Lock Stock and Fight Club.
Step Brothers was also a good watch. I don’t like to think too much at the movies.

Currently on my iPod: Kings of Leon was my latest addition.

Little known fact about Karl: I do have feelings.

Palmares

Career Highlights:
4th Overall, National Racing Calendar Individual Points Competition, 2007
2nd Overall, National Racing Calendar Individual Points Competition, 2006
5th Overall, National Racing Calendar Individual Points Competition, 2005

Wins:

2007
1st Stage 1, Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under (3 days in leader’s jersey)
1st Overall, International Tour de ‘Toona
1st Stage 2, International Tour de ‘Toona
1st Stage 3, International Tour de ‘Toona
1st Stage 5, International Tour de ‘Toona
1st Stage 7, International Tour de ‘Toona
1st Alpine Valley Road Race
1st Merco Credit Union Foothills Road Race
1st Stage 2, Joe Martin Stage Race
1st Stage 4, Joe Martin Stage Race
1st Stage 3, Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race
1st Points Competition, Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race
1st CU Criterium

2006
1st Overall, Nature Valley Grand Prix
1st Overall, Parker Mainstreet Omnium
1st Stage 2, Jayco Herald SunTour
1st Stage 4, Nature Valley Grand Prix
1st Stage 1, International Tour de ‘Toona
1st Stage 2, Redlands Classic
1st Stage 2, Tour de Nez
1st Stage 3, Parker Mainstreet Omnium
1st Stage 12, International Superweek
1st Cherry Pie Criterium
1st Sausalito Criterium
1st Snelling Road Race
1st Stage 2, San Dimas Stage Race
1st Santa Cruz Criterium
1st Points Competition, Redlands Classic
1st Points Competition, San Dimas Stage Race

2005
1st Overall, International Cycling Classic/Superweek
1st Stage 2, International Cycling Classic/Superweek
1st Stage 2, Tour of Southland

2004
1st Stage 1, Herald Sun Tour
1st Sprint Classification, Herald Sun Tour

Other Major Results:

2008
2nd Lehigh Valley Classic
2nd Stage 3, Joe Martin Stage Race
2nd Sunny King Criterium
2nd Stage 1, Tour of Arkansas
2nd Stage 4, Tour of Arkansas
3rd CSC Invitational
5th Sequoia Classic TT
5th Sequoia Classic Criterium
7th Overall, Joe Martin Stage Race

2007
2nd Overall, Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under
2nd Atlanta 100 km Classic
2nd Stage 1, Tri Peaks Challenge
2nd Stage 2, Tri Peaks Challenge
3rd Australian Road Race National Championship
3rd Stage 6, International Tour de ‘Toona
3rd Stage 4, Tri Peaks Challenge
3rd Chris Thater Memorial
4th Gunns Mitre 10 Cycle Classic
5th Overall, Joe Martin Stage Race
5th Presbyterian Healthcare Invitational
5th Stage 6, Tour of Missouri
6th Overall, Tri Peaks Challenge

2006
2nd Overall, Tour de Nez
2nd Stage 7, Peace Race, Czech Republic
2nd CSC Invitational
2nd Stage 3, International Tour de ‘Toona
2nd Stage 7, International Tour de ‘Toona
2nd Sea Otter Classic
2nd Stage 1, Parker Mainstreet Omnium
2nd Stage 2, Parker Mainstreet Omnium
2nd Stage 11, International Superweek
3rd Stage 1, Jayco Herald SunTour
3rd Stage 2, Nature Valley Grand Prix
3rd Stage 4, International Tour de ‘Toona
3rd Downer’s Grove Pro Am
3rd Merced Criterium
4th Overall, International Tour de ‘Toona
4th Overall, San Dimas Stage Race
4th Stage 1, Ford Tour de Georgia
4th Stage 2, Ford Tour de Georgia
4th Stage 7, Jayco Herald SunTour
4th Stage 1, Nature Valley Grand Prix
4th Stage 5, Nature Valley Grand Prix
5th Overall, Redlands Classic
7th Overall, Jayco Herald SunTour
7th Trophee des Grimpeurs, France

2005
2nd Overall, Joe Martin Stage Race
2nd Stage 1, Joe Martin Stage Race
2nd Stage 2, Joe Martin Stage Race
2nd CapTech Classic
2nd Stage 1, Nature Valley Grand Prix
2nd Stage 4, Nature Valley Grand Prix
2nd Stage 6, International Cycling Classic/Superweek
2nd Stage 18, International Cycling Classic/Superweek
2nd Carolina Cup
3rd Overall, San Dimas Stage Race
3rd Overall, Tour de Nez
3rd Stage 4, Herald Sun Tour
3rd Stage 7, Tour of Southland
3rd Stage 4, Joe Martin Stage Race
3rd Stage 5, International Cycling Classic/Superweek
3rd Stage 7, International Cycling Classic/Superweek
4th  Wachovia Invitational-Lancaster

2004
2nd Stage 6, Herald Sun Tour
2nd Stage 13, Herald Sun Tour
2nd Stage 4, Tour of Wellington
2nd Stage1, Tour of Korea
2nd Stage 3, Tour of Korea
2nd Stage 14, International Cycling Classic/Superweek
2nd Stage 15, International Cycling Classic/Superweek
3rd Overall, Tour of Wellington (UCI 2.5)
3rd Overall, Tour of Korea (UCI 2.5)
3rd Stage 4, Tour of Korea
5th Overall, Herald Sun Tour (UCI 2.3)
5th Stage 2, International Cycling Classic/Superweek

In his own words

After missing pretty much the entire second half of the 2008 season due to injury, how motivated are you to get back and mix it up this year?
I would say that I am extremely motivated. I have made a few changes to my training during the off/pre season and hope that a fresh new approach can produce some great results for the new team.

What was most frustrating about being out last year?
I knew that I was in my best form of the year when I crashed so that was disappointing but that’s about all. I had great support from the Team and Doctor Roshon, so I just tried to get my fitness back and heal up as quick as possible.
The positive thing is it has helped me focus on some great results for 2009.

What are your goals or expectations for the 2009 season?
The same as every season. Start off with some good team or individual results in CA and then try and win as many races as we can for the rest of the year.

How did you spend your off-season?
I went for a holiday in Miami Beach and the Keys in October. I came to realize that the beaches in the Keys suck quite a bit, but we still had a great time. I was nearly able to even up my tan lines, before heading back to Michigan to hibernate through a little bit of winter. Luckily I was able to do some house renovations to our basement which was something a little out of my league but we got it done. I also got to experience the joys of shoveling snow from the driveway each morning and driving in snow/ice. After this I went back to Tassie for five weeks to get a little summer and see the family and got back in MI January 15 to catch a bit more snow before training camp.. And that was it..

When did you start racing, and why?
When I was about 22. I did triathlons for many years and it took me a while to realize I couldn’t run very well, so I stuck to bike riding and everything has gone well since that day.

Who were/are your cycling mentors and/or influences?
The support of my family and Heather would be my biggest influence. Also there are a lot of friends here in Tassie that follow every race the team does, so that’s always nice to know.

What was your first bike? When/how did you get it?
My first bike was a Trail Blazer BMX. My first road bike was a Repco Olympic 12, which was my Dad’s and he let me use it when I started. I think it had a lovely magenta paint job.

What was your first win?
Not really sure. I know it took a long time to come. Quite a lot of training.

What would you consider your finest moment on the bike?
My finest moment on the bike would have to be winning Stage 1 in the Tour Down Under and finishing second overall. It was not expected by anyone, least of all myself and was definitely a great memory.

What was your worst or most embarrassing moment on the bike?
My embarrassing moment would still have to be the incident from Superweek 2005. I was riding down the home straight in the Leader’s yellow jersey and made a smart ass comment to Erik Saunders. He said something back and as I went to circle back I clean dropped myself as I couldn’t clip out. It was in front of most of the crowd, at the time it was a little embarrassing.
As for worst it would have to be my crash in Reading. Until that day I had not broken a bone…

When you’re not on your bike, what do you like to do?
I love spending time with Heather and walking our dog Winston….
I also enjoy drinking coffee, having beers with friends, watching movies, and spending a lot of time on the internet. I do also enjoy to sleep..