Australian cycling sensation, Stuart O’Grady, is returning to cycling after recovering from his fall at this past Tour de France.

 He will race in the Jayco Australian team, in his first appearance in the event for a decade. In his only previous appearance in Australia’s oldest stage race, in 1997, he claimed the opening stage before going on to score two more stage victories. The Olympic, world and Commonwealth Games champion said there will be some trepidation before his return to competitive racing.

It’s good to see that he’s recovered from a broken shoulder, eight fractured ribs, a fractured collarbone, three fractured vertebrae, and a punctured lung.  Yowza!

“I’m sure I’ll be pretty nervous,” he said. “I’m not expecting miracles and I know I’m going to suffer. But I’ve got to look at the bigger picture and 2008 is going to be a big year. I’ve made it very, very clear that I’ll be in no shape to contest the overall victory or even a stage win. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to last the distance. I’ve only done about ten half-decent training rides but I’ve got to get through and get some kilometres into the legs,” O’Grady played down his ambitions.

Well, here’s to hoping that O’Grady can bring some increased competition to future races, and make things all that more interesting.

Read more about O’Grady here.