Russell Mockridge

Who was Russell Mockridge?

Russell Mockridge was a racing cyclist from Geelong, Victoria, Australia. He died during a race, in collision with a bus.

Mockridge started in 1946 by winning his first race of 40 km with Geelong Amateur Cycling Club. For his upper-class accent he was dubbed Little Lord Fauntleroy, but his wins soon earned him the nickname of The Geelong Flyer. He became described as 'Australia’s greatest all-round cyclist for all time'.

His ride in the 1948 Summer Olympics road race in London was ruined by two punctures and his team was eliminated in the quarter-final of the 4000m team pursuit. He represented Australia at the 1950 British Empire Games in Auckland. He took gold in the 1000m sprint and the 1000m time trial, and silver in the 4000m pursuit.

In Paris in July 1952 he won the Amateur Grand Prix and the following day the Open Grand Prix, beating world professional champion Reg Harris, becoming first to win both amateur and professional Paris Sprints. His humiliation of the professionals led to amateur riders being barred for many years. Later that year he won Manchester Wheelers' Club Muratti Cup again beating Reg Harris.