Australia's Scott Davis calls an end to his career

by Jered Gruber at 2:39 PM EST

Bundaberg native looking to go out with a bang at home this weekend

31 year old Australian cyclist, Scott Davis, has called an end to his nine year professional career. The rider, who spent the last season in the service of the Astana team, is ready to pursue new opportunities.

The native of Bundaberg was a member of Australia's U19 World Championship winning Team Pursuit squad in 1997 and signed on a stagiaire for the ill-fated Mercury Cycling Team in 2000, before returning to the amateur ranks for the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

In 2003, Davis signed for the Italian Panaria-Fiordo team, thus starting an interesting trip through the professional ranks over the next eight years. A two year stint with Panaria was followed by a one year deal with Tenax before heading to T-Mobile/Columbia for three years. In 2009, Davis was not resigned by Columbia and instead signed for the, at the time, American-based Australian team, Fly V. One year with Fly V was followed by a return to the ProTour in 2010 with Astana.

Allan Davis's older brother has not achieved the heights of success of his younger sibling, but carved a niche for himself as a powerful and consistent domestique in the major teams that he has ridden for throughout his career.

Vince Haberman of Australia's News Mail spoke with Davis as he prepares to bow out from professional cycling.

Davis still has one more race in mind before calling an end to his professional life: the 4BU Cycling Spectacular Bundy Cup on Wheels.

"It would be nice to win the last event on the program on Saturday night, the Kevin Brogden Memorial 40-lap Scratch Race again. It was formerly known as the Fred Heidke Memorial, and I won it twice, the last two times this carnival was held, in 2001 and 2002, so a hat-trick would be sweet. Allan and I have teamed up and it would be nice if one of us can win it, but as long as it is good racing, we will be happy."

After this weekend, retired life from pro cycling will begin. Davis is content with his professional career and is looking forward to life at home with his family, but admits that it will be hard to watch his brother head to European early next year.

"It will be great to watch them growing up, but it's going to be hard to not be riding, especially when Allan goes back overseas. But I'll probably ride for fun at a few local events when I can, and I will be director sportif for Swift Carbon, a Queensland team of eight riders, including my cousin Brad Davis, and I'll try and keep in the loop and try to get kids involved in cycling."

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