FORMER Horsham man Tim Decker played a major role in Australia's cycling success at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
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As Cycling Australia's men's track endurance coach, Decker worked hard behind the scenes as Australia topped the track cycling medal tally.
Australia claimed 20 medals, including seven gold, at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
Decker's men's teams pursuit quartet comprising Jack Bobridge, Luke Davison, Alexander Edmondson and Glenn O'Shea won gold on the opening day of competition.
Bobridge backed up that effort with gold in the individual pursuit the following day, with Edmondson winning silver.
Scott Sunderland won the men's kilometre time trial gold medal on day three, while O'Shea claimed a silver in the men's scratch.
Decker, now based in Adelaide, labelled the games a success for his team.
"For us it's a good step in the right direction," he said.
"We had a couple of key focuses and we hit those targets on the track.
"The Commonwealth Games means a lot to the riders and a lot to the staff."
Decker, also South Australian Sports Institute head cycling coach, was appointed to the national role in early 2013.
He said a focus on hard work and developing cyclists not just as athletes but as people was a major focus of his coaching.
"It's not just all about having champion cyclists," he said. "I want them to be good people on the other side of it and learn some life skills along the way."
Just when Decker thought his coaching commitments were over, he found himself a new role.
"I actually helped out with a little bit of the road stuff as well, which I didn't expect to," he said.
Decker will have a short break with his family before looking ahead to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
"What I'm doing is my passion," he said.
"My family sees it as me doing what I love it's a job and it's always been a part of my life. In the forefront is building towards Rio and in the background we're working away to make sure there is that development.
"For the next two years we have world cups and world championships, which qualify us for the Rio Olympics.
"That all starts in October."
