This time last year the 50-year-old was lying in a hospital bed unsure if he would walk again, but now is he not only back on his feet but winning the first leg of the Tour de Riverina.

He thought his career was reward for all his hard work after being struck down by Guillain-Barre syndrome.

“It’s been a tough 12 months and a lot of hard work but the first win was really good,” Bradley said.

“I was in hospital this time last year paralysed from the neck down.

“I picked up a virus called Guillain-Barre, which attacks the nervous system, and I didn’t think I was going to walk or even more again but luckily Dr Martin Jude at Wagga Base Hospital reassured me that I’d walk out of there and three months later I was back walking and riding.”

Starting in the second limit, Bradley secured the win in The Rock Classic on Sunday just days after his 50^th birthday.

He proved too good in a bunch sprint finish and was thrilled all his hard work has paid off.

“I put in a real hard effort in the last six months concentrating on getting back into cycling,” Bradley said.

“I’ve done a few races and a lot of training in the last four months with the boys from Tolland and Wagga Cycle Centre.

“It has been really good.”

It was a great start to the series for the Tolland club with their cyclists filling the first four positions.

Bradley beat out Darren Higgins and Luke McMahon to fill the podium.

Kylie Johnson was fourth across the line and also took out honours as the fastest woman.

Tolland’s Peter Treloar finished with the fastest time of 1:36.23 hours with Myles Stewart second fastest.

The second leg of the series is in Cootamundra next month but first attentions heads to the Tolland Open will be held on March 2 and 3 at Ladysmith.

There will be a real international flavour with five New Zealand riders set to come as over they chase the $20,000 in prizemoney.

Around 70 entries are in but Wagga cycling legend Barry O’Hagan expects that to easily double before nominations close on Thursday.

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