William Walker (cyclist)

William Walker (born 31 October 1985 in Subiaco, Western Australia) is a retired Australian professional road racing cyclist and Australian Champion who rode for the Dutch team Rabobank between 2005 and 2008 and Spanish team Fuji–Servetto in 2009. Walker was described as having a motor on par with Lance Armstrong,[1] with a reported recorded VO₂ max 94.[2] Walker was also heralded as Australia's next Cadel Evans.[3]

William Walker

Personal information
Full name	William Walker
Born	(1985-10-31) 31 October 1985 Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	60 kg (130 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Professional teams
2005–2008	Rabobank
2009	Fuji–Servetto
2012–2013	Drapac Cycling
2014	Synergy Baku Cycling Project
Major wins
Elite National Road Race Championships (2006) Under-23 National Road Race Championships (2006)
Medal record Representing  Australia Men's road bicycle racing World Championships 2005 Madrid U-23 Men's Road Race Silver Medal U-23 Men's Road Race 2005 UCI Road World Championships

Walker finished second to Dmytro Grabovskyy in the Under 23 World Road Championship in Madrid in 2005. In 2006 he famously crossed the line first in the 2006 Australian Road championships and was awarded the gold medal in both the Elite and Under 23 categories, being the first Under 23 rider in history to race in the Australian champion jersey.

Walker represented Australia in the 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008 World Road Championships as well as the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He also raced for Rabobank in the 2006 Vuelta España and the 2007 Giro d'Italia.

Walker did not ride for Fuji-Servetto in 2010 due to health issues. He returned to racing in 2012, making a successful return winning the 2012 Tour of Gippsland for Drapac Pro Cycling.[4] Walker moved to the Azerbaijan-based Synergy Baku Cycling Project for the 2014 season.[5] Walker was riding in the Australian National Road Race Championships in January 2014 when he suffered from sustained ventricular tachycardia and he retired from the race and from professional cycling.[3][4]