Saturday 16 April 2016, Torquay

Ambassadors

“Being a Geelong boy, the Great Ocean Road is where I grew up. I’ve ridden almost half the coast line of Australia and there is nothing more scenic and spectacular than the Great Ocean Road. It’s not only a beautiful ride, it’s also challenging, and to ride it in an organised event like this is a rare and fantastic opportunity. I look forward to seeing you there!”

Mark Beretta

‘Beretts’, as he’s most commonly known, is the sports presenter on Australia’s most watched breakfast TV show, Channel Seven’s Sunrise. He brings viewers across Australia all the latest sporting news from around the world every morning.

He started his career in radio working at 3GL in Geelong, and then Triple M in Melbourne.

Within a couple of years he made the transition to television working at Channel 10, before being snapped up by Seven in 1995.

Since then, Mark has worked on the network’s coverage of every summer and winter Olympic Games, been a member of Seven’s AFL commentary team, the Australian Open tennis commentary team, and for the past seven years has been part of Seven’s V8 Supercars commentary team, taking viewers deep into the workings of pit lane.

He was also on series seven of Dancing With The Stars, and has driven in the Australian Grand Prix Celebrity Race.

Mark is a 10-times Australian Water Ski champion, a silver medallist at the Singapore International Masters, and held a U.S. record.

He even holds a degree in engineering.

Mark is a passionate cyclist and a Tour de Cure board member. He has completed five of the cancer charity’s annual bike rides. Each covers more than 1,500km in 10 days.

Mark and his wife Rachel have two children, Ava and Daniel, and two dogs, Jimmy and Peppa.

“Heart disease and diabetes are two of the greatest causes of premature death in Australia. Most Australians have been affected, through a family member or friend, by these diseases,” said Tour de France commentator Matthew Keenan, who lost his grandfather and two uncles to heart attacks.

Thankfully the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute has been working for more than 80 years on life-saving research to reduce the impact of these diseases.

By riding the Great Ocean and Otway Classic, in 2016, you’ll be helping raise funds for the Baker IDI to provide hope for a better future for millions living with these conditions.” 

Matt Keenan

Summary

Matthew Keenan is a sports commentator, reporter, radio presenter and event MC predominantly working in cycling and triathlon.
As Australia’s leading cycling commentator, Matthew forms part of the international commentary team at the Tour de France. His Tour commentary can be heard in a number of countries including America, South Africa, New Zealand and on SBS in Australia.

Personal Sporting Achievements

• Two seasons racing in Europe
• Top-10 finisher at the Australian Road Championships
• 1996 Jayco Herald Sun Tour as part of the Jayco Australian Institute of Sport team

Experience

Commentator and/or reporter on some of the world’s biggest annual sporting events as part of the television broadcast, including:

• Tour de France
• Giro d’Italia
• Vuelta a Espana
• UCI World Championships (Track and Road)
• Commonwealth Games (2006 and 2010)
• Ironman (Melbourne, Port Macquarie, Cairns, Western Australia)
• ITU World Triathlon Series
• ITU Triathlon World Cup
• Noosa Multi-Sport Festival
• Equitana (equestrian)
• regular guest on ABC Grandstand, 3AW and 6PR

In addition to broadcasting, Matthew writes for Cyclist Magazine and has written opinion pieces for the Australian Financial Review, the Herald Sun and SBS Cycling Central.

Click here to view the series of videos.