Simon Clarke loves numbers and this one reaffirmed his decision to retire from professional cycling. "Someone sent me a stat that I'm the oldest rider in the peloton this year," Clarke, 39, told AAP. One of Australian cycling's most respected competitors will close his outstanding career on Sunday at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race in Geelong. Clarke built a fine career around his reliability as a domestique, or helper, and road captain, or wise head in the team who calls the shots mid-race. "Fortunately my bigger challenges have come later in my career, when you are more mentally strong and mentally matured," Clarke said.