Ginn swaps oars for pedals

Triple Olympic rowing champion Drew Ginn has put no ceiling on his new career as a road cyclist.

Ginn won the men's 40km time trial on Friday at the Oceania championships in Southland, New Zealand, his first major success in the sport.

Ginn, from Victoria, clocked 51 minutes and 40 seconds after only three weeks' specific training on a time trial bike.

A back injury prompted the 34-year-old Ginn to spend more time on a bike at the start of the year and he increased his training a couple of months ago.

His next major event will be the time trial at the Australian road championships, at Buninyong, near Ballarat, in January.

"I'm pretty realistic - I have a good group of people around me who are helping," Ginn told AAP from New Zealand.

"The next chance is the Aussie time trial in January and you get a really good chance to see how you compare to the better guys in Australia.

"From me, it's the motivation of wanting to see how far we can take it.

"I'm open to any opportunity to perform ... give me a chance and I will see how I go."

Olympic cycling gold medallist Scott McGrory and fellow Victorian Institute of Sport coach Jonathon Hall have been advising Ginn.

The former Oarsome Foursome rower has tried other sports before, finishing the Ironman Australia triathlon in 2005.

"It's a positive start to it all and I didn't come here with any expectations, apart from seeing how I could go," Ginn said of his
Oceania win.

"I walk away from the day with some really good things I've learned and to try in the future.

"It's heading in the right direction, put it that way."

Ginn, who won his third Olympic gold medal at last year's Beijing Games, has not given up his original sport.

"I can have a crack at it and see how far I can go - if it doesn't work out, I can certainly considering rowing in the future," Ginn said.

"At the moment, I'm not concentrating on rowing - I can ride, I'm pain-free."

Asked about his age, Ginn replied: "I'm 34 and getting younger by the day - I keep telling myself that, anyway."