After taking second at the Australian Masters Games in the pointscore race on the track, he is eligible to wear the Australian strip at the Masters Games.

It is the first time the 45-year-old will have donned his nation’s colours.

“It’s a huge honour,” he said.

“Something I didn’t expect – it’s come after 30 years of hard work.

“I will be representing NSW, but due to my silver at the nationals can wear the green and gold.

“I’m the number one endurance track cyclist in NSW for my division (masters 4, 45-49 years).”

He was second to Craig Taylor, who is a world silver medallist, in the 80 lap event.

Sprints are staged in the points race every 10 laps, with the top four in each sprint accumulating points, while if you lap the field you can also pick up 20 points.

“I had Craig in the early sprints, but because I had been doing work on the sprints and not endurance he managed to get away,” he said.

“He eventually lapped the field and despite that I only went down by 10 points for the gold.”

Rourke also raced the 3000m pursuit on the track and the road race where he finished 10th.

Again at the World Masters, Rourke will be pitting himself against Taylor on the track.

He will contest the points race, scratch race (over 40 laps) and the individual pursuit and along with Taylor will have to do battle with some great cyclists from around the world and Australia, including a brother of legendary Australian sprint cyclist Kenrick Tucker, Russell.

“I’m one of the younger blokes in my division, so I suppose this year is the time to strike” he said.

“There will be some good cyclists there, but I feel like I am ready to fire.”