Former SBS TV cycling presenter Mike Tomalaris has revealed that he was “an emotional wreck” after being forced to resign from the broadcaster last month.
Cycling fans were mystified when the popular former Tour de France host suddenly left the network after 34 years with little explanation or fanfare.
His departure was only announced in a staff email, with news presenter Anton Enus posting on social media that it “left his colleagues and many friends at SBS News bereft”.
“My mental health was very unstable for the first time in my life,” Mike Tomalaris said. Credit:Wolter Peeters
Opening up about a rugged last month, Tomalaris confirmed he was asked to leave SBS, where he was employed as a news and sports presenter, for what he called a minor breach of the broadcaster’s code of conduct. He would not divulge what that breach was.
“It was a minor mistake and it wasn’t a hanging offence,” he said.
His theory was that SBS did not want to renew his contract.
“I’ll be 61 in a couple of weeks and I feel that age had a lot to do with my moving on,” he said. “It was SBS’s way of showing me the door because it was the cheapest option.”
While not commenting on the breach, an SBS spokesperson said the broadcaster had been committed to Tomalaris continuing his role in the news and sports team irrespective of his age.
“Any suggestion otherwise is untrue and at odds with our growing commitment and investment in major cycling events and his expanded role as a sports presenter on SBS News,” the spokesperson said. “We wish him well as he moves on from the network.”
Mike Tomalaris has been cycling up to 400 kilometres a week in the month since his sudden exit from SBS TV.Credit:Wolter Peeters
As well as continuing to broadcast the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and other major races, SBS’s cycling coverage will include the new Tour de France Femmes from next year.
Tomalaris, who covered the past 26 editions of the world’s greatest cycle race, said he had struggled with depression at the shock of his exit.
“It made me think of the people that I’ve lost through suicide,” he said. “And even though I never considered doing any damage to myself, it did cross my mind for the very first time.
“It took me about 14 days to get over the shock and the shock turned to anger and my mental health was very unstable for the first time in my life.”
Having taken up SBS’s offer of counselling support, Tomalaris said family, friends and cycling up to 400 kilometres a week had helped him feel ready for the next stage of his life.
“The turning point was the outpouring of public support from viewers who have followed my career,” he said. “It was overwhelming …
“I literally received thousands of personal messages – not to mention the wave of notices on various social media platforms.”
Tomalaris said he hoped to continue in broadcasting as well as being an advocate for cycling and maintaining his charity work for such organisations as Mental Wheels Foundation, Hands Across The Water and Youth Off The Streets.
“If I can put bums on and saddles and encourage people to take bicycles as a mode of transport or a recreation, my job is done,” he said.
While he would love to cover the Tour de France again, Tomalaris said he had been approached about taking cycling groups to Europe’s grand tours.
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