Having marvelled at Neiwand's sporting exploits from afar, Drapac was horrified by what he encountered close up.
''Here was this man, at 33 years of age when I met him, who really had no life skills. He was institutionalised,'' he recalls.
''But Gary was a product of a system. I'm not excusing what he's done since [Neiwand was jailed in 2006 for breaching an intervention order and in 2012 received a suspended four-month jail term for exposing himself to two women], but I'd ask - why is it?''
Since then, Drapac has counselled several suicidal cyclists, who he says have been messed up by an utter lack of preparedness for sporting dreams not being fulfilled. He has watched tears stream from faces as honest sporting stories - not those we see on race day or even at training - have been shared in confidence.
''They're in shocking black holes. In deep, dark places,'' Drapac says. ''There's helplessness, a lack of self-worth, and just a crying out. The word suicide has come up on a number of occasions. Not a dozen, but a number of occasions. What disturbs me most is that the system doesn't seem to care about it. The system won't seem to take responsibility for it.''