Until he retired at the end of 2004, Sunderland was Australia's longest serving professional cyclist, and placed highly in many of the cycling world's greatest events.

[citation needed] As a racer, Sunderland had some injuries and setbacks, the most memorable being when he was struck by a car driven by his former director, Cees Priem, during the 1998 Amstel Gold race.

[citation needed] After his retirement Scott Sunderland became Sports Director with Bjarne Riis' CSC squad from 2004 till end of 2008.

In September 2008, Sunderland was recruited by the Cervélo TestTeam owner Gerard Vroomen to form his newly announced Professional Cycling Team.

[citation needed] In 2010, Team Sky entered its first year of competition with Scott Sunderland in the position of Senior Sports Director.