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RACE REPORTS: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: U-23 TT, BOBRIDGE BREAKS THROUGH
Road Bike Action
September 23, 2009
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(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Australia's Jack Bobridge shed tears after his victory in the men's under-23 time trial at the world road race championships on Wednesday. But the 20-year-old predicted he will bury all such emotions in the coming years as he aims to help Australia rise from the ashes to beat bitter track rivals Britain at the London Olympics in 2012.
In Beijing last year Bobridge was an integral part of the team that helped Australia to the bronze medal race-off in the team pursuit. And despite losing that match to Oceania rivals New Zealand, it was Britain's haul of seven gold medals, from a total of 10 on offer, that left Australia hurting the most.
With a haul of national track titles and under-23 Australian crowns on the road, Bobridge added the world under-23 time trial crown to his collection on Wednesday - and then broke down in tears. "I've won all my time trial races this year so I suppose I did put a bit of pressure on myself to perform," explained Bobridge, considered one of the most exciting talents the country has produced in years.
Bobridge recently signed a two-year deal with professional road team Garmin but insists their readiness to support his track cycling ambitions with Australia was paramount to his decision. And he believes that can help Australia, the track kings of Athens in 2004 who won only one medal in Beijing last year, get back to the top of the pile. "The GB team has upset the track hierarchy for the past couple of years but the support we're getting now is going to help bring us back on top," added Bobridge. "Give us three years and we'll be back to show that we're the best trackies in the world."
Bobridge's bold attitude, which he can back up with some incredible riding both on the road and on the track, is the stuff that team coaches and managers thrive on. And if his gutsy performances at the Tour Down Under in January - which impressed none other than seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong on the American's comeback race – are anything to go by Garmin should be looking forward to the next couple of seasons.
"Yeah, that was kind of awesome to have a rider like Lance Armstrong come out and say he was impressed by me," added Bobridge, who was one of a few riders that managed to go out training with Armstrong before January's race. "It has done heaps for my confidence all year." Next up for Bobridge is a well-deserved break, before he begins preparations for the winter track cycling season which he hopes will leave him in good shape for the world championships in Copenhagen next March. And despite having joined a road team in which British pursuit rival Bradley Wiggins is the team leader, the young Australian is sure he can count on everyone's support.
"The reason I joined Garmin was because they're dedicated to supporting my track ambitions for the next couple of years, up to London in 2012," added Bobridge. "That's one of my major goals but I'm also looking forward to getting to Europe to race among the pros (on the road). "I would love to race in all the Grand Tours (of France, Italy and Spain) but obviously I still have to see if I can step up to that level."
World Championships, Men U-23 Time trial (33.2km)
1. Jack Bobridge (AUS) 40:44
2. Nelson Oliveira (POR) @ .18
3. Patrick Gretsch (GER) @ .27
4. Marcel Kittel (GER) @ .34
5. Adriano Malori (ITA) @ .36
6. Alfredo Balloni (ITA) @ .39
7. Alex Dowsett (GBR) @ .43
8. Blaz Jarc (SLO) @ .59
9. Christian Rasmus Quaade (DEN) @ 1:06
10. David Veilleux (CAN) @ 1:11 |
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