Brothers Meyer Join GreenEDGE
WAIS-AIS scholarship holders Cameron and Travis Meyer have been unveiled along with Australian Cyclones teammate Jack Bobridge as the first signings for the Australian Professional road team GreenEDGE Cyling.
At just 23-Cameron Meyer is already a five times world track champion, Bobridge, 22, has three world track titles to his name and Travis Meyer, 22, has won the Australian Elite Road Championship in 2010 at his first attempt.
All three have spent the past few seasons, on the road, as part of the American Garmin-Cervelo team but Cameron Meyer and Bobridge are among Australia’s 2012 London Olympics prospects.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Garmin-Cervelo but joining GreenEDGE gives me the best support possible to chase my dreams and of becoming one of the leading road riders in the world along with the possibility of riding at the Olympic Games in 2012,” WAIS Athlete of the Year Cameron Meyer said.
“Up until now I have focused my efforts on being the best track rider in the world, and I have been satisfied with my achievements so far. However, the next phase of my cycling career will see me turn my attention to developing as a top road rider in Europe.”
I would really like the opportunity to continue my progress in Grand Tours and test myself in the Tour de France along with the one-day classics like Liege-Bastogne-Liege. If I can accomplish these goals whilst being part of an Australian team, it would certainly be the icing on the top.
“The people behind GreenEDGE, like Shayne Bannan (the General Manager), have been crucial in my career getting to where it is today. So I’ve got complete confidence in them providing me with the right environment to continue that progress.”
Having won the 2011 Tour Down Under it’s clear that with time Meyer will have a major impact on the road.
Bobridge shares Meyer’s Olympics ambitions on the track despite the South Australian being heralded by Lance Armstrong two years ago as one of road cycling’s the most exciting prospects.
“One of the best things about riding the track is that you get to be part of an Australian team regularly at world cups and the world championships. Joining GreenEDGE will let me ride as part of an Australian team all year round, whether I’m on the track or the road,” Bobridge said.
“But more importantly the team is right behind my Olympic ambitions on the track.
“At the Beijing Olympics I rode the team pursuit and we finished fourth, just outside the medals, which was pretty hard to take. GreenEDGE will give me the support I need to go to London in the best condition I can be to see if I can be part of the team pursuit squad that brings home gold.”
However, Bobridge’s ambitions aren’t limited to the track, which were clear in January when he stormed to victory in the Australian Road Championships ahead of seasoned campaigners Matt Goss and Simon Gerrans.
Travis Meyer, however, has already made the decision to focus solely on his road career.
The 2010 Australian road champion has had an injury interrupted year but is now building towards next season with the support that GreenEDGE Cycling has already put in place for the team.
“Since having surgery for a blocked artery in my left leg in June, I have been out of action and my season is basically over, so it is great that Shayne and GreenEDGE have shown faith in me by offering a place on their roster for 2012,” said meyer.
“It’s been a little frustrating sitting on the sidelines for a good portion of the year but that only adds to my motivation. One of the challenges is going to be not to rush things.”
Shayne Bannan, GreenEDGE Cycling General Manager, is delighted to have secured all three, who he considers a key part of the long-term plans for the team.
“During my time at the Australian Institute of Sport I worked with many of the young Australians now making an impact on cycling’s world stage so I’m pleased to be able to continue that with three of our most talented young riders,” Bannan said.
“Cameron and Jack are going to play a big role in Australia’s success on the track at the Olympics and have already proven their quality on the road.
“Not many guys can finish the final time trial of a three week tour in the top-10 at such a young age like Cameron has for the past two editions of the Giro d’Italia. Plus Jack was the U23 time trial world champion in 2009.
“And Travis was making big gains over the past 12-months before injury got the better of him. We know his recovery is in good hands and a minor step-back doesn’t change how talented he is.
“Travis won five junior world titles on the track and as soon as he stepped up to the elite ranks he won the Australian road title at his first attempt.”
“As an Australian team aiming to be around for a long time it was important for us to make these three guys founding members of the team because they’re going to be around at the top level for a long time.”
GreenEDGE Cycling