Cam Meyer Wins Bronze at Road World Champs

WAIS cyclist Cameron Meyer has collected the bronze medal in the U23 time trial at the 2008 UCI road cycling World Championships in Varese, Italy, becoming the first Australian to medal at the Championships.

Meyer posted a time of 42min40.34sec for the 33.5km circuit to finish 1min04.36sec behind the gold medallist, Italy’s Adriano Malori (41min35.98sec) with German rider Patrick Gretsch second in 42min25.65sec.

Meyer was the 22nd rider to start the race and after posting the fastest finishing time then sat in the ‘hot seat’ as he waited for every other rider to complete the course including his brother Travis, 19, who finished in 19th place in 43min34.06sec.

“It was a long time in the hot seat and when it got down the last ten riders I was thinking I hope three riders don’t dud me and push me into fourth again,” said Meyer who at the recent Olympic Games and the past two World Championships on the track has finished fourth in the points race. “I was really happy to hang onto a medal and that I had something to show for all the hard work that went into it.

Meyer believes the result could prove the catalyst for future success after breaking into the top three.

“I reckon I’ve broken the (fourth place) voodoo that was on me and hopefully there are many more World Championships and many more medals to come now.”

After Beijing Meyer flew back to the Australian team base near Varese to train on the time trial and road courses and prepare for this week. He also contested the Tour of Britain as a final lead up event to the Championships.

“I knew the course a lot better than most of the riders out there which I think helped,” he explained. “I didn’t think I had the best ride out there but I held it together and did everything right and got on the podium.”

The result was made even more impressive considering it’s only the second time trial Meyer has contested since he finished fifth at the Junior World Championships in Belgium in 2006. At those same Championships on the track he claimed three gold medals in the individual pursuit and along with his brother Travis the Madison and teams pursuit.

“I did a time trial in the Circuito Montanes in Spain earlier this year and placed second as well,” he said. “Let’s hope it can get even better from here.

“Today was a hard course and I trained a lot on it,” said Meyer. “The hill was the decisive point on the route but you had to do eight kilometres before the hill so I held back a little bit so I could really put myself in contention over the top.

“Then I brought it home well, nailed all the parts I wanted to nail and got on the podium.”

Meyer says it was pretty special to be riding in the event for Australia with his brother Travis and predicted his parents would be feeling very proud back home in Perth.

“Having both of us selected in the Australian team is a big deal in itself and then for me to medal and him to finish in the top twenty is a good day indeed,” said Meyer.

“The folks at home will be buzzing for sure.”