Meyer and Durbridge Earn Tirreno-Adriatico Selection

Western Australian Institute of Sport cyclists Cameron Meyer and Luke Durbridge have been named in the eight-man ORICA-GreenEDGE squad for the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race starting today.

The WA duo form part of the GreenEDGE squad that is looking to build momentum towards the spring classics, with the eight rider roster also containing a strong time trial element, with the Australian owned pro-team aiming for success in both team and individual time trial stages.

‘The Race of the Two Seas’ follows a typical stage race format that includes both a team time trial and individual time trial, sprint stages, hilly stages and summit finishes.

The route starts on Italy’s Tyrrhenian coast and ends on the Adriatic coast. With the start of Milan-Sanremo just days away after the conclusion of the eight day tour, Tirreno will reveal who is on form for the first major classic of the season.

GreenEDGE Sport Director Matt White earmarked stage one as the most important of the tour, with the team looking as far ahead as the World Championships, in the team time trial.

“Stage one will be the most important stage for us. It is the team time trial, and this is where we hope to shine. There won’t be many team time trial opportunities before the World Championships – the Giro d’Italia and maybe Eneco Tour – so this will be a good early season test for us,” he said.

White predicted the fourth stage would provide the most gruelling examination of his squad, with this likely to be the stage that the GC riders stake their title claims.

“Stage four is the longest and hardest of the tour. Here is where the GC riders will come to the head of the race and show their cards. There will likely be a lot of damage done to the peloton by the end of the day.”

Stage seven presents the individual time trial, a day in which both Cameron Meyer and Luke Durbridge can display their TT wares.

“Stage seven is the individual time trial. It’s nine kilometres out and back. Here we can expect any combination of an in-form Svein, Heppy, Durbo (Luke Durbridge) and Cam (Cameron Meyer) to be inside the top ten,” White said.

“Overall, a lot of the GC guys will be at Tirreno this year. In the past, they usually go to Paris-Nice but with the French tour’s unusual format this year, more have opted for Tirreno because of its time trials and summit finishes. We will see the real cr√®me de la cr√®me of GC riders battle it out over the weekend.”

“The time trials will be key for the overall. They’re short but if you give away 30″ or 40″ in the team time trial and another 15″ or 20″ in the individual time trial, that’s the GC right there. With only two crucial stages for the climbers, I think the time trials are going to make the difference of who finishes on the podium and who just misses out.”

-GreenEDGE