Meyer and Durbridge Shine in Ballarat

WAIS/AIS cyclist Cameron Meyer celebrated his 23rd birthday by successfully defending his Australian time trial crown at the 2011 Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships in Learmonth today while fellow WAIS/AIS rider Luke Durbridge took the U23 men’s gold medal.

Meyer covered the 38.2kilometre course in 47mins 10.72seconds to finish thirteen seconds ahead of Garmin-Cervelo team mate Jack Bobridge of South Australia, who crossed the line in 47mins 23.42secs. Elite debutant Michael Matthews, riding in his new Rabobank team colours, was third in 47mins 31.26secs.

“It is an extra special (birthday) present and something I trained hard for over December, so to come out and win back to back is very nice,” said Meyer.

“I am looking forward to taking the jersey over to Europe to represent (Australia) again.”

Coming off a 2010 in which he claimed three world titles and three Commonwealth Games gold medals on the track, Meyer, as the defending champion, was the last of 42 riders to tackle the course.

“There is that extra little bit of pressure knowing that you are going to be starting last, extra expectations on the shoulders, but it did motivate me to train that little bit harder,” said Meyer.

“I went in there knowing that I could win and that’s what I wanted, the gold medal and the jersey.

“It is really hard to ride a forty kilometre time trial in January as you don’t have the races under your belt that you do in July and June and the course was totally different to last year and the weather conditions weren’t ideal out there and you had to be really careful on the corners, it was very hard to see.

“But that’s a part of bike racing and I am very happy that I adapted to the conditions this year and last year and got the win.”

It’s the second straight year the Garmin team has claimed the double with the Meyer brothers sharing the time trial and road race spoils in 2010 and Bobridge winning Sunday’s elite men’s road race ahead of Meyer’s time trial victory.

“We are a great unit and we are showing that we are taking the right steps as young professionals.”

Bobridge, 21, admitted he was pretty tired after his solo break away effort of Sunday but was quick to praise his team mate’s performance.

“When I got on the bike this morning, I knew my legs were still a bit tight and tired from Sunday road race,” said Bobridge.

“But that was to be expected, and I am still stoked with second place.

“It was so close and to finish that close to Cam, I was rapt as he is all class when it comes to time trials. He definitely deserves the win today,” said Bobridge.

“Now we look to next week’s Tour Down Under as our results here show that we have good form and we have a very good strong team there too.”

For reigning under 23 road race World Champion Matthews the third place on the podium was a welcome result in his first year in the elite ranks.

“It was a first day on the new Giant (bike), so it was a bit interesting over the first ten kilometres, but I managed to get my tempo going over,” said Matthews.

“It is a dream come true coming that close to a rider of that ability.”

In the under 23 men’s event, 2010 world championship under 23 time trial silver medalist Luke Durbridge, 19, was too classy for his competitors, taking out the 27.1kilometre event by almost a minute.

The West Australian averaged 48.71kilometres an hour over the 27.1kilomete course to finish in 33mins 23.01secs, fifty seconds ahead of Queensland’s Michael Hepburn (34mins13.29secs). Fellow Queenslander Jay McCarthy completed the clean sweep for Team Jayco AIS with bronze (34mins27.62secs).

“I am really stoked to take this out, as it will be really good to wear the under 23 national colours in Europe,” said Durbridge, 19.

Last October, Durbridge became the youngest rider in history to claim a medal in the under 23 time trial at a world championships, finishing an agonising 1.9 seconds outside the gold medal at the 2010 UCI Road World Championships in Geelong. He then headed to the Commonwealth Games where he claimed bronze in the open men’s time trial.

The 2009 junior world champion was the second last rider of 40 to take to the course with defending champion Rohan Dennis of South Australia behind him, despite the inclement weather Durbridge blistered around the course, overtaking the rider ahead of him, road race silver medallist Nathan Haas, by the half way point.

“I came here as one of the favourites so I had a fair bit of pressure, and as I had Rohan chasing me, I was a bit nervous,” explained Durbridge.

“So probably I rode a little bit on fear, hoping I could take it out today, and I think running on adrenaline worked.

“And knowing the ground was going to be wet, I just took it carefully (as) you are not going to win if you crash, so you might as well slow down at the corners and make up the speed on the straights, which I did.

“It’s a good start (to 2011), but worlds are a long way off, so it’s a good confidence booster that I can wear the colours in Europe, but I am not going to get ahead of myself,” added Durbridge.

Team Jayco AIS filled the top five positions as Damian Howson and Nick Aitken placed fourth and fifth respectively. Durbridge praised his team for today’s performances given their disappointment in not securing a podium finish in Saturday’s U23 men’s road race.

“Full credit to all the guys and the coaching and support staff. It’s a fantastic feeling, a real good moral booster for the team to come out here and finish on a high,” said Durbridge.

Hepburn, 19, a member Australia’s reigning world and Commonwealth Games champion pursuit teams, was also pleased with his ride.

“You go out to win, but look who won – one of the best time triallers in the world,” said Hepburn, adding “My preparation hasn’t been all that great, so I can’t be disappointed with second.”

Similarly 2010 junior road World Championships silver medalist McCarthy, 18, was ecstatic to finish on the podium alongside his team mates.

“First year out of juniors and the last 12 months I have really worked on my time trial, and am happy to get third today,” said McCarthy.

– Cycling Australia