WAIS Cyclists to Take on the World
WAIS-AIS cyclist Luke Durbridge has capped a successful week by being named in Cycling Australia’s U23 squad for the Road World Championships to be held in Copenhagen later this month.
Durbridge earlier in the week rode a superb time-trial to take gold at the prestigious Chrono Champenois in France, in a new record time for the 33.4 km circuit.
The U23 squad announcement joins the earlier released junior world road team that also contains WAIS athletes Brad Lindfield and Jessica Allen, who have both enjoyed strong performances of their own in preparation for Denmark.
As a time-trial silver medallist in his first year at U23 level in 2010 at the World Championships in Geelong, Durbridge is considered a major threat to the medals again in 2011, with his recent form suggesting that view is well justified.
The dual WAIS Junior Athlete of the Year is also expected to form a crucial part of the Australian U23 road race team, with Durbridge likely to be given the role of pace-setting and bridging breakaways to set up the group’s sprinters.
WAIS head cycling coach Darryl Benson predicted that Durbridge could go one better than his debut silver a year ago in Australia.
“Having spoken with Luke, he’s said that he feels he’s found the form he needs heading into Worlds,” Benson said.
“It’s important, as he believes he’s in a very strong position to medal again.”
On the junior front, WAIS youngster Brad Lindfield will head into his first world championships campaign in high spirits after winning one of Europe’s major amateur road races, the Regio Tour in Italy. The race is highly regarded for developing junior athletes, and it traditionally forms an important part of the Junior Road World Championship preparations.
Benson said that the significance of this result couldn’t be underestimated so close to Worlds.
“That is a really big win for young Bradley,” Benson said. “It’s a major event, and a good lead up for his first world championships as a first year U19 rider.”
“Bradley of course wasn’t alone in winning the Reggio, with his teammates on the Australian Junior team, riding superbly to set up his lead on the penultimate stage, before riding out of their skins to protect that jersey on the final day,” he said.
“The Reggio is a big event, and the National coaches are taking notice of his performances, and we all believe he’s a strong prospect for the future.”
WAIS athlete Jessica Allen will make her second appearance at a junior world championship this month, and will likewise head into competition on the back of some strong form, after winning three medals as a member of Australia’s road team at the Junior Commonwealth Games on the Isle of Mann.
Allen won silver in the individual time trial as well as bronze medals in the team time trial and team road race, capping off an impressive performance on a short preparation.
“That was a great result for Jess, as she’d only stepped off the plane in the week leading up to the event, and hadn’t had an opportunity to acclimatise,” Benson remarked.
“The Junior Comm Games was her only warm up for Worlds, and she like the rest of the juniors over there will now look to find her legs leading into Copenhagen.”