Young Australian looking forward to 90-100 race days in 2011 and chances to get results
The 21 year old Travis Meyer recently completed his neo-pro season for the Garmin-Transitions team and is looking forward to much more in 2011. His 2010 campaign couldn't have gotten off to a much better start. He took 5th in the Australian National Championships time trial, then topped that in a big way a few days later when he took a stunning solo victory in the road race.
Looking back on his first season in the professional ranks, Meyer is satisfied, even more so with the help of the green and gold jersey that was his constant companion during his racing season.
"[Last year] wasn't too bad. I got it started off with a bang by winning Nationals. That was pretty cool getting to wear the green and gold in Europe," said the defending Australian National Champion to Castelli Cycling's Dave Everett at the recently completed Bay Crits Series.
Outside of his National Championships triumph, Meyer found himself working hard for his team for the most part, but also got a chance to ride for his own result a few times, particularly the Bayern Rundfahrt, where he managed a fourth place in the critical Stage 4 time trial, then followed that up with a second place out of a two-up break in Stage 5.
"I got a result at a 2.HC, the Bayern Rundfahrt, that was really good for me."
Meyer, whose older brother, Cameron, also rides for Garmin-Cervelo, admits that a result in a bigger race would have been a tall order, but in his first year, it was not a necessity. The two high finishes at the Bayern Rundfahrt and many days of solid work for his Garmin team netted him the approval of the directors and an overall thumbs up for his first go around.
"To get a result in a ProTour race in my first year was always going to be pretty hard, but to walk away with at least one result, I was pretty happy. I also had some good rides for the team as well. The directors were pretty impressed with that. It was a good season."
While 2010 was a good one, Meyer is looking ahead to much more in 2011. For the first time, the rider who has also showed great promise on the track, will eschew the early season track schedule to focus entirely on the road.
"I want to get in a full road season. I used to do the track, so I'd start off a little later on the road. This year though, I'm going to have 90 to 100 race days. That will be the biggest thing - just get in the race days and be consistent."
With such a huge schedule on the road, Meyer will certainly have a chance to show himself in a plethora of races from January to October, starting with the upcoming Tour Down Under. While he'll likely spend a good portion of the year riding in support of a teammate, Meyer hopes to get the chance to shine on his own in the smaller races.
"I really want to have a crack at trying to get some results to be honest. [My schedule] will probably not all be ProTour races, because we have such a good team, so I'll probably be doing the smaller races. At the end of the day, the difference between ProTour and what you call the smaller pro races is still 3/4 of them are ProTour riders anyway, so to get a result in them is still pretty great."
The native of Viveash, Australia will get an early shot at a ProTour race in January with the Tour Down Under, but all eyes will be focused on his fast finishing teammate, Tyler Farrar, as he opens up his year-long battle with Mark Cavendish in hopes of claiming the title as the world's top sprinter.
"Tyler Farrar is coming over for [the Tour Down Under], so we'll have someone to look after this year. It will be very interesting to see which of the two will have better condition at this time of year."
First off for Meyer though is a chance to defend his Australian National Championship title this weekend.
I have to try to defend my title, which will be difficult, but I'm quietly confident that I can do well," says the multi-time Junior World Track Champion.