Confirming strong rumours from earlier this year that the GreenEdge team was aiming to sign three of Garmin-Cervélo’s top young Australian riders, the new setup has announced that Jack Bobridge, Cameron Meyer and his brother Travis Meyer will all be part of the squad next season.
They join the Eritrean rider Daniel Teklehaimanot on the team, with more signatures expected to be confirmed in the near future.
General manager Shayne Bannan said that he has big expectations from the trio. “During my time at the Australian Institute of Sport I worked with many of the young Australians now making an impact on cycling’s world stage so I’m pleased to be able to continue that with three of our most talented young riders,” he stated.
“Cameron and Jack are going to play a big role in Australia’s success on the track at the Olympics and have already proven their quality on the road. Not many guys can finish the final time trial of a three week tour in the top-10 at such a young age like Cameron has for the past two editions of the Giro d’Italia. Plus Jack was the U23 time trial world champion in 2009.
“And Travis was making big gains over the past 12-months before injury got the better of him. We know his recovery is in good hands and a minor step-back doesn’t change how talented he is.”
Meyer has been held back because of that problem, a blood flow issue, but expects to be fully up to speed in 2012. He has decided to focus completely on his road career henceforth, putting track cycling to one side.
“Since having surgery for a blocked artery in my left leg in June, I have been out of action and my season is basically over,” he stated. “So it is great that Shayne and GreenEdge have shown faith in me by offering a place on their roster for 2012.
“It’s been a little frustrating sitting on the sidelines for a good portion of the year but that only adds to my motivation. One of the challenges is going to be not to rush things.”
Bannan has no doubt that he will make it back to the top. “Travis won five junior world titles on the track and as soon as he stepped up to the elite ranks he won the Australian road title at his first attempt,” he said.
“As an Australian team aiming to be around for a long time it was important for us to make these three guys founding members of the team because they’re going to be around at the top level for a long time.”
Good progress by Bobridge and Cameron Meyer:
Garmin-Cervélo got its season off to an exceptional start this year when Cameron Meyer won the Santos Tour Down Under. He also took Madison and team pursuit titles at the track World Cup plus Oceania championships, then at the world track championships he grabbed gold in the Madison and points race. That brought his career worlds total to five wins.
He believes it’s now time for a change, both in terms of teams and focus. “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Garmin-Cervelo but joining GreenEdge gives me the best support possible to chase my dreams and of becoming one of the leading road riders in the world along with the possibility of riding at the Olympic Games in 2012,” he stated.
“Up until now I have focused my efforts on being the best track rider in the world. I have been satisfied with my achievements so far. However, the next phase of my cycling career will see me turn my attention to developing as a top road rider in Europe.
“I would really like the opportunity to continue my progress in Grand Tours and test myself in the Tour de France along with the one-day classics like Liege-Bastogne-Liege. If I can accomplish these goals whilst being part of an Australian team, it would certainly be the icing on the top.” He added that he has complete confidence in the people behind the GreenEdge project.
Bobridge also had a very good start to the season, taking the Australian road championships with a superb display, and then winning the individual and team pursuit races at the track worlds. Like Meyer, he’ll keep focussed on the velodrome until after the London Olympics, then focus more on the road.
“One of the best things about riding the track is that you get to be part of an Australian team regularly at world cups and the world championships. Joining GreenEdge will let me ride as part of an Australian team all year round, whether I’m on the track or the road,” he explained.
“But more importantly the team is right behind my Olympic ambitions on the track. At the Beijing Olympics I rode the team pursuit and we finished fourth, just outside the medals, which was pretty hard to take. GreenEdge will give me the support I need to go to London in the best condition I can be to see if I can be part of the team pursuit squad that brings home gold.”
More details of the new team are expected in the coming weeks.