Eneco Tour stage winner Bobridge not in the running for a place on squad
Several key names in world cycling will be nervously awaiting tomorrow’s announcement of the Australian team’s lineup for the elite world road race championships, mindful that a number of riders on the short list will miss out.
2002 runner-up Robbie McEwen has already learned that he will not be competing in Geelong on October 3rd, a decision that he has made clear he is not happy with. He spoke to several media outlets yesterday and said that he was taken completely by surprise by the news.
The 38 year old won a stage of the Eneco Tour last week and also picked up placings of second and fifth on stages.
“I’m absolutely gutted and really, really disappointed,” he told The Australian yesterday evening.
“The selectors felt that the road course between Melbourne and Geelong was just too tough for me, but I don’t agree. I’ve ridden over it and believe I could have been managed it and been competitive.
“Like everyone else I’m just shocked that I’ve been axed. I truly believe I’ve done enough here at the Eneco (Tour) to have warranted a start.”
He was told by the Chairman of the selectors Shayne Bannan on Saturday evening that he was not being given the nod. McEwen said that he appreciated Bannan spoke to him directly about the decision, but he clearly does not believe it is the correct one.
Defending champion Cadel Evans is a sure pick and, as last year’s winner, secures an extra place for the Australian team. The nine remaining slots will be disputed by 13 others – Baden Cooke, Stuart O’Grady and Richie Porte (Saxo Bank), Allan Davis (Astana), Simon Gerrans, Chris Sutton and Matt Hayman (Team Sky), Wesley Sulzberger (Française des Jeux), Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo Test Team) plus HTC Columbia team-mates Matt Goss, Adam Hansen, Mark Renshaw and Michael Rogers.
Goss underlined his candidature when he won yesterday’s ProTour event, the GP Ouest France in Plouay. Gerrans also seems like an automatic choice, while an in-form Rogers would be hard to pass over. Haussler is, on paper, a possible winner but much will depend on what chances the selectors will give to him being fully fit after a season dogged by injury.
A question on many lips is why the selectors are eliminating riders quite so early. Other countries have not narrowed down the list of those who will ride the worlds, yet Australia is cutting its possible candidates with over a month left to the championships.
One casualty of that decision is the young rider Jack Bobridge. He won the world under 23 time trial title last year and while his first pro season has been a varied one, he pulled off a superb solo victory yesterday in the Eneco Tour.
That prompted many to call for his selection, but he was not even named in the long list by the Australian panel.