Cameron Meyer of Western Australia took his first Australian national time trial championship in Buninyong, completing the 39km course in 50 minutes, 52.74 seconds, according to Cycling Australia. The 22-year-old, who is the current World points race champion on the track, rides for ProTour team Garmin-Transitions.
“This is a real honour and something I have been targeting for months,” said Meyer, “Losing last year by just six seconds in my first year as an elite was tough, so this year I wanted to step up.” In the 2009 race Meyer was a close second behind three time World time trial champion Michael Rogers.
“I have won on the track at this level before, but to get one on the road at this level gives me great confidence ahead of my upcoming season. It’s a special moment to get to wear the green and gold jersey over in Europe with my pro team and I might have the Giro this year so to wear it in such a prestigious event will be fantastic.”
“I was only six seconds up at the half way point,” Meyer said of his ride, “but I knew that the back half would be my real strong point with that long drag up that last hill and I really brought it home strong.”
In second place was Queensland’s John Anderson, who rides for Magnus Backstedt’s Sprocket Procycling team in Europe, just 29 seconds behind Meyer.
“I suppose to a lot of people it comes as a big surprise,” said Anderson of his result, which saw him beat some ProTour riders, “but to me it’s been a long timing coming and over the past three years I’ve had three top ten finishes in the under 23’s. It is a reward for many, many years of hard work. I have been knocking on the door for a while now.”
Luke Roberts marked his return to the ProTour and the Milram team, after two years riding for Continental team Kuota, with the bronze medal just 4 seconds behind Anderson.
“I would have liked to have been 30 odd seconds faster and taken the win but I can’t complain because Cameron is a good rider and all credit to him for his win,” said Roberts, who sat out much of the 2009 season through injury. “I’m happy to see my form is back to where I hoped to be.”
Roberts, like many Australian cyclists, hasa strong track pedigree and won the Grenoble Six-days with Swiss Franco Marvulli in November last year. Through his involvement with the Australian track programme he has been able to watch the development of his young adversaries.
“Since [Grenoble] I’ve pretty much switched back to focus on road nationals and the ProTour calendar,” he said. “At the 2008 Olympic Games I was training with Jack Bobridge and Cameron and I saw they had huge talent which is great for them and for Australian cycling.”
Neither 2009 champion Michael Rogers, nor World road race champion Cadel Evans started the race.
Dennis steps up in under-23 race
19-year-old South Australian Rohan Dennis of Team Jayco Skins added the under-23 title to his three at junior level after a close battle with teammate Luke Durbridge.
“I am pretty happy to have this jersey on my shoulders and be able to ride overseas with it and show off the colours,” he said.