Building on a strong season this year, Jack Bobridge today became the under 23 time trial champion of the world with a dominant display in Mendrisio, Switzerland. The twenty year old Australian completed the two lap, 33.2 kilometre event in a time 19 seconds quicker than Portuguese rider Nelson Oliveira and a further nine faster than Patrick Gretsch of Germany, confirming his huge promise.
Amongst those celebrating his performance was Garmin Slipstream CEO Jonathan Vaughters, who signed him to his 2010 line-up earlier this year. “Jack Bobridge is the new U23 World TT Champion…Jacky Bobby (as we call him) did us proud!” he enthused on Twitter, moments after the rider took gold.
Vaughters has long prided himself on having a talent for identifying and developing young riders, and feels that the team can coax more out of its protégée in the months ahead. “[He] clearly dominated the uphill sections of the course. On the flat and downhill, he was a bit less aero….but we’ll fix that.”
Bobridge is regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the sport and Garmin Slipstream’s signing of him was a big coup for the team. Today’s performance followed on from other achievements this year such as track golds in the Australian and Oceania championships, as well as Australian Under 23 road and time trial titles.
He also fared well against international opposition, being one of the most aggressive riders in the ProTour Tour Down Under race, and then impressing in Europe. The aggressive rider won the Under 23 Rund um den Henninger Turm|Eschborn-Frankfurt City Loop classic, as well as netting two stages plus third overall in the Under 23 Thüringen Rundfahrt.
Next up for the Australian is the under 23 road race this Saturday. He’ll lead a strong national lineup there, joining forces with Travis Meyer, Leigh Howard, John Anderson, Michael Matthews, Mark O’Brien and Timothy Roe.
He was already seen as a possible winner but today’s performance will further underline that tag as one of those who is in the running for gold.