Hi Everyone

I have just recently returned from the land of China competing in the final round of the Track World Cups. As you all know this event over lapped with the Tour Down Under. Having just recently been crowned the new Australian Road Race Champion most would find it strange that I would want to compete at a Track World Cup instead of lining up with some of the best Pro riders in the world including Lance Armstrong, Cadel Evans and Alejandro Valverde in the National Champions Jersey. Well I thought it would be a good time to eliminate the confusion of why I would make such a decision.

Firstly I am a big believer in doing what you have committed yourself to do and the decision for me to ride the Beijing World Cup was made a fair while ago and I don’t believe it would be a fair decision to pull out a week from competition and also I am not sure it would have been possible to get a start in the Tour Down Under as we had riders from overseas already flying in for the event.

The other reason is because the World Cup was my last real chance to make an impression for the Track Worlds Team. As I had missed the Melbourne World Cup due to not being fit enough after coming off a break, I was in real trouble of not getting a chance to try to make the Track Worlds Team for 2010 and this is a major goal of mine for this season.  In the end of the day I am very happy with the decision I made to go to Beijing as I had a very good meet and had very strong legs.

My first race and the main reason I was there was the Teams Pursuit. With my team consisting of Michael Hepburn (Junior Individual Pursuit World Record Holder, which I might add his record is a 3.15 for 3km which is just incredible for a Junior!), WA sensation Luke Durbridge (Junior World Individual Time Trial Champion, and as all of us can appreciate, especially West Aussies, an incredibly strong machine!) Victorias Leigh Howard (World Omnium Champion), who has just been signed by one of the biggest Pro Teams in the World, HTC – Columbia, and a real up and coming superstar, and myself, we were there to put out a very respectable time.

In the morning was the qualifying round and we cruised through to post the fastest time of 4.05, but knowing we were very capable to go much quicker in the final. I felt very strong in qualifying and pulled a 2 lap turn comfortably to put us slightly back on schedule. We were up against the Dutch in the final who had posted a time of 4.08 in the qualifying. Our main objective for the final was to put up a good time as we were pretty confident taking the win wasn’t going to be a problem. ‘Heppy’ got us up and running nicely in the first lap of the final with Leigh getting us up to race pace in second wheel. I was moved from 4th to 3rd wheel for the final so I kept the pace right up on schedule with Luke doing the same right after me. Luke and I were both feeling strong so we both pulled a lap and a half on our 3rd turn making sure our speed didn’t drop and giving Leigh and Michael a bit more recovery. With approximately 5 to go we caught the dutch team and it got a bit messy and we lost about half a second in one lap. In the end we come through with a time of 4.01.2 and after some analysing Ian McKenzie (Track Endurance Coach) estimated our time for the 4km would have been around 4.00.50. Not bad considering we only did a week of track training after Road Nationals leading into the World Cup. I was very happy with my splits in both rounds and it has kept me in contention for the Track Worlds team.

I also competed in the Scratch Race and Madison at the World Cup. I got DQ in the Scratch Heat for going under on the blue band which was a bit disappointing but nothing to worry about as I was more doing it for a bit of a hit out before the Madison. I teamed up the Leigh Howard for the Madison, and we qualified for the final comfortably. In the Final we were a good half a lap up at one stage but the bunch never sat up and we were eventually pulled back. In the end we ran 4th which was a relief as we had a bit of pressure on us to run top 6 in order to qualify Australia a spot for the World Championships.

So all in all it was a fun, beneficial trip and should keep me in contention to get a spot to go to Copenhagen for the World Track Championships in March. This coming week is the Australian Track Cycling Championships ,were I will be competing in the Individual Pursuit and Teams Pursuit,  followed by the Perth Criterium Series which I am happy to say both Cameron and I will be competing in.

Keep a look out for our next report of the Track National and Perth Crits!

Travis

The Tour Down Under. What an awesome event. This was my second year of competing in this race and to be an Australian in front of this massive home crowd and be a part of the biggest race in the southern hemisphere is unbelievable. 

I unfortunately kicked off my tour on a bad note by crashing 1km into the first stage. Approximately 30 riders went down in a mass pile up and i was one of those riders who had no where to go except downwards. After a patch up job on my knee, a few pain killers and a little chase to get back on, I finished the stage with the front bunch.

Now if you dont know much about this tour it is one for the sprinters. Us guys who have no hope of putting out 1800 watts in a 200 meter dash to the line try our luck in some breakaways throughout the tour but the most it achieves is some good tv coverage for the sponsors.  

My best stage would have to be the one of stage 5 around Willunga. I managed to get in the days break but with some of the riders within the break only at 30 seconds down on the overall classification, we were only given a maximum of 2 minutes lead. We got caught with around 35km to go in the stage. I has some good legs this day and even after i was caught by the chasing peloton, i managed to stay with them over the last climb of the day and then made a move in the final km to finish in 8th place.

I must say my Garmin Transitions Team rode an awesome tour. We did not have the sprinting power of some other teams but made the race aggresive and were always present at the front of the bike race. Robbie Hunter ended up 9th on GC which was a good result and gave the team some Pro Tour points to kick start the season for the team.

I am now staying in Adelaide for the next 10 days in preparation for next weeks Australian Track National Championships. Hopefully our Western Australian team pursuit team can defend our title and break a few records along the way. I know Travis, Luke and Michael are all keen and have good form so look out other states. After the track nationals ill be back to Perth for the 4 day criterium series which im really looking forward to racing in front of my home local crowd in my pro tour outfit.

Ciao

Cam

CAMERON MEYER LEADS AN ESCAPE ON STAGE FIVE OF THE TOUR DOWN UNDER

Road race Report

I awoke upon the morning of the Australian Open Road Race Championships with mixed emotions. I was nervous as I wanted to make sure I did my job well for the team, excited as it was my first ever race in the Elite Mens Open Road Championship and honored to be representing Garmin Transitions for the very first time.

It was going to be an extremely hot and long day in the saddle. The team plan was to get myself into the main break of the day, which would allow Jack Bobridge, Matt Wilson and Cam Meyer to get the free ride until the crunch in the final 2 or 3 laps. A break of 10 riders got away in the first kilometer of the race which included myself. As the race was a war of attrition it suited me down to the ground and slowly the break away started to diminish. The biggest gap the peloton allowed the break was around about 7 minutes with approximately 8 laps to go. My team mates were doing a fantastic job back in the bunch waiting anxiously for the finale.

It was never in my wildest dreams that I would be in a winning position in the Australian Road Championships but when our break still had over 3 minutes with 2 laps to go I knew that we were going to stay away. I had looked after myself well during the race, taking on a bottle every lap due to the 38+ degree temperatures. Coming into the final lap of the race I knew it was time to lay the hammer down as I was confident that I was the best climber and in the best condition out of the 4 guys left of the breakaway. I attacked at the bottom of the first climb and never looked back. I knew if I could get to the top of the climb with at least 15 seconds gap I would win the bike race. I had over 20 seconds advantage at the top of the climb.

Coming into the finish line was the most amazing feeling of my life. It was something I had only dreamed about but never truly thought as a reality. I crossed the line after over 4 and a half hours on the bike as the new Australian Road Champion. Our director Matt White was just past the finish line to congratulate me and I was so happy to finish off the job for such a great director and great team. Matt was giving me advice and encouragement every lap and it was good to know he had faith in me to follow through for the win. I also had my Dad there to share this great moment with. A big thank you also to my team mates who did a perfect job to help me take my first victory as a professional.

I look forward to the season ahead with Garmin Transitions and the honor of wearing the green and gold in my first year on the ProTour.

Travis Meyer

Crossing the line as new Australian Road Race Champion