Revolution 5: Pre Race News (Melbourne - AUS)
Bobridge up for Austral battle.

Under-23 time trial world champion Jack Bobridge has quickly built a reputation for being a fierce competitor and isn’t expected to take any backward steps when he rolls on to Hisense Arena for Revolution 5 on Wednesday 16 December to contest the 112th Urban St Kilda Austral Wheelrace.

In his heat for the Austral, which is a handicap race over 2000m, Bobridge will be riding off scratch alongside defending champion Shane Perkins, with rising stars Rohan Dennis at 20 metres and Travis Meyer at 30 metres.

“I’ve got Perkins, Rohan and Travis, so we’ll be right,” Bobridge said of his chances to make it into the final of the prestigious race.

But the young South Australian was surprised to hear that New Zealand’s Tom Scully, who won two gold medals at the recent Track World Cup in Melbourne, will also be in his heat but riding with a 50 metre head start.

“Gee, they’ve looked after him alright,” Bobridge said.

He was even more surprised when told Cameron Meyer would be in the heat before him and getting a 20 metre head start.

"Cam got 20 metres. The world points race champion got 20 metres. Gees,” he said.

Bobridge had the same response to Perkins getting a 15 metre head start last season and when that was put to him respond emphatically with “yeah, and he won it.”

Regardless of the difficult task ahead of him Bobridge was adamant he would be in with a chance to win the Austral.

Wednesday’s Austral comes at the beginning of what promises to be the next phase of his career.

In 2010 Bobridge will join Garmin-Slipstream, one of the world’s leading road teams, with the support from the American outfit that will allow him to pursue his track and road ambitions.

He will meet with Garmin-Slipstream sports director, Matt White, in January at the Australian Road Championships to confirm his racing program for the European season.

However, the early part of his season is in place with a commitment to ride the Tour Down Under as part of the Garmin-Slipstream team before returning to the Australian track cycling program to prepare for the 2010 Track World Championships, which will be held in Demark in March.

The Austral will be the first major test for the 20-year-old after having taken a five week break from serious training due to a bout of tendinitis in his knee but comes on the back of a week-long training camp in Adelaide.

To further test his form Bobridge will also be riding the Australian Madison Championship on Friday night, at the Darebin International Sports Centre, where he’ll team up with dual Olympic gold medallist Graeme Brown.

Riders to watch in the 112th Urban St Kilda Austral Wheelrace on Wednesday 16 December include:

· Shane Perkins – defending champion, World Cup sprint gold medallist
· Graeme Brown – dual 2004 Olympic gold medallist (team pursuit, madison)
· Jack Bobridge – under-23 time trial world champion, silver medallist individual pursuit 2009 track world championships.
· Cameron Meyer – 2009 world champion points race.
· Travis Meyer – five time junior world champion recently signed with Garmin-Slipstream.
· Jack Bobridge – 2009 under-23 individual time trial world champion.
· Rohan Dennis – 2nd individual pursuit and gold team pursuit Melbourne Track World Cup. · Luke Durbridge – under-19 time trial world champion (road) and under-19 madison world champion.
· Glenn O’Shea – Australian madison, points and scratch race champion.
· Tom Scully – the 19-year-old New Zealander won the scratch race and Madison at the Melbourne round of the Track World Cup.
· Sam Webster – the Kiwi is the under-19 sprint, team sprint and keirin world champion.
· Azizul Awang – the Melbourne based Malaysian won the silver medal in the sprint at the 2009 Track World Championships.

Revolution 5 (including the 112th Urban St Kilda Austral Wheelrace)

When: Wednesday 16 December 2009, 7pm

Where: Hisense Arena, Melbourne

Tickets: from Ticketek on 132 849 /Ticketek or at the gate

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