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Australian Open Road Championships - NE
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, January 7-11, 2009
Main Page Results Overall standings Next Stage
Stage 1 - January 7: Under 23 Time Trial, 28 km
Bobridge brings home the bacon
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Beijing Olympian Jack Bobridge (SA - Team AIS) continued his campaign of victories, this time on the road with the gold medal in the U23 men's time trial. It was a trifecta for Team AIS with West Australian Travis Meyer finishing just over six seconds slower for the silver medal, while Canberra's Michael Matthews close behind in third place.
"I am quite stoked to get my first U23 individual Australian championship and I think this could be the start of bigger and better things on the road," said Bobridge.
Despite only having seen the course for the first time yesterday, Bobridge averaged 46.60km/hour across the tough Mt Buninyong course, to finish with an impressive time of 36.03.1.
"I knew the hill was pretty important to attack early on the climb and as I felt quite good up the hill, I hit it pretty hard," he said. "After that, I just tried to get a good tempo in the tail wind to hold onto it to the end and I just kept getting riders in sight on tough parts of the course and kept chipping away at it."
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A member of the men's team pursuit that finished fourth at the Beijing Olympic Games, Bobridge was determined to make his mark on the road today following weeks of time trial preparation.
"I put expectations pretty high on myself today and I knew I was a good chance, but knew every other rider here and knew I couldn't rule anyone else out."
Meyer went one better than last year's third place and praised his younger teammate.
"To get beaten by a guy like Jack is not a bad effort," the 20-year-old said. "If you are going to win the national titles in the under 23 you have to have an exceptional ride and I did that, but Jack was the stronger rider on the day."
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Matthews, 18, was ecstatic after claiming his first U23 podium finish.
"To be that close to both of those guys is amazing because in Under 19s when I raced them, they beat me by about a minute and a half," Matthews said.
Team AIS will now switch focus to Saturday's with hill climber Adam Semple joining the trio for the road race.
"We have all come here with great form and it is always good to see your team mates up along side of you. I think that we will all be looking forward to Saturday's road race," said Bobridge.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net
- Timothy White was first starter in the U23 men's time trial
- Mark Panopoulous started fast
- Luke Knox gets back into his aero position after cornering
- Silas Fisher on the first corner
- Andrew Roe started a minute ahead of his brother, Timothy
- Timothy Roe prepares to drop into the aero bars as he chases his brother, Andrew
- Michael Mattthews completed the Team AIS podium with his bronze medal ride
- Pip Grinter takes a corner in the U23 men's time trial
- Daniel Braunsteins had a hectic Bay Series and was tenth in Buninyong
- Travis Meyer begins his silver medal winning ride
- Zak Dempster finished fast, finished fourth
- Nick Aitken in the finishing straight
- Michael Matthews finished third
- The effort shows on the face of Alastair Loutit
- Nathan Hass in action close to the finish
- Jack Bobridge gasps for air on his way to gold
- Travis Meyer completes his ride
- Travis Meyer completes his ride
- Travis Meyer, Jack Bobridge and Michael Matthews (all Team AIS) on the podium
Results
1 Jack Bobridge (SA) 36.03 (46.6km/h) 2 Travis Meyer (WA) 0.07 3 Michael Matthews (ACT) 0.08 4 Zakkari Dempster (VIC) 1.15 5 Nathan Haas (MTB) 1.26 6 Benjamin King (WA) 1.35 7 John Anderson (QLD) 1.42 8 Joseph Lewis (NSW) 2.22 9 Timothy Roe (SA) 2.37 10 Daniel Braunsteins (VIC) 2.40 11 Nick Aitken (VIC) 2.59 12 Andrew Roe (SA) 3.03 13 Sean Boyle (SA) 3.11 14 Ben Dyball (NSW) 3.28 15 Timothy White (VIC) 3.29 16 Silas Fisher (VIC) 3.44 17 Ben Grenda (TAS) 3.58 18 Alastair Loutit (ACT) 4.15 19 Brodie Talbot (NSW) 4.22 20 Kane Walker (VIC) 4.25 21 Pip Grinter (VIC) 4.25 22 Clay Allison (QLD) 4.29 23 Kevin Harnett (SA) 4.44 24 Luke Knox (VIC) 4.46 25 Bradley Clark (VIC) 4.49 26 Benjamin Fleming (QLD) 5.15 27 Daniel Hopper (VIC) 5.40 28 James Henry (VIC) 5.58 29 Mark Panopoulous (VIC) 6.00 30 Jules Galli (NSW) 7.07 31 David Hampton (NSW) 11.19
