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Dauphiné Libéré
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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

Jack Bobridge gasps for air on his way to gold
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

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."

Travis Meyer completes his ride
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

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."

Zak Dempster finished fast, finished fourth
Photo ©: CJ Farquharson
(Click for larger image)

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

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

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