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Bobridge out of Tour Down Under

12th January, 2012
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GreenEDGE have taken star cyclist Jack Bobridge out of the Tour Down Under to make sure he recovers quickly from his hand injury.

Scans on Thursday showed no wrist fracture, but Bobridge will now have a few days’ recovery from the injury as he prepares for a massive year ahead.

He could be back in action at the Australian track championships in Adelaide from January 26-29.

The popular cyclist’s withdrawal from the Tour Down Under is a blow to the race being held in and around his home town of Adelaide from January 15-22.

He landed heavily on his left hand and arm during his ride in the time trial on Tuesday at the national road championships.

Bobridge was philosophical about the injury setback, saying it was good news that there is no fracture.

“Obviously it’s pretty disappointing, but you have to look at the positives out of it as well,” he said.

“There are no breaks, so it’s only a matter of days now instead of weeks or months if it was a break.

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“It’s obviously going to be disappointing, missing out on the Tour – the first time with GreenEDGE and also (my) hometown race.

“It’s not the end of the world and I have a big season ahead of me.”

Bobridge will be a key member of the Australian team pursuit squad, who are high among the gold medal favourites for the London Olympics.

He said his left hand remained inflamed and was tender after Tuesday’s crash.

Bobridge has had an unlucky start to the year, also suffering a wasp sting to the face before last Sunday’s national road race title.

“Hopefully that’s all the bad luck out of the way and I can move on to having a big and successful year,” he said.

Bobridge crashed on a blustery day at Learmonth, near Ballarat when a B-Double truck passed him on the course.

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The combination of the truck’s size and an untimely gust of wind meant Bobridge’s wheels were taken out from under him.

Fellow time triallists Cameron Meyer and Mick Rogers said after the event that they would like to see the time trial course closed.

Bobridge backed event director John Craven, but said organisers should look at a lower speed limit on the time trial course, if not road closures.

“I’m not going to sit here and bag anyone – Craven obviously puts on a fantastic nationals,” Bobridge said.

“But it’s something he’ll have to look into, for the safety of the riders.

“It was obviously bad luck and I was in a bad position on the road and I just happened to be caught out on that stretch of road.

“If not closed, (the speed limit) should definitely be brought down to a 25km/h maximum speed limit.”

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Bobridge is also confident his absence will not dent GreenEDGE’s debut performance in the Tour Down Under.

“There will be definitely no hole left in the team, it will be filled nicely,” he said.

GreenEDGE will announce Bobridge’s replacement on their seven-man team by Friday afternoon.

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