Young Orica-GreenEdge neo-pro Luke Durbridge continues to produce the type of results that suggest Australia’s Olympic selectors got it horribly wrong in London.
The individual time trial – cycling’s ultimate race of truth and Durbridge’s speciality – was won comprehensively by Bradley Wiggins, but Australia’s effort was severely hampered when Cadel Evans was forced to pull out through illness on the eve of the event.
That left Michael Rogers to shoulder the load, but after months of burying himself for Wiggins throughout the Tour de France and the preceding lead-up races he was always going to fall short of the mark. Add to that a gut-wrenching solo effort to bridge across to the breakaway group in the Olympic road race just a few days before, and fatigue was always going to be a factor. The fact that he finished sixth was commendable.
Having said that, Rogers’ form warranted selection. Winner of the Bayern-Runfahrt individual time trial, second and third respectively at the Criterium International and Dauphine time trials, he deserved his place.
The questionable selection was Evans. Apart from winning the Criterium International individual time trial, his form was sketchy at best. Illness and injury beset the former world champion and his preparations for July were severely disrupted. He went into the Tour underdone and it showed. His illness has continued post-Tour and the remainder of his season is in doubt as he battles to regain his health.
While the Olympic team was selected before the Tour de France was completed, Evans’ battle to reach peak fitness had already been well documented. Were the selectors of the opinion that he could ride himself into form during the Tour? Or were they just blinded by his stunning efforts in the final individual time trial of last year’s Tour? Did they pick on reputation or form? It appears to be the former, especially when you take into account the utter humbling Evans received at the hands of Wiggins at this year’s Dauphine time trial.
Durbridge however, was ready. The current under-23 world time-trial champion added his country’s senior time trial title to his belt in January. On a windy day at Lake Learmonth, near Ballarat in Victoria, Durbridge stormed home ahead of Cameron Meyer to claim victory. Rogers was third, 16 seconds behind.
Then came a gritty overall win at the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe – Pays de la Loire. His win, in only his second visit to France, was set up by a scintillating time trial victory. Suffering debilitating tendinitis in his left knee, ‘Turbo’ had almost pulled out of the race after stage one, but showed great courage in not only claiming the time trial, but successfully defending his race lead on the hilly final stage that took in ten passes of Mont des Avaloirs, with its short but punchy ten percent gradient. It was only his third professional race.
At Dauphine he won the opening day’s prologue, beating Wiggins by just one second, and later finished a commendable seventh on the 53 kilometre stage four time trial. Wiggins was 1′ 28” faster and Rogers pipped him by 27 seconds, but he finished ahead of Evans, and had seemingly done enough to deserve Olympic time trial selection
But it was not to be.
Now though, the youngster has done it again. Last week, at the Tour de Poitou-Charentes, Durbridge put the polish on what was a glorious race for Orica-GreenEdge, by walking away with the general classification. Once again he did it off the back of a powerful individual time trial – his fourth victory in the race against the clock this year.
In fact, the Australian team led the race from start to finish. Lithuanian Aidis Kruopis wore the leader’s jersey on stages one, two and three after claiming the first two days in bunch sprints. He was relieved of the jersey by his teammate Durbridge after the stage four individual time trial. Turbo successfully defended the sacred fabric on the fifth and final stage.
Durbridge is young and his time will come, but the thought that he was robbed of a chance to compete at the Olympics still lingers. Would he have beaten Wiggins? Not a chance, but that is irrelevant. The fact is that along with Richie Porte (also unlucky to miss out), he is one of the best young time triallers Australia has. The experience of taking part in the Olympic Games would have been invaluable and his inclusion would have shown that the Australian selectors were making an investment in the future.
Instead they missed the boat. Maybe they felt obliged to support Evans given the extent of his success and his popular appeal, but it was a gamble that didn’t pay off. This is not a criticism of Evans. He is a fighter and always gives 100 percent effort. He would have agonised over the decision to withdraw.
The selectors, however, need to smarten up.
Sean Lee
Expert
Picking representative teams would be a hell of a job Kate. There is always someone who will miss out or feel hard done by. I think you are right about not being able to change the team after it had been picked, although my argument was that Cadel shouldn't have been picked for the ITT in the first place. Hindsight is wonderful, but I actually put my money where my mouth was and selected Rogers and Durbridge as my picks in an article that was published before the team was announced! By the way, we won't have to wait for Rio for the next selection controversy. The Worlds are coming up shortly and I reckon there will be some lively debate about who deserves a ride in that one as well - in fact, I'd bet my house on it.
Sean Lee
Expert
Tommy - I've often thought that the national champion deserves to be selected for the big events. Especially if we have earned two places as has been the case recently. I know that some of the big names don't ride in the nationals (eg Cadel) but the depth of Australian cycling now is showing out by the quality fields that are taking part.
Sean Lee
Expert
Moses -I have no problem with Cycling Australia supporting GreenEdge, but it can't be at the expense of our other riders. Not every young cyclist is going to find a spot on the GreenEdge roster. There is simply not enough room for everybody. Even if someone like Renshaw wanted to join GreenEdge, it might not be possible. National teams for other sports (soccer for example) pull players together from different teams, and while not ideal, it is the only way to go if you are to pick your very best team.
Kate Smart
Expert
Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing. I completely agree with your article Sean, but I also can't help but think that Olympic team selection is a little, damned if you do, damned if you don't. I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that the selectors could not change the team between the TdF and the games. Perhaps allowing for teams to be changed closer to the Games, especially in light of the Game's close proximity to the TdF would have been of benefit but, that is all in the past. Bring on Rio and the next Olympic team selection controversy!
Moses
Roar Rookie
For sure -- as I said above about Renshaw: "He is no Cadel Evans or Mick Rogers; unlike those two he should not be entitled to selection in national teams regardless of his team." The bias should only be against the mid-tier riders like Renshaw. A top rider like Cadel should be able to go to whatever team he likes and still represent Australia. Clearly he couldn't achieve what he would want at OGE, and that's even if Gerry Ryan matched BMC's money. I'd put Rogers in that category too.
tommy
Guest
Sean, no doubt Durbridge is a phenomenal talent & is performing very well but we had 4 excellent time trialists for only 2 Olympic slots, which was always going to create debate. At the time of selection, I think the slection of Evans was worthy. Sure he wasn't in great form at the time but everyone expected him to peak & it is hard to critisize the selectors for what eventuated. Selection seems to be similar to the Triathlon Australia approach (although not as disgraceful). Perhaps both sports would be better off picking a race & saying the top 2/3 finishers are going to the Olympics. So using the Aussie champs as a selection race you select Durbridge & Meyer. Too bad Cadel if your sick or not in shape, if your not there & you don't make the top 2, then your out. this would only be an option for the time trial, road race would be different. Moses, I love your patriotism but I think it is unworkable for many reasons. Just picking 1 off the top of my head, there is no way in the world that Orica could afford Cadel (for example). So Cadel has to weigh up taking a massive pay cut to ride for orica or take the money (which he is righfully entitled to in a free market where his service is in big demand) & not be able to live out his dream of riding in the Olympics.
sittingbison
Guest
Nice article Sean. The team as a whole needs t be looked at rather than just Durbridge. Dads Army?? StueyO, Cadel and Rogers all well over 30. Meyer, Durbridge, Renshaw and Porte not selected? Is inexperience all that important in a one-off like this? Would Durbridge and Porte have been better bets than Evans and Rogers in the ITT? I think the position and role of White has to be seriously looked at. From the outside there definitely seems to be a personality clash between he and Renshaw, but it could also be a media beat up.
Moses
Roar Rookie
I know this is not the point of your article, but in response to the above posts: I fully support a national selection policy biased in favour of Orica-GreenEDGE riders. Bias is not necessarily a bad thing. The reasons are as follows. OGE is good for Australian cycling. It gives Australian cycling the opportunity to have a couple of dozen Australian riders getting regular Grand Tour and World Tour racing, together, under Australian national coaches. That will only serve to better our chance in Worlds and Olympic events. So Cycling Australia should support the OGE project, as it is currently doing so. Riders should be rewarded for joining the team. Renshaw is not a world-beater; he’s proved that this year. He is no Cadel Evans or Mick Rogers; unlike those two he should not be entitled to selection in national teams regardless of his team. The message to a Renshaw should be: join OGE, ride with your national team year round (say, by leading out Matt Goss who is a better sprinter), or don’t ride with your national team at all. In the short-term the non-selection of Renshaw might marginally hurt our national teams, but two to three years down the track it will pay dividends on a broader scale just as the Sky-GB lovefest does. As for Durbridge, well in hindsight he would have been a better pick than Evans for the Olympic ITT. But Durbo would have been a top 10 prospect at best; no chance of a medal. His international TT wins this year have been against either weak opposition (the two French 2.1 events) or in very fortunate racing and weather conditions (Dauphine). He got owned by Zabriskie in the Tour of California which was an Olympic-type course against good opposition. So I don't think the selectors can be faulted too much.
Sean Lee
Expert
Renshaw has all sorts of trouble making our national teams. It is hard to understand. At last year's worlds he would have been of enormous assistance to Mat Goss who you will remember missed out by a tyre width to Cavendish. He must have upset someone high up!
Aljay
Guest
I have seen Matt White criticised elsewhere for his selections in the Australian Olympic team, with the insinuation that he was "sticking with his mates". Durbridge was one omission but given he is young and somewhat unproven it is understandable. What is less understandable is the omission of Mark Renshaw on a course that everyone expected would be made for sprinters.
Sean Lee
Expert
Yeah, Rogers and Durbridge were my picks for the Olympic TT. At least Durbridge has been included on the 'long' list for the world championship TT, so hopefully we'll see him competing there. But who knows?
Jamie
Guest
Excellent. Thoroughly agree! I had honestly expected to see Luke or Richie Porte selected for the TT given the Tdf just a few weeks before, especially with the road race only 2 days before the TT.