While Cameron Meyer is perhaps the closest thing Orica-GreenEDGE has to a genuine general classification rider, the 25-year-old put things into perspective after losing his overall lead at the Tour of Switzerland earlier this week.
At the completion of stage three, which saw BMC’s Mathias Frank take possession of the yellow jersey, Meyer used Twitter to throw water on suggestions that a podium position may have been in his grasp.
“Don’t think I have done 205 km harder or faster before. Can’t thank my Orica-GreenEDGE team mates enough. Simply awesome. I aim for top 10,” he said.
It seems a realistic goal to aim for, not just in Switzerland but for any of the major stage races he may find himself in. This may disappoint some, but it shouldn’t. Meyer is a rare talent, but he is not a climber.
His strength lies in his time trialling and like Michael Rogers before him, he uses it to his advantage.
When he won the opening stage in Switzerland last Saturday – an 8.1 kilometre race against the clock – he automatically went to the top of the general classification.
He defended his lead on Stage 2, but his advantage was cut to only three seconds.
Just like compatriot Rohan Dennis at last week’s Criterium du Dauphine, Meyer rode bravely to limit his losses, but ultimately lost contact and finished 27 seconds behind the day’s winner, Bauke Mollema.
While he was only 16 seconds behind Matthias Frank, Thibaut Pinot, Ryder Hesjedal, Dan Martin, Roman Kreuziger and Michelle Scarponi and just eight seconds behind Giovanni Visconti and Domenico Pozzovivo, these are the very men he needs to stay with if he is to be considered a genuine general classification rider.
The good thing is that Meyer is aware of his own abilities and a quick look at his past record confirms where his strengths lay.
His high overall rankings in stage races have been the direct result of his time trialling.
His fifth overall at this year’s Tour of California came on the back of a strong ITT. It was the only stage in which he managed a top ten finish.
At last year’s Tirreno-Adriatico he rode a magnificent race to finish tenth overall, just 1’33” behind event winner Vincenzo Nibali.
He was a part of Orica-GreenEDGE’s surprise team time trial victory that opened the race and he came third in the ITT that closed it.
He rode a consistent race, but the two stages against the clock remained his only top ten results.
Of the four Grand Tours he has competed in he has had eight top ten stage finishes. Five of these have come in individual time trials, one in a team time trial and two from breakaways.
That is not to say that Meyer can’t climb – he can – but he remains a level below that of the genuine overall contenders.
Meyer is young and in the past has had his road season interrupted by track duties.
He will continue to improve as he matures and begins to focus fully on his road career, but those who are looking for another Richie Porte should temper their enthusiasm.
Despite the wild predictions of some, Cameron Meyer is not that rider.
So why is it that some seem to think that he is?
Simple.
He is a victim of the lack of depth that Orica-GreenEDGE have when it comes to general classification riders.
Pre-race, fans and media alike run their fingers down the start lists looking for potential candidates and when they get to Australia’s pro-team, Meyer’s name stands out like a beacon.
Who else is there that can pull off a stage race?
No one yet this year!
Last year a fit and primed Simon Gerrans won the Tour Down Under, while Swiss import Michael Albasini had a weather assisted victory at the Volta a Catalunya.
This was followed up by Luke Durbridge winning both the Circuit de la Sarthe and the Tour du Poitou Charentes on the back of some dominant time trialling.
They were all good wins, but they were hardly the biggest races on the calender.
So in desperation we look to Meyer, perhaps unfairly, to fill the breach.
Orica-GreenEDGE have continually told us that GC is not their focus, that stage wins are the go, especially when it comes to Grand Tours.
But having now contested four Grand Tours for only two stage wins (that’s two wins in about 80 days of racing or a measly 2.5 percent success rate) maybe the time has come to seriously address the dearth of general classification riders on their roster.
Not only would a good GC man raise the profile of the team and give fans something extra to shout about, it would take pressure off the likes of Meyer and Gerrans who are continually burdened with the weight of expectation.
Before last night’s sixth stage of the Tour of Switzerland Cameron Meyer sat tenth overall, 1’42” behind race leader Mathias Frank.
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