Durbridge Challenges Dennis in Olympic Time Trial

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Durbridge Challenges Dennis in Olympic Time Trial

Luke Durbridge (open in new tab) continued to lead a productive life during his long hiatus from competition last year, taking online tertiary courses, cooking, reading, practicing yoga, and working on one thing that will allow him to compete in the Tokyo Olympics this season.

The Australian National Time Trial Champion and Bike Exchange (open in new tab) rider, who has his sights set on being selected for the Olympic Men's Time Trial, where former World Champion Rohan Dennis may compete He spoke candidly about his goal of being selected for the men's time trial.

"I'd love to be in the Olympics," he said during the Santos Festival of Cycling countdown

. Of course, Rohan's hands are firmly held for the TT, and judging by his Giro run, probably the road race as well.

Dennis finished fifth at last year's world championships, 40 seconds behind winner Filippo Ganna, and helped Ineos Grenadiers teammate Tao Geoghegan Hart win the Giro d'Italia. Like Durbridge, he did not compete in the world championship road race.

The 29-year-old Durbridge did not compete in last season's Grand Tour and passed on the Tour de France because it was likely to conflict with the time trial world championships.

"I was on the list for the Tour de France, but I decided to go for the World Championships instead," he said.

"In a nutshell, my season was not good. It started with the All-Japan Championships and was going great until I headed to the Classics, and then it all stopped (with the COVID-19 craze).

"But my main goal this year was to focus on the TT. I'm not happy with my result at the Worlds, I was 15th, and I was really aiming for top 5 or top 10. ...... Sure, I might have paced myself a little bit wrong, but in general there were a couple of factors. Where I started, the conditions were worse for the racers who started very early than for those who started later, and the wind was stronger. [I feel like] the last couple of years I was running outside the top 10 or inside the top 20. But I know that if I put my riding together and the conditions are right, I can get into the top five," Durbridge continued. [but] there were a lot of positives outside of the results from focusing on the TT area.

Durbridge is one of the most polite and friendly riders in the World Tour peloton and has strong family ties.

The Team BikeExchange heavyweight, who extended his Australian-registered team for two more seasons last year, underwent a government-mandated two-week hotel quarantine at his own expense upon arrival Down Under, but remembering the bitter taste of a strict quarantine in Spain, where he stayed during the pandemic outbreak He says the trip was worth it, even after the bitter taste of the quarantine in Spain, where he was staying during the pandemic.

"They [the team] were very nice and said, 'After this season is over, do whatever you think you need to do. So do whatever you need to do to refresh yourself mentally, to see your family, whatever you need to do,'" Durbridge explained. 0]

"Now back in Europe, I don't think we are under any illusion that the next season will have the same strict protocols and lockdowns all over the place."

That could extend to the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for later this year after being postponed to 2020.

That could extend to the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for later this year after being postponed to 2020.

Durbridge will start the season this week at the Santos Festival of Cycling in Adelaide, which will replace the canceled Tour Down Under.

He will return to Europe for a team training camp in Spain and is looking forward to reuniting with Michael Matthews, who will rejoin the team after four seasons in Sunweb. I worked with him last year at the World Championships. He is always motivated to win and gives 110 percent to give his all in the best conditions. [Since the last time we worked together, I have matured a bit and feel more confident in how I can help him. Now I know that this is what we are going to do, help guide him through the race. I'm looking forward to it. My program is more about racing with Matthews, so it's going to be as much fun as it used to be."

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