Orica GreenEdge rider describes track to road transition, will target Tours of California and Switzerland
Although he’s regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects in Australian cycling, Cameron Meyer has admitted that he isn’t sure of selection for either the Tour de France or the Olympic Games.
The 24 year old rider has said that the quality of the Orica GreenEdge team plus the Australian pool of talent for the Games could see him passed over.
“I’m not down to do the Tour at this stage,” he told VeloNation at the Presidential Tour of Turkey last week. “There is always a possibility, but we have got a very strong lineup so we have to wait and see who will be on that team.
“Maybe a couple of results in California and Suisse could push my way in there, but I’m not too worried. I’m still developing as a rider, and using other tours like Suisse and California as good learning experiences. I might look towards the Vuelta at the end of the year.”
He believes it’ll be similarly difficult to force his way onto the team for London 2012. “It is very hard to make the road team for the Australian squad,” he explained. “You only get five riders and a couple of them have to be time trialists. So with the likes of Matt Goss for the sprint, Simon Gerrans, Cadel Evans…the list is endless for the Aussie team. It is very hard to make [it].”
That said, he again states that good performances in the Tours of California and Switzerland could push him into the frame.
Clear on timing of track retirement:
Had the Olympics been a burning need for him, an easier path would have been to target the track events. He’s a multiple world champion and recently took gold in the points race and silver in the Madison at the worlds in Melbourne.
However, despite his strength there, Meyer recently took the decision to walk away from track and to instead focus completely on the road. It’s a difficult thing to do when you are one of the very best in the world, but he’s clear that the sacrifice is worth it.
“It was the highlight of my career to win in front of a home crowd and to take my points score world title back, my third one,” he said. “So it was really special.
“It [retiring from track] was definitely a hard decision, that’s for sure. I had a lot of thinking on it and I have decided to stay with the road this year. The decision was because the points score and the Madison are no longer in the Olympic Games.
“I just think it is time for me to go on the road, mentally and physical. I had achieved six world titles and three Commonwealth Games on the track. Unfortunately I don’t get to go to the Olympics, but that is the decision I have made.”
In the video above, Meyer speaks about the complicated transition from top track rider to a road GC contender in the video, his road goals this year, plus other topics.