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Luke Durbridge Extends Orica-GreenEDGE Contract |
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October 8th 2012 |
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Luke Durbridge who had a two-year
deal with Orica-GreenEDGE running through the 2013 season has
today extended his contract with the Australian team for an
additional year. This will keep Durbridge at Orica-GreenEDGE
till at least 2014.
2012 has been an amazing start for the young West Australian
picking up a number of stage and overall wins.
Durbridge started the year in great form picking up the
Australian National Time Trial Championship beating teammate,
fellow West Australian and close friend Cameron Meyer. From
here Durbridge rode the Tour Down Under despite a crash before
the start of the Down Under Classic.
Durbridge's first race in Europe as a professional was the
Three Days of De Panne where he was hoping for a good result
due to the time trial on the final stage. Luke finished 8th in
the time trial 32 seconds behind the stage and overall winner
Sylvain Chavanel (OPQ). This resulted in 7th overall.
The next big race for Durbridge was Circuit de la Sarthe.
Winning the ITT on stage 2b set Luke up for his first general
classification win as a professional. This gave him growing
confidence for the rest of the season.
Durbridge rode the Tour de Romandie, which will prove to be a
good step in his development. Luke's performance at the Tour
of California could prove to be a defining moment of his first
year pro. Finishing 18th in what is a very hilly race was a
great achievement. Luke took over the young rider
classification after the time trial on stage 5 and held it for
2 days. Luke tried hard to keep it on stage 7 with the final
climb to Mount Baldy but despite a valiant effort he didn't
have enough.
His biggest win came in the prologue of the Criterium du
Dauphine where he beat Bradley Wiggins. Not that he would have
needed a confidence boost at that point but beating a rider
like Bradley Wiggins in a prologue or time trial is a huge
accomplishment.
Next up was the Eneco Tour, with an individual as well as team
time trial it was a perfect race for him. Orica-GreenEDGE won
the team time trial, Durbridge finished 8th in the individual
time trial (won by Svein Tuft). The final stage was the
hardest but Durbridge managing to get over the tough finishing
circuit and confirm 5th overall.
Tour du Poitou-Charentes was Durbridge's next race, winning
the individual time trial gave him the overall lead. With the
GC fight very close it all came down to the final day. FDJ the
team of Jeremy Roy who was sitting second caused a split in
the peloton but Durbridge was well protected in that group and
sprinted to 4th to seal the overall win.
Durbridge was part of the Orica-GreenEDGE squad in the team
time trial at the World Championships where the team won the
Bronze medal. An outside favourite for the individual event,
things did not go as well as planned on the hard course.
Durbridge finished 21st.
The last race of the season for Luke was the two-man time
trial Duo Normand where he partnered with Svein Tuft. The duo
sealed a convincing win to wrap up Luke's first season as a
professional in style.
Commenting on extending his contract "I've really enjoyed the
environment on the team and I appreciate the genuine interest
in my development," said Durbridge. "GreenEDGE offered the
extension, and it made a lot of sense to sign. I get security
and the ability to concentrate on more good years with the
team."
Orica-GreenEDGE sports director Matt White on extending Luke's
contract "Luke has had an incredible first year as a pro with
six individual victories and one team time trial win scattered
through his season,"
Many people often speak of Cameron Meyer as Australia's next
big GC contender but based on his development in races such as
the Tour of California and his strong time trialing ability
Luke Durbridge is another rider who in the future could
develop in to a GC challenger. |
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