Aussie Cameron Meyer wants to follow a similar road to Sky's Bradley Wiggins. Meyer won the Tour Down Under this year and eventually wants to aim for the Tour de France. Now, though, he remains focused on racing the Giro d'Italia and the London Olympics next year.
"Bradley, he's such a role model. I'd like to follow his path, he converted himself to ride to fourth in the Tour de France. Further down the road, I'd like to ride the Tour as he has done," Meyer said this morning ahead of the Giro's stage to Parma.
"He needed a few road seasons until he could get to the top. The London Olympics is my goal and after that, in 2013 and 2014, I'll see what I can do on the road."
The 23-year-old of team Garmin-Cervélo won his first senior World Championship title on the track in Pruszków, Poland, in 2009. He beat Dane Daniel Kreutzfeldt and Brit Chris Newton in the points race. Last year, he won three titles, which prompted Wiggins to say he'll be Australia's first Tour de France winner. He won a gold medal in the Madison and a silver medal in the points race this year in Holland.
On the road, he won the Tour Down Under in January. He escaped in the race's hardest stage and earned enough time to hold off Matthew Goss (HTC-Highroad) on the final day.
Bradley Wiggins on his way to fourth overall in the 2009 Tour
"I am a real endurance sort of rider, not a big sprinter. I am good with efforts and recovery, time trials. In the future, I see myself riding tours for the general classification, if that involves the three week Grand Tours, I don't know, but for sure the smaller ones," Meyer continued.
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"With a time trialling background, I can go in races with time trials and limit my losses in the other stages. I am a rider who almost never has a really bad day, but is consistent through a long event. With my track background, I know how to race and race again, you have to do so many events."
Meyer started his third Giro d'Italia yesterday in Turin with his Garmin team-mates, including Brit David Millar. He will lead Tyler Farrar in the sprints, protect Christophe Le Mevel for the overall and take his own chances in the later stages. He pointed to stages 17 to Tirano and 18 to San Pellegrino.
In London next year, he hopes to represent Australia in the team pursuit and maybe the omnium.
Giro d'Italia 2011: Related links
Giro d'Italia 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list
Giro d'Italia 2011: Latest news
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