Trek Factory Racing has announced the signing of 26-year-old Jack Bobridge, who joins from Team Budget Forklifts. Bobridge adds to the pinstriped team’s contingent of TT specialists. 

Bobridge opened the 2015 WorldTour season with a victory in stage 1 of the Tour Down Under in January, holding off the peloton from a four-rider breakaway. He also managed a bronze medal at the Australian National Time Trial Championships.

“First of all I’m really excited to join a new team. I heard great things about Trek Factory Racing and I know a couple of the guys here. This team is really supportive of their riders and give back a lot. That’s great. For Trek to give me another go at the WorldTour and race the big races in Europe, that’s just fantastic. I’m excited to be able to do that again and I’m very motivated to try my best and have some good results. To be a part of such a well known team is going to be another great experience," he said.

Bobridge is mostly known for his results on the track, where he obtained a series of World Championships and national titles in both the team and individual pursuit. On the road he won the U23 World Time Trial Championships, was the National U23 Champion on the road and the time trial and won the Elite title in 2011. That year he was fifth in the Elite World Time Trial Championships. 

“Jack’s record is impressive. He’s one of many alumnae of the 'Australian Institute of Sport’ to make a successful step to the road and we’re very happy to welcome him aboard our team," General Manager Luca Guercilena said.

Bobridge recently returned to Australia after completing a North-American tour that brought him to the Philadelphia Classic and the Tours of Boise, Utah and Colorado, where he was a part of many breakaways and finished ninth in the tough time trial in Breckenridge. 

“I had a great time racing in the States. Overall I felt really good and I’m very excited to race with TFR. My program is still to be determined, but I’ll be focusing on TT’s and racing aggressively in breakaways.”

Bobridge had a shot al the Hour Record in January, falling just 552 metres short of the benchmark set by Mathias Brändle - a feat that he compares to completing a Grand Tour.

“For the first three months after the attempt, I was feeling pretty damaged, but looking back now it was definitely a really good thing to do. Since then I compare a lot of things to it in terms of pain. Well, nothing really compares to it, I admit. But yes, it helped me mentally that I got to push my body so far. It’s a bit like how at Grand Tour can improve your capacity, alter your body, enlarge your engine.”

Besides an emphasis on time trials and prologues, Bobridge will focus on the track as he prepares the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“I can’t wait for the new season. It’s an Olympic year and my track commitments are a massive goal for mine. But also on the road I want to represent Trek and I’ll strive to have the best result for the team.”