2014 was the first year since he turned pro that Luke Durbridge wasn’t wearing the colours of the Australian road race or time trial champion. He aims to change that by taking at least one of the titles back in 2015.
But he faces tough competition and a hilly course in 2015 at Buninyong. But he says he is confident in his ability.
"I am not phased," Durbridge told Cyclingnews about the changes to the course. "At that time of year, the course is irrelevant unless it's a complete uphill. If you're on form, you'll have a good time trial. If you're not, you're not [going to have a good ride]."
The new 40.6km time trial course is hard, with a small climb at the start and finish. What it has in difficulty, it makes up for in lack of technicality, with almost no corners on the route.
"All it is, is a an out and back, if it was quite a technical course, then sure you have to know it but it's really just about having your head down for 40km," he said.
As for the competition, Durbridge faces Michael Rogers (Tinkoff-Saxo), current U23 world champion Campbell Flakemore (BMC), former U23 world champion Damien Howson (Orica-GreenEdge) along with former national champions Cameron Meyer, Michael Hepburn (Orica-GreenEdge) and Jack Bobridge (BudgetForklifts). Richie Porte of Sky and Rohan Dennis of BMC may also challenge. But Durbridge has been putting the hours in at a wind tunnel, and says his new position is capable of winning him the race.
"I've done a lot of work in the wind tunnel, I've dialled down my position and certain training aspects that I am doing will hopefully bring that back up to where it can be because I think I was lacking that this year," he explained.
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