On song GreenEDGE looking for winning start

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When GreenEDGE make their world debut on Sunday, 1 January, they will settle for nothing short of a win.

 

And with a freshly recorded team song laid last week with the assistance of music guru Molly Meldrum, the team is busting for a chance to sing it when they get their debut victory.

 

Australia’s first ever WorldTour team has opted for experience in a bid to make their first race a successful one, relying on defending champion Matthew Goss and six-time winner Robbie McEwen to again produce the goods at the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic.

 

Goss, a silver medallist at the road world championships earlier this year, will be hoping that sprint training at the recent GreenEDGE camp has been enough to ensure he is delivered to the line in perfect position, whilst a new role for McEwen will see him take up the leadership duties in a talented squad.

 

The pair will be joined by three-time track world champion and Geelong local Leigh Howard and 25-year-old’s Wesley Sulzberger and Mitch Docker.

 

McEwen, speaking at today’s launch, said the song would only get a run when they win.

 

“Hopefully we’ll sing it on January 1,” the six-time winner told attendees at a summer BBQ to launch the summer of cycling.

 

“The team chant is only for use when we win.  Out of our five, we have four very fast guys. Any combination in any order I think we can fight for the win,” McEwen said.

 

Goss, who also went on to win the 2011 Milan – San Remo, is hoping that the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic will give him the same perfect start to his 2012 season.

 

“It’s definitely going to be an honour to be in the first team and one of the first riders to pull on the GreenEDGE jersey and create history when we go and race for the first time,” Goss said.

 

“The team definitely wanted me to do it, and I definitely like to do it.  You can really get a sense of where you are at and get a good gauge when you’re racing all the best sprinters.  Everyone who is going to be competitive at the Tour Down Under is competitive at the Bay Crits.”

 

GreenEDGE

Mitch Docker (25, VIC)

Matthew Goss (25, TAS)

Leigh Howard (22, VIC)

Robbie McEwen (39, QLD)

Wesley Sulzberger (25, TAS)

 

But to kick start the team’s winning culture they will first have to conquer riders from within, with a further four GreenEDGE riders representing a Mitchelton Wineries – Lowe Farms outfit.

 

Led by 2004 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic and 2003 Tour de France green jersey winner Baden Cooke, the Mitchelton Wineries – Lowe Farm’s team will turn to 2010 Commonwealth Games champion Allan Davis to match the speed of Goss and 2011 U23 time trial champion Luke Durbridge to challenge the grunt of the experienced McEwen.

 

World team pursuit champion Michael Hepburn will be at home at the world’s fastest criterium series whilst 20-year-old Jayco-AIS rider Patrick Lane will complete the five-man Mitchelton Winery – Lowe Farms team.

 

Mitchelton Winery – Lowe Farms

Baden Cooke (33, VIC)

Allan Davis (31, QLD)

Luke Durbridge (20, WA)

Michael Hepburn (20, QLD)

Patrick Lane (20, VIC) Jayco-AIS

 

Race director John Trevorrow predicts the healthy rivalry will be evident from early on.

 

“We have all seen the comradery between the squad at their first team camp, but there is no doubt that when the racing starts at the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic on January 1, it will be game on,” Trevorrow said.

 

“They are professional competitors.  Robbie and Gossy I know are charged to go and I’m sure the expectation from the media and fans will add that little more to the fold. 

 

“We know these boys want to set the winning culture for GreenEDGE from the very beginning, but we are not going to make it easy for them. 

 

“The race is really starting to take shape, and their list of challengers is building.  We will have plenty of announcements in the coming weeks,” Trevorrow said.

 

The Jayco Bay Cycling Classic, the world’s fastest criterium series, will kick off the 2012 cycling calendar from Sunday 1 to Wednesday 4 of January and is the perfect opportunity for riders to polish up before the national championships in Ballarat and the Tour Down Under.

 

In its seventh consecutive year, Amy’s Ride, a fun ride promoting mutual awareness and understanding between cyclists and motorists, will feature on Monday before stage two at the Geelong Eastern Park race.  Thousands of cycling fans will band together with sporting stars and celebrities to raise money for the Amy Gillett Foundation.

 

In a first for the event, riders will be separated into waves with each team participating in the 2012 Jayco Bay Cycling Classic - including GreenEDGE - randomly allocated a wave to ride with.