Rio 2016 Olympics: Aussie men’s team pursuit in hot form at training camp in Mexico

AUSTRALIA’S men’s team pursuit has sent a message to their rivals 12 months out from the Rio Olympics by riding an unofficial world record at a training camp in Mexico.

AUSTRALIA’S men’s team pursuit has sent a message to their rivals 12 months out from the Rio Olympics by riding an unofficial world record at a training camp in Mexico.

Jack Bobridge, Alex Edmondson, Dan Fitter and Sam Welsford combined to ride three minutes 50.3 seconds over 4km at the velodrome in Aguascalientes.

Two-time defending Olympic champions Great Britain hold the official world record of 3:51.65 set in London in 2012.

Australia was hoping to make the world record ride done at altitude official, but UCI costing to ratify the attempt - in excess of $25,000 - put it beyond reach.

Coach Tim Decker said that money could be better spent in the lead up to the Games but it took none of the shine off his riders’ efforts.

Jack Bobridge and his teammates are in great form 12 months out from Rio.

In an earlier attempt, Bobridge, Edmondson, Welsford and Callum Scotson rode a 3:52.

“We came here for a training camp and had aims that we wanted to get out of it, and one of those was towards the end to simulate two team pursuits like we were in qualifying and a final of a major meet,” Decker said.

“The camp was just under three weeks long so it was a good way to end it and bring of a few of the boys together at this part of the season to see where they’re at.

“We’re about 389 days from race day in Rio so it’s an indicator that we are on track, but we still have a lot of work to do.

“Originally we were going to do a training camp in Europe but when (track-aligned NRS team) Budget-Forklifts got a start in the Tour of Utah, we looked at wanting to do the camp at altitude to assist the boys.

“We know where we’re at with it, altitude does make it faster but you also have to think about the less oxygen when you get into the last 1.5km of a 4km event.

“I’m very proud of the boys, there was only a handful of riders here and some with a lot of experience, some with very limited, so to come together like that is a bonus.”

The Aguascalientes velodrome is the same track Anna Meares broke the women’s 500m TT world record on in 2013. Although the UCI officially recognises world records at altitude, it is widely known that times are faster than at sea level.

The Australian riders in Mexico form part of a 15-man track endurance squad and Decker said every one of them had a role to play going forward.

Bobridge and Glenn O’Shea will now go to Tour of Utah with Budget Forklifts in the US, Edmondson returns to Europe with the Jayco AIS Academy and the younger riders return to Australia to complete the NRS season.

“By no means does what has happened today mean that’s an Olympic team, there is a long way to go,” Decker said.

“As a group we’re very focused on what we have to do as a group and getting the best out of ourselves, we have a lot of talent but we need to make sure we nurture it and get it to the right level.”