Bobridge signs with Trek Factory Racing but remains committed to team pursuit heading to Rio

JACK Bobridge says he remains fully committed to Australia’s team pursuit campaign for the Rio Olympics, after signing a contract with Trek to return to cycling’s WorldTour.

Jack Bobridge in action.

JACK Bobridge says he remains fully committed to Australia’s team pursuit campaign for the Rio Olympics, after signing a contract with Trek to return to cycling’s WorldTour.

The 26-year-old is headed back to Europe next year where he will join his fourth WorldTour team after a season spent racing in Australia and the US with Team Budget-Forklifts.

The 2012 Olympic silver medallist started this season with an impressive third in the time trial and sixth at the national championships then won Stage 1 and led the Tour Down Under with wildcard team UniSA.

His most recent racing was in the US in August where he had an attacking role in the USA Pro Challenge.

He was last on the WorldTour with Blanco in 2013 which followed stints with Garmin and Orica-GreenEDGE.

The original plan was for Bobridge to continue with Budget-Forklits — along with the majority of the national track endurance squad — right up to the Rio Olympics, where Australia is desperate to end Great Britain’s reign as champion.

But he said he had unfinished business at WorldTour level on the road and Trek Factory Racing — home to Frank Schleck, Fabian Cancellara and fellow Australian Calvin Watson — had offered him an opportunity to achieve that.

While his race schedule is still being discussed, Bobridge is determined to ride the Rio Olympics with the team pursuit.

“That was part of the negotiations straight away,” Bobridge told News Corp.

“The track was always involved and the team pursuit has always been a passion of mine.

“I’m very thankful to Budget, they let me do the races to expose myself to get back to the WorldTour.

“I’ve got a second chance with Trek and I believe I’ve still got stuff that I haven’t done on the road.

“For them to support me 100 per cent on the road as well as the track is fantastic.

“They’re a well-developed team with great structure, they seem to support and grow their riders and that’s what I was chasing for quite a few years.”

The individual pursuit world record holder is likely to ride one of the early season UCI track world cups before racing the Australian summer.

But his immediate focus is on the National Capital Tour with Budget-Forklifts starting on Friday.

Bobridge’s contract follows The Advertiser on Monday revealing that Michael Hepburn was poised to re-sign with Orica-GreenEDGE and return to the track as part of the build up to Rio.

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Originally published as Bobridge signs with Trek Factory Racing but remains committed to team pursuit heading to Rio