ID :
40227
Mon, 01/12/2009 - 16:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/40227
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Local stars help Lance train in Adelaide
Rising Australian star Jack Bobridge has had one of the highlights of his young cycling career - a training ride with Lance Armstrong.
Bobridge, 19, Stuart O'Grady and former top Australian professional Pat Jonker helped the seven-time Tour de France champion shake off the effects of the flight from Hawaii with a four-hour ride through the Adelaide Hills.
Armstrong arrived in Adelaide late on Sunday night and wasted no time on Monday in returning to his buildup to this month's Tour Down Under.
The Tour will be the 37-year-old American's comeback race after a three-year absence from professional cycling.
"I think it was a bit like Christmas Day for him, let's face it, there's probably only one or two opportunities to train with Lance," Jonker said of Bobridge.
"It's probably better than any Christmas present he's got.
"Lance is the sort of person who does like to encourage the young riders."
Jonker and Armstrong have known each other since they competed as amateurs in the early 1990s and they once rode together on the US Postal professional team.
Jonker, who was 12th in the 1996 Tour de France, won the 2004 Tour Down Under and will help manage the UniSA team during the race, a squad that will feature Bobridge.
The young South Australian won the under-23 time trial and road race last week at the national road titles.
Armstrong contacted Jonker a few weeks ago about setting up some low-key training rides in Adelaide before the American star joins his Astana teammates later this week.
"I can't keep up with Lance by myself, so the first thing I did was to call Stuey for back-up," Jonker said.
"Jack deserved to come along because he's done so well.
"I don't think he went over 150 (heart) beats a minute, he was well within himself.
"Stuey and Lance were up the front going up hills reasonably hard a couple of times and for the rest it was just for him shake his legs."
Asked what his heart rate reached, Jonker said "probably 190".
"I had the `mask' on - I made sure he didn't know I was suffering," Jonker said.
"For him, it was a leisurely ride in the Adelaide Hills and he really loved the surroundings, it did remind him of California."
Jonker said Armstrong looked in good shape, but added the American's race form will be a mystery until next week's Tour unfolds.
Bobridge, 19, Stuart O'Grady and former top Australian professional Pat Jonker helped the seven-time Tour de France champion shake off the effects of the flight from Hawaii with a four-hour ride through the Adelaide Hills.
Armstrong arrived in Adelaide late on Sunday night and wasted no time on Monday in returning to his buildup to this month's Tour Down Under.
The Tour will be the 37-year-old American's comeback race after a three-year absence from professional cycling.
"I think it was a bit like Christmas Day for him, let's face it, there's probably only one or two opportunities to train with Lance," Jonker said of Bobridge.
"It's probably better than any Christmas present he's got.
"Lance is the sort of person who does like to encourage the young riders."
Jonker and Armstrong have known each other since they competed as amateurs in the early 1990s and they once rode together on the US Postal professional team.
Jonker, who was 12th in the 1996 Tour de France, won the 2004 Tour Down Under and will help manage the UniSA team during the race, a squad that will feature Bobridge.
The young South Australian won the under-23 time trial and road race last week at the national road titles.
Armstrong contacted Jonker a few weeks ago about setting up some low-key training rides in Adelaide before the American star joins his Astana teammates later this week.
"I can't keep up with Lance by myself, so the first thing I did was to call Stuey for back-up," Jonker said.
"Jack deserved to come along because he's done so well.
"I don't think he went over 150 (heart) beats a minute, he was well within himself.
"Stuey and Lance were up the front going up hills reasonably hard a couple of times and for the rest it was just for him shake his legs."
Asked what his heart rate reached, Jonker said "probably 190".
"I had the `mask' on - I made sure he didn't know I was suffering," Jonker said.
"For him, it was a leisurely ride in the Adelaide Hills and he really loved the surroundings, it did remind him of California."
Jonker said Armstrong looked in good shape, but added the American's race form will be a mystery until next week's Tour unfolds.
