Jack Bobridge has been lauded as the ”real deal” by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong following the young Australian’s victory in the under-23 time trial world championship.
Armstrong, who said during this year’s Tour that 20-year-old Bobridge would have been one of the first-choice recruits for his new Team RadioShack had he not already signed with rival US squad Garmin for two years, passed on his congratulations to the South Australian yesterday.
The Texan said he was eager to race against Bobridge in next year’s Tour Down Under in Adelaide from January 17 to 24, when Armstrong’s team will make its racing debut.
After learning of Bobridge’s time-trial win at Mendrisio in Switzerland on Wednesday, Armstrong yesterday wrote ”Congrats to Jack” in a Twitter message to the Herald .
”He’s the real deal and deserves this result. I look forward to racing with him in the Tour Down Under,” wrote Armstrong, who first met Bobridge on a training ride before this year’s Tour Down Under, where the American launched his international comeback after 3½ years in retirement.
Lance Armstrong was further impressed during the race by the youngster’s willingness to attack, and it was a view that did not change as the Tour de France neared its end in July. ”I would love to have a kid like Bobridge,” he told the Herald then. ”He is complete and he is aggressive, which is really cool to see for a young guy – no fear. But he needs the right program to develop him, I think.”
Reminded of Armstrong’s words after donning his world champion’s rainbow jersey and gold medal, Bobridge said: ”Yeah, that was kind of awesome to have a rider like Lance Armstrong come out and say he was impressed by me. It has done heaps for my confidence all year.”
(Source: brisbanetimes.com.au)
Lance Armstrong all atwitter over Bobridge
