David Kemp (Fly V Australia) hits the line in third place to take the bronze medal in the championships and lies second on the GC. (Image credit: Shane Goss)
Newly-crowned world junior double gold medallist Luke Durbridge will ride this month’s Tour of the Murray Riveer with the Australian Institute of Sport squad. The West Australian cyclist, who won the individual road time trial and the track madison with Alex Carver in Moscow, leads a 116 strong field for the August 30 – September 6 event.
Tour director John Craven said today he was buoyed by the quality and size of the field, up 41 per cent on 2008. “It’s great to have large numbers, but it’s even more satisfying to see such class among the ranks,” he said.
Carver will also contest the race with the New South Wales Institute of Sport team. The duo will be up against 2009 Scody Cup series leader David Kemp. Kemp was runner-up to Robert McLachlan in the 2006 Murray Tour and was second place getter again to Leigh Howard last year.
“I’m getting a reputation as a bit of a bridesmaid,” Kemp said. “It’s something I want to eradicate at the Murray.”
The Elgas Tour of the Murray River began as the three-day Tour of Sunraysia in 1996. Past winners of the race include Olympic gold medallist Brett Aitken, New Zealand’s world track champion Greg Henderson, Australian open road champion Peter McDonald and Howard, who recently signed a contract with UCI trade team Columbia.
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