Mitchelton-Scott star Luke Durbridge is rapt that the high-profile BMC team are centre of attention at the Australian road cycling championships.
Since GreenEDGE - now riding as Mitchelton-Scott - became Australia's first WorldTour team in 2012, all the pressure has been on them at the road nationals.
Simon Gerrans won for them in 2012 and Durbridge achieved a rare double the following year when he took out the road-race and time trial.
Gerrans made it three in a row for the Australian super team in 2014 when he topped a dream podium ahead of Cadel Evans and Richie Porte.
But in the men's elite road race on Sunday - the showpiece event of the nationals - this time the main focus will be on BMC.
Gerrans left Mitchelton-Scott late last year and joined BMC.
While he is their main contender, the team oozes talent with Richie Porte, three-time time trial champion Rohan Dennis and defending champion Miles Scotson.
Mitchelton-Scott remain key players in the race and Durbridge is a strong contender but they are enjoying not having all the spotlight on them.
"It's refreshing. It's very refreshing," Durbridge said.
"We still reminisce about the day we had 17 riders (in the road race) in 2012 - that was pressure, it was panic stations.
"It's changing. It's also great for Australian cycling that there are really three big teams (including the local Bennelong squad)."
Durbridge only raced for 45 days last year thanks to a crash that put him out of the Tour de France but he showed his form is strong by finishing second in Friday's time trial behind Dennis.
Durbridge produced one of the highlights of last year's nationals, riding at the front for most of the race and helping set up Gerrans for the finish, before Scotson was the surprise winner.
Durbridge's main goal again this year will be the Belgian spring classics season, in particular the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
He is becoming a strong classics rider and is looking for a breakthrough win.
Share
