Durbridge taking in the bigger picture
LUKE Durbridge thought it just might have been his time, so admits he was devastated and nervous when racing was scrapped in a contract year for the Mitchelton-Scott cyclist.
But locked up in Spain for almost two weeks, the West Australian has softened after seeing the wider impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Durbridge has only been allowed out of his Girona apartment for groceries in the last nine days, his team one of the first to pull their riders from races as measures to curb the spread of coronavirus ramped up earlier this month.
The 28-year-old had beaten time trial world champion Rohan Dennis for his second straight national title in January and his hopes were high after two years hampered by early-season injuries.
Instead of racing he’s been reduced to cooking, reading books and daily sessions on virtual riding app Zwift, with no idea when he’ll next get the chance to ride in real life.
“I was really excited, thought this could be the year I could potentially do what I wanted to do at the classics (in Europe) ... and all of a sudden it gets ripped out from underneath you,” he told the Stanley Street Social podcast.
“I was devastated about all the races and thought, ‘This could have been my year’.
“I was bit like, ‘What’s happened, my races, my season, my contract, my career’, and then started to realise this is actually a lot bigger than cycling and my career.
“Of course (it concerns me). Everyone who is up for contracts, or even in contracts, would be nervous about how the economy is going to take the hit because we are based off sponsorship.
“You are nervous about what you’re doing next year.”
Isolation has otherwise been a case of so far so good for Durbridge and his wife, who have the luxury of a sundrenched terrace and the ability to connect with thousands of everyday cyclists on Zwift.
Durbridge said he was thankful for the connected world, and the indoor cycle helped keep him sane up to a point.