We are very proud and happy to report that the exciting young talent, Robert Power, has joined our team at Signature Sport.

Rob started his cycling career at the Midlands Cycling Club in Perth; the same club that kick started the careers of Luke Durbridge and Cameron and Travis Meyer. Rob had been a rugby player — his brother Leon currently plays rugby union for the Brumbies — but a knee injury when he was only 13 pushed him towards cycling.

After a big pre-season he arrived at the national championships in Buninyong in great form, finishing second in the U23 road race behind Caleb Ewan. His ride earned him a place on the Jayco U23 National Team at the Herald Sun Tour where he managed fourth in the best young rider classification.

In February he went to the Oceania Championships and won the U23 road race, getting in a race-winning breakaway with winner of the elite men’s road race and old club mate Luke Durbridge (the elite men’s and U23 men’s races were held together). Durbridge crossed the line first, but Rob comfortably won the U23 race, drawing praise from the Orica-GreenEDGE TT specialist.

But it was his performance in the Tour de l’Avenir, the so called ‘race of the future’, that’s really raised eyebrows. Riding with the national team, Rob finished second overall, a feat that can’t be sneezed considering the company he now keeps.

“It would’ve been nice to get the win, but there’s always next year.”

“I’ve never really thought too far ahead, always trying to do my best really,” Rob says.

“After L’Avenir I did stop, and think, for a second. ‘Maybe I could go professional’, or something like that. I always watched the Tour de France, and La Vuelta. I always looked up to the professionals, but it’s really never been something I thought about too seriously