Bobridge, 20, is suffering from tendinitis in his left knee.

“I’ve no idea what caused the problem and it is an inconvenience,” he said.

“It flared up about six weeks ago when I was having some downtime and the doctors and specialists are unsure what caused it.

“Although rest is probably the best option, I need to be building up my training for races early in January.”

Some days the injury can suddenly become quite painful. It forced him to pull out of this weekend’s UCI World Cup Classic in Melbourne - an event he won two gold medals at in 2008.

Bobridge said he was being monitored daily with treatment and massage.

On Monday, he received small orthotic insets to put in his riding shoes.

When he rode with the inserts for the first time, Bobridge reported he felt like he would roll an ankle.

The Evanston rider will make his debut for Spanish pro team Garmin-Slipstream in the 2010 Tour Down Under - from January 17 to 24 - and is currently using a team bike in preparation for the race.

Next year will offer opportunities to ride for a pro team for the first time, maintain AIS commitments and potentially earn a spot of the Commonwealth Games team.

Meanwhile, Bobridge continues to pick up major awards.

Last week he was named joint Australian Institute of Sport Junior Athlete of the Year, as he shared the honour with netballer Amy Steel.

He was recognised as the first Australian to win the Under 23 World Championship time trial.

He is also one of three finalists in the Toshiba Male Track Cyclist of the Year award which will be named on Sunday night.

Jack Bobridge is supporting the annual Ride to Cure Diabetes which will be conducted in the Barossa next year.

“I have donated a signed Australian jersey which will be raffled to raise funds,” Bobridge said.

“It is an important event and I am pleased to be involved.”

The Ride to Cure Diabetes will be conducted through January 15-17 and offers riders the chance to cycle over 35km, 80km or 160km trips around the Barossa Valley.

Organised by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the ride raised $4.5 million this year and hopes to top that in 2010.

“I would like to have actually ridden in the Ride to Cure but it is too close to the Santos Tour Down Under.”

Information on the 2010 Ride to Cure Diabetes can be accessed at www.jdrf.org.au/ride on the internet.