2012 Tour Down Under Stage 3: Unley → Victor Harbor, 135km, 2.WT

[will10]

It's the right tactic to try and get Matthews some bonus seconds... if he can't hold Renshaw's wheel that's his own fault.

I suppose it's the right tactic if you think Matthews can finish high up on GC...

 

[Jamsque]

The Silverback is stamping his authority on this race.

We're halfway through, and GreenEdge has managed a third and a fifth with their stacked squad of race-fit Aussies. Not the start they had hoped for I'm sure.

 

[will10]

The Silverback is stamping his authority on this race.

We're halfway through, and GreenEdge has managed a third and a fifth with their stacked squad of race-fit Aussies. Not the start they had hoped for I'm sure.

Apart from the fact that their leader looks like the favourite for the GC.

 

[theyoungest]

I suppose it's the right tactic if you think Matthews can finish high up on GC...

Which apparently you don't.

Apart from the fact that their leader looks like the favourite for the GC.

Has Gerro taken on Contador-like proportions? Come on, he'll certainly be up there, but the favourite?

 

[will10]

Which apparently you don't.

Nope.

Has Gerro taken on Contador-like proportions? Come on, he'll certainly be up there, but the favourite?

You're splitting hairs, he's a favourite then. Or shall we write off Greenedge's season because they haven't had 5 wins by now?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Apart from the fact that their leader looks like the favourite for the GC.

Favourite for the gc? I'd still say that EBH is the big favourite right now with Matthews the second favourite. Those guys can pick up time in the flat sprint stages where as Gerrans won't.

I suppose it's the right tactic if you think Matthews can finish high up on GC...

Considering how well bling is sprinting and the fact that he can climb means it is the right tatic.

 

[Peccio89]

Considering that the Wilunga Hill is not that hard and that he already showed great form i would bet on Gerrans too for the GC.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Considering that the Wilunga Hill is not that hard and that he already showed great form i would bet on Gerrans too for the GC.

If it is not that hard then it will suit EBH and Matthews more due to it being less descisive and both of those guys being better sprinters.

 

[will10]

If it is not that hard then it will suit EBH and Matthews more due to it being less descisive and both of those guys being better sprinters.

It's no Mur de Huy but it'll be decisive enough that Matthews will not be up there at the finish. I'll take a Matthews avatar until the end of Feb if he finishes top 10 on stage 5.

 

[maltiv]

Favourite for the gc? I'd still say that EBH is the big favourite right now with Matthews the second favourite. Those guys can pick up time in the flat sprint stages where as Gerrans won't.


Considering how well bling is sprinting and the fact that he can climb means it is the right tatic.

There are only 2 sprint stages left and considering how well Greipel is riding EBH or Matthews won't get more than about 12 seconds or so (at best). Let's not forget that the winner of stage 5 also gets 10 bonus seconds, so if Gerrans wins on Willunga and EBH gets 4th 2 seconds behind then he's screwed.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Mike Tomalaris said that Renshaw and Matthews had a bit of a "spat" after the stage.

Mark Renshaw interview post stage

Seemed a little annoyed and agitated to me.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Phil Anderson's analysis of Tour Down Under stage 3

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-phil-andersons-analysis-of-tour-down-under-stage-3

 

[just some guy]

Mike Tomalaris said that Renshaw and Matthews had a bit of a "spat" after the stage.

Mark Renshaw interview post stage

Seemed a little annoyed and agitated to me.

Geo-blocked - the whole TDU is unavailable outside of OZ except a couple of minutes highlights

 

[Kvinto]

I guess Mark Renshaw deals with some psychological obstacles in his sprinting. Good positioned on the stage 1 he has 'no legs' and now he does a super-long run for fourth being a lead-out man for Matthews. I don't think he lacks of acceleration but something weird happens with his sprint and i hope last 2 sprinting stages will clarify this somehow...

 

[Panda Claws]

When has Hutarovich gotten so fast?

 

[just some guy]

When has Hutarovich gotten so fast?

He has always been handy

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

When has Hutarovich gotten so fast?

he's always had a decent kick. Has some decent results to back it up.

 

[woodie]

Mike Tomalaris said that Renshaw and Matthews had a bit of a "spat" after the stage.

Mark Renshaw interview post stage

Seemed a little annoyed and agitated to me.

I think he was more disappointed that their plan didn't work, i'm sure they'll sort out any problem they had, if at all

 

[Kwibus]

Renshaw was leading out Matthews, who couldn't hold his wheel, and then he tried to make the best out of it. Don't know if this was the way to do it, he seemed pretty quick actually but obviously went much too early.


Lol, you're pretty frustrated, aren't you? They actually chose the right tactic today, didn't work out though.

I made that statement based on the result, without any other information.
I just read that Rabo allready announced before the race that Renshaw had to lead out Matthews, but I wasn't aware of that. I'm glad they picked the right tactic. Too bad it didn't work out.

Since I made the statement without any other info besides the result I indeed seem a bit frustated with Rabobank yes.
Quite frankly I guess I am, but that's purely because I support Rabobank. Dutch team with good riders and a sponsor devoted to cycling for a long time. Lots of reason for me to like them, but indeed I tend to think they **** things up too often and that could be because I'm too focused on Rabo or because they really do

 

[Cobblestoned]

All those trains, and Griepel wins again.

Good work by Sky again.

 

[Andy99]

Cavs thoughts;

'Looked a good sprint in #TourDownUnder. @AndreGreipel looks proper lean. I don't reckon 2 x Willunga Hill will be a problem for him..'

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe television coverage will be better next year if you can believe what you read here:

http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/mike-tomalaris/blog/125543/prudhomme-impressed

You would imagine that having ASO involved may help matters.

you think? Tour of Oman, 30 minutes highlights, the day after the stage and a full 4 or 5 hours after the next stage has finished

 

[maltiv]

you think? Tour of Oman, 30 minutes highlights, the day after the stage and a full 4 or 5 hours after the next stage has finished

Oman is 2.1, TDU is WT. Thus the coverage of TDU is expected to be greater.

 

[Anonymous]

highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJhliGVTMss&feature=uploademail

 

[Kvinto]

Oman is 2.1, TDU is WT. Thus the coverage of TDU is expected to be greater.

it does not make a big difference, but this year Qatar and Oman are HC