2012 Tour Down Under Stage 6: Adelaide Street Circuit, 90km, 2.WT

[BYOP88]

You are the one making that judgement, there is nothing the TDU can do about the WT, it is merely part of the system. The UCI is to blame for any problems with the WT, not the organisers of the TDU, ENECO or Montreal/Quebec.

The TDU is a poor event on a number of fronts, devalue the race on this basis, but don't blame it for the problems in the way the cycling season is run by the UCI. The idea that a race organiser would hold its race back from moving up the UCI classification because it might "shame" Tirreno-Adriatico or Liege-Bastogne-Liege is absurd.

I agree that the race shouldn't be WT, not because it would give equal points as Paris-Nice (as this is a separate debate), but because I don't believe it yet has the qualities which should be required to hold a race at the top level. However, I'm not going to take aim at the race and make a mockery of it just because it is WT - this is the UCI's fault. The problems of an individual race organiser are different to those faced/created by the UCI. SA Tourism can't fix the problems in cycling so we shouldn't blame it for them either.

Ok 'importance' was a poor word to use, points would've been better. I can't remember if it was in this thread or another one, but it was said 'they should have different rankings for WT races and points given to the races depend on what ranking it is'.

I have no issue with SA Tourism and am not expecting them to right the wrongs of the sport. As I've said before I'm sure the riders enjoy the weather and the training, I'm sure for most riders it's like a spring training game of baseball.

Yeah I agree the problem is with the UCI and I'm sure they get a nice wedge of ca$h out of the deal. Maybe they should just go back to pre PT/WT system, but they wont.

 

[Ferminal]

Mickey Mouse time trial

 

[auscyclefan94]

The time trial in Oman last year was a bit 'mickey mouse'.

 

[PCutter]

As I've said before I'm sure the riders enjoy the weather and the training, I'm sure for most riders it's like a spring training game of baseball.

Some teams treating TdU like a training holiday have rocks in their head. Ok for Liquigas bringing an inexperienced team down for some fun in the sun, they have a strong squad guaranteeing continued WT status. AG2R were basically invisible the whole race and brought no-one of substance down to Australia, then come October/November they'll be offering old Asian tour riders contracts to secure their points to ensure they continue in the WT??? Maybe if their management looked at the points on offer for a 'relatively easy' GC top 10 they wouldn't be scrambling at the end of the year.

 

[Marcuccio]

Financially - Europe is dead. Dwindling sponsors, merging teams, folding teams etc mean that the UCI is not immune to this disease and the reality is, countries like Australia, India and China, and the middle - east on the whole are where the money is at.

The UCI will do what ever it can to find a cash cow, and these new frontiers will eventually be the life blood of the UCI.

Having a 1 week even in South Australia in the first few weeks of our hottest months is always going to be intense and not many of the top Europeans want to come over and sit in 100 deg heat for 6 days, but if the world economy keeps going the way it is - there's going to be more and more emphasis on events on the sub continent cos that's who's going to pay the UCI's bills.

 

[Marcuccio]

Some teams treating TdU like a training holiday have rocks in their head. Ok for Liquigas bringing an inexperienced team down for some fun in the sun, they have a strong squad guaranteeing continued WT status. AG2R were basically invisible the whole race and brought no-one of substance down to Australia, then come October/November they'll be offering old Asian tour riders contracts to secure their points to ensure they continue in the WT??? Maybe if their management looked at the points on offer for a 'relatively easy' GC top 10 they wouldn't be scrambling at the end of the year.

I wonder how many will continue to treat is like a training camp when they find more and more races held in countries like Australia and Oman cos European countries can't afford to host and televise said events..

Guys like Greipel deserve the plaudits - he's here every year in early Jan sweating his *** off and doing the hard work.

 

[hughmoore]

Ok 'importance' was a poor word to use, points would've been better. I can't remember if it was in this thread or another one, but it was said 'they should have different rankings for WT races and points given to the races depend on what ranking it is'.

I have no issue with SA Tourism and am not expecting them to right the wrongs of the sport. As I've said before I'm sure the riders enjoy the weather and the training, I'm sure for most riders it's like a spring training game of baseball.

Yeah I agree the problem is with the UCI and I'm sure they get a nice wedge of ca$h out of the deal. Maybe they should just go back to pre PT/WT system, but they wont.

I dont understand why you want less points for TDU, all the teams are there, they can all earn same points?



Hugh

 

[PCutter]

Mickey Mouse time trial

If TT bikes aren't allowed as an option for a TT, yes. If riders choose to ride their normal road bikes because the course is better suited/too hilly thats fine. Any TdU TT would likely be pancake flat.

 

[Ferminal]

If TT bikes aren't allowed as an option for a TT, yes. If riders choose to ride their normal road bikes because the course is better suited/too hilly thats fine. Any TdU TT would likely be pancake flat.

It's more the idea that a race against the clock is invalid if they aren't allowed to ride on funny looking bicycles. Yet the longest time trial in recent times was won by a guy on a normal bike. The integral part of a time trial is the clock, not the bike.

 

[Wilba60]

Not only is Greipel over for January, the story now is that he is coming over for December and the Bay Crits. Imagine if he does that and others follow. Already huge crowds will only grow and it makes you wonder if Greipel will be faster again after doing these 4 races

When talking about the Australian population I am sure that a lot of people from overseas don't understand the HUGE passionate interest Australians have with their sport....that is why so many world events are held here, why the Olympics have been twice and why we have events like the Australian Open tennis, Grand Prix, Rugby world cups and our own brand of football (Aussie Rules) which attracts crowds that match the biggest soccer games in the world. Even horse racing of all sports gets 100.000 plus crowds for 3 or 4 days of the spring racing carnival in Melbourne. I know Eddie Merckx was being interviewed on Australian TV but he commented that the TDU crowds were the biggest he had seen outside of the TDF.

I am not sure though that I would like to see Queensland win the event from the South Australians. Not sure how the riders would cope with the January humidity.....I think 40C in dry heat would be better but maybe some like the humid warmth.

 

[PCutter]

It's more the idea that a race against the clock is invalid if they aren't allowed to ride on funny looking bicycles. Yet the longest time trial in recent times was won by a guy on a normal bike. The integral part of a time trial is the clock, not the bike.

TT race, TT bike, but hey, its just my opinion and PCutter isn't a pseudonym for Pat McQuaid so, much like debates at home, my opinion doesn't really matter.

I don't doubt Durbridge would still win a TT race on a road bike but its a WT race, so not sure - it costs too much to fly TT bikes - is a valid reason to race on road bikes.

 

[Ferminal]

TT race, TT bike, but hey, its just my opinion and PCutter isn't a pseudonym for Pat McQuaid so, much like debates at home, my opinion doesn't really matter.

I don't doubt Durbridge would still win a TT race on a road bike but its a WT race, so not sure - it costs too much to fly TT bikes - is a valid reason to race on road bikes.

It would be a "waste of taxpayers' money"

I don't think having a TT on road bikes is a valid reason not to have one. It's not a UCI decision, there are provisions to only allow road bikes in TTs. The race is well over a decade old and still hasn't had a TT on any bike, for me that is the bigger issue.

 

[woodie]

I think it would be great if they could do a TT. Start in Wilunga, do one lap and then finish at the top of the hill on the second time up. That'd make it interesting

 

[Tragic]

A shortish UPHILL tt on road bikes might be OK, finish at Mt Lofty? There is precedent, San Dimas?

Have now been to 8/12, the WH finish was great!

 

[movingtarget]

Which editions were that ?

The editions I watched always had a hard Ardennes stage included, also a mini-Amstel Gold race stage.
The ToQ is always good to watch, if you like wind an sand.
PToT always has some very nice stages and is good to watch. If you find the racing dull, you can always watch the awesome landscape and proud Turks.

I prefer the Aussie landscape thanks and I can listen to Phil Liggett talk about vineyards and whatever ! ENECO has plenty of flat and the hills are short and steep for the most part. I actually thought the Tour of Poland was much better. Each to their own but my favourite stage races outside the grand tours are Tirreno and Dauphine. I enjoyed the Tour Suisse last year and also think the Tour of California is improving. Romandie could be better as could Paris-Nice. TDU will improve further but it was good as an opener to the season

 

[Tuarts]

Well after finally watching the last stage (watched Wilunga yesterday) and catching up with all the comments all I can say is that now I remember I don't bother to have prolonged discussions here with the attitudes on display. It gets revved up in January and just continues all year long. Joy.