2015 Tour Down Under, Jan 18-25 (2.uwt)

[movingtarget]

Dennis didn't commit himself either way. We'll have to wait to see what happens over the next few stages.
In any case Dennis will most likely take over from Evans at BMC.
I have to feel for Flakemore especially after breaking my collarbone before Christmas.

Dennis will be working for TJVG you would think.

 

[Coat-O]

Pozzovivo looked like he was one of the strongest, if not the strongest, uphill. Too bad he can't sprint.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Lumpy day tomorrow...should be interesting to see how BMC can defend the jersey

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Porte is still in it especially if he can win on Willunga and get the bonus. The climb did not suit him today but great day for BMC.

Yep, in all fairness, this was not the kind of climb that favors Porte. It was, on the other hand, quite perfect for Cadel. He is very patient and collected on such climbs. I think he showed that with the win at (was it Fleche?), overtaking Contador... I can't remember exactly what race it was...might not have been Fleche, but it was a spring classic with a gnarly climb at the end.

 

[movingtarget]

Yes, so launch Dennis early.

I suppose it depends on how AG2R and Sky ride the climb. I think they will set a hard tempo, use up the domestiques then see what Porte has left. I would be surprised if Dennis was there at the finish. I don't think BMC will attack too early, it will draw out other riders but also makes Evans work harder too. Usually the race leader does not attack early as it sort of says he is there to be sacrificed. Be interesting to see how BMC play it. I think Porte will try and do what he did last year. That's his only chance.

 

[Yingge]

Dennis will be working for TJVG you would think.

Or maybe the other way around

BMC seem do have done well in getting Dennis from Garmin.

 

[Yingge]

Yep, in all fairness, this was not the kind of climb that favors Porte. It was, on the other hand, quite perfect for Cadel. He is very patient and collected on such climbs. I think he showed that with the win at (was it Fleche?), overtaking Contador... I can't remember exactly what race it was...might not have been Fleche, but it was a spring classic with a gnarly climb at the end.

Fleche-Wallone in 2010.

 

[JRanton]

Porte's attacks were very weak. Actually Sky were pretty weak in general with Kennaugh and Thomas hardly taking a pull.

 

[movingtarget]

Yep, in all fairness, this was not the kind of climb that favors Porte. It was, on the other hand, quite perfect for Cadel. He is very patient and collected on such climbs. I think he showed that with the win at (was it Fleche?), overtaking Contador... I can't remember exactly what race it was...might not have been Fleche, but it was a spring classic with a gnarly climb at the end.

Yeah obviously Cadel was after the win bonus and Dennis' move was not part of the script but Evans seems to ride better when the pressure is off which it is now until Willunga. Evans win at the Fleche was one of his best even though Contador went too early, Evans won by a huge margin when you saw the overhead shot. He loves the shorter steep climbs.

 

[movingtarget]

Or maybe the other way around

BMC seem do have done well in getting Dennis from Garmin.

Dennis is yet to show what he can do in a grand tour but he has done well in some of the shorter stage races. He has time on his side.

 

[42x16ss]

Yeah obviously Cadel was after the win bonus and Dennis' move was not part of the script but Evans seems to ride better when the pressure is off which it is now until Willunga. Evans win at the Fleche was one of his best even though Contador went too early, Evans won by a huge margin when you saw the overhead shot. He loves the shorter steep climbs.

His stage win on the Mur de Bretagne in the 2011 Tour was similar as well. Evans has always had a decent punch on the really steep stuff.

 

[inthepink]

POssivivo looked good to me ....Can see him going with Porte on saturday and Cadel following ...still between these 3 IMO

 

[42x16ss]

Dennis is yet to show what he can do in a grand tour but he has done well in some of the shorter stage races. He has time on his side.

Dennis has the potential to become a very decent GT rider in the mould of '05-'11 Evans. Can't wait to see his hour attempt.

 

[Coat-O]

I suppose it depends on how AG2R and Sky ride the climb. I think they will set a hard tempo, use up the domestiques then see what Porte has left. I would be surprised if Dennis was there at the finish. I don't think BMC will attack too early, it will draw out other riders but also makes Evans work harder too. Usually the race leader does not attack early as it sort of says he is there to be sacrificed. Be interesting to see how BMC play it. I think Porte will try and do what he did last year. That's his only chance.

It was in Flèche Wallonne, 2010. Evans in his early 30's was one of the best puncheurs out there and he might still is. I've heard that one of the last thing you lose as a cyclist is your "punch". You lose your raw sprint way before your uphill punch.

 

[movingtarget]

Dennis has the potential to become a very decent GT rider in the mould of '05-'11 Evans. Can't wait to see his hour attempt.

Looks like the best Aussie prospect at the moment re GTs not including Porte but Flakemore and some of the younger guys look good as well.

 

[sienna]

Dennis will be working for TJVG you would think.

I suppose when Dennis and Van Gardaren are in the same race.

 

[movingtarget]

It was in Flèche Wallonne, 2010. Evans in his early 30's was one of the best puncheurs out there and he might still is. I've heard that one of the last thing you lose as a cyclist is your "punch". You lose your raw sprint way before your uphill punch.

I remember Moreau also said when he was about 37 that his climbing had pretty much stayed at the same level but his TT had deteriorated not that that was of his strengths anyway. Evans has lost some power against the best climbers on the mountains, and his TT but has lost nothing in uphill sprints like today as you say.

 

[Coat-O]

11. SANCHEZ Luis Leon, 0:15
12. GRMAY Tsgabu ,,
13. MACHADO Tiago ,,

Very promising African talent. Still only 23 years old.

 

[JRanton]

From the overhead shot it looks like Dennis was about 30th when they hit the climb. People say you need to be in the top 10 or so when you hit the bottom of a climb like that in order to win but you often use up too much energy trying to maintain your position at the front on the run in towards the climb. For example, Sky and Porte were making constant accelerations to try to stay at the front in the last 10km and that must take something out of you when you actually hit the climb.

 

[Coat-O]

I remember Moreau also said when he was about 37 that his climbing had pretty much stayed at the same level but his TT had deteriorated not that that was of his strengths anyway. Evans has lost some power against the best climbers on the mountains, and his TT but has lost nothing in uphill sprints like today as you say.

Yep. Being a hill rider/puncheur (or cobblestone expert for non-climbers) is the final destination for most riders, oddly enough both for sprinters, TT'ers and climbers.

 

[Tournesol]

I have enjoyed this race so far (as i always do) and i think the parcours is more interesting than some would give it credit for,the last two stages have had interesting finales and Willunga never disappoints.I think for a week long stage race in Australia the organisers have varied it quite nicely.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I have enjoyed this race so far (as i always do) and i think the parcours is more interesting than some would give it credit for,the last two stages have had interesting finales and Willunga never disappoints.I think for a week long stage race in Australia the organisers have varied it quite nicely.

I agree! I've always liked TDU very much.

 

[nhowson]

I have enjoyed this race so far (as i always do) and i think the parcours is more interesting than some would give it credit for,the last two stages have had interesting finales and Willunga never disappoints.I think for a week long stage race in Australia the organisers have varied it quite nicely.

The parcours used to be awful. Hopefully the get a chance to put some climbs one after the other and create a real medium mountain stage. Norton Summit, Checker Hill and Corkscrew could be thrown together quite easily...

 

[theyoungest]

I have enjoyed this race so far (as i always do) and i think the parcours is more interesting than some would give it credit for,the last two stages have had interesting finales and Willunga never disappoints.I think for a week long stage race in Australia the organisers have varied it quite nicely.

The last few years it has been really good, always a tight race until the last day with a few medium climbs here and there, and not simply a sprinter fest.

Dennis has the potential to become a very decent GT rider in the mould of '05-'11 Evans. Can't wait to see his hour attempt.

As soon as an Aussie can get up a hill, he's immediately a GT prospect. Dennis and Dumoulin are similar riders, great TT, good in the hills (Dumoulin a little better, actually) but no one would consider Dumoulin a future Evans. Come to think of it, if I had to pick which one of those two is most like Evans, it has to be Dumoulin.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Last 10km:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcghCEo_vyQ