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

[Ruudz0r]

Thank you!

Porte: "Look at someone like Tom Dumoulin for example. He could go for the bonus sprints and guys like him could be a real surprise"

1 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin
126 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Alpecin +1:58

What happened?

Nothing probably, just let himself drop back a little and not take any risks, this race did not count for the GC of t he Tour Down Under.

 

[cineteq]

Nothing probably, just let himself drop back a little and not take any risks, this race did not count for the GC of t he Tour Down Under.

I was wondering if it'd count...

 

[ILovecycling]

Already it is harder for me to pick out riders...WHY did Giant switch to more black in their jerseys!...

yea,I was wondering why is Kittel so bad postitioned (where is he?) a then before finish line I recognised him as 'the guy in the black'

 

[Akuryo]

I was wondering if it'd count...

Nope. It's just a classics race before the TDU. The "real" race starts with stage one and not the peoples classic.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xiwo6tYEiUg#t=238

lol the speed of Wippert. He still would've been 2nd though if he was placed better, Kittel is just too strong. But he would've been a better challenge than effin Henderson.

 

[samhocking]

That's kinda complicated. They could go motorbike-->helicopter-->cell tower-->youtube--> all viewers.

Ahh, if only it was that simple you would be a very rich man!

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Very good sprint done by lobato and wouter wippert.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xiwo6tYEiUg#t=238

lol the speed of Wippert. He still would've been 2nd though if he was placed better, Kittel is just too strong. But he would've been a better challenge than effin Henderson.

Very much doubt that. He was in Lobato's wheel for god knows how long - well before the corner - and still couldn't overtake him.

 

[70kmph]

Cadull Evans was the most boring racer in cycling history, I am celebrating his retirement for good riddance to the most biggest looser this guy was on level with Lampheimer always hanging off the back on hard climbs, he was never adequately prepared, everyone beat his @ss...

 

[nhowson]

And NOT Ge-restricted it seems, as I can see it here in Taiwan.

I love how Jancouver shut up after this.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

Haussler seems to have done the second best sprint but was kinda stuck for long. I can see him winning a stage here when Kittel is gone.

 

[manafana]

Surprised to please the family and exhibit side of TDU that we dont get a road bike prologue for the start of this race.

 

[auscyclefan94]

One of the inflatable banners collapsed last night, nearly causing havoc for the riders.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-19/canberra-man-averts-calamity-at-tour-down-under/6024382

 

[Jancouver]

I love how Jancouver shut up after this.

First of all, welcome to the forums. I'm glad that you have recently discovered these boards.

While I'm not shy to bash the TDU as the worst WT race, we do have a unwritten rule around here that we do not attack each other and are respectful to others.

Therefore, I hope that you can maintain your cool and refrain from attacking others and keep your language respectful.

As per me not responding to every post. Well, I do have a life outside of these boards too.

Anyway, once again, welcome to this forum and I hope you will enjoy your meaningless little race.

 

[Jancouver]

One of the inflatable banners collapsed last night, nearly causing havoc for the riders.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-19/canberra-man-averts-calamity-at-tour-down-under/6024382

There is something about the Aussies getting stuck under banners

 

[austy37]

Anyway, once again, welcome to this forum and I hope you will enjoy your meaningless little race.

Hey Jan, just wondering if you had ideas on how to make the race better? Not being sarcastic really curious. I am in Oz and find lots of people here enjoy the race, and like the fact that you can go to Adelaide for the week and stay in the same place, see a few stages and sometimes ride back with the riders, see their team buses/rider village etc. I hear the riders like it too as they don't have to travel between stages.
I understand that to get teams to come here we need incentives like this to make it worthwhile (ie nice hotels, little travel, ability to pet Koalas etc). I see lots of complaints on here about it being rubbish racing and too many points awarded to non-deserving aussies. Could other teams just prepare for the race or is it too far out of the racing calendar to realistically ride for the TDU in January. Should we move it to later, not have it WT (then we as fans miss out, no-one comes ) Or do we just make it more interesting with different terrain?
I think Oz deserves some sort of WT race just so we get to see all the top people etc. at least once. Maybe this has been covered before, sorry if it has.

 

[42x16ss]

Ideally, IMO the race should be about 4-6 weeks later, or in the old Tour of Beijing's slot. A week or two before Paris-Nice would be perfect, just so the temps are a little cooler and a few more European riders turn up, even if it's just for the kms (although this year's field is stronger than usual).

This way the stages could be about 20-30 kms longer and a couple more of the great hills around Adelaide could be used. It's a tricky balance though, because the crowds are great due to the summer holidays, especially with the Australia Day long weekend. The ability to go for a pedal with the pros while they train or ride back to their hotels is pretty cool too (and gives Durianrider a chance to rant about how well he's going at any given time.)

 

[Jancouver]

I dont want to be repeating myself but will all honesty, like it or not, there is no room for this race on WT calendar and only few Aussies care about the race.

We all know, the teams are forced to show up just because this is a WT race. We all know they made this a WT race because otherwise no team other than Orica would show up.

Sure, it is convenient for the riders to stay at the same area, but that does not change the fact that they have to travel half way around the globe just because UCI forced them. And the extreme heat does not help either.

How can you make the race better? Unfortunately, it is not the terrain that makes the race. Its the quality of the field. Sure, it can make the race better but if the best riders dont show up, you will never have a good race no matter what kind of route you have.

Are the fans excited? Of course, same as they are excited here for the Tour of California. ToC is not a WT race, yet I still believe it is a better race with better organization, better riders and better terrain.

And yes, the Cali Tour Tracker (and other US races with the tracker) is unmatched by any race on UCI Calendar.

Look, I will be watching the race because I love cycling, but we all know, it is not a real WT caliber race.

 

[42x16ss]

I dont want to be repeating myself but will all honesty, like it or not, there is no room for this race on WT calendar and only few Aussies care about the race.

We all know, the teams are forced to show up just because this is a WT race. We all know they made this a WT race because otherwise no team other than Orica would show up.

Sure, it is convenient for the riders to stay at the same area, but that does not change the fact that they have to travel half way around the globe just because UCI forced them. And the extreme heat does not help either.

How can you make the race better? Unfortunately, it is not the terrain that makes the race. Its the quality of the field. Sure, it can make the race better but if the best riders dont show up, you will never have a good race no matter what kind of route you have.

Are the fans excited? Of course, same as they are excited here for the Tour of California. ToC is not a WT race, yet I still believe it is a better race with better organization, better riders and better terrain.

And yes, the Cali Tour Tracker (and other US races with the tracker) is unmatched by any race on UCI Calendar.

Look, I will be watching the race because I love cycling, but we all know, it is not a real WT caliber race.

But how would you make it better?

The distance is a red herring, San Luis is concurrent, has transfers and the travel distance is almost as far yet still gets a decent field. The heat can be an issue there too.

A more challenging parcours? I do agree there. It doesn't need to be crazy but a couple more hills to break things up would help. An extra 30 mins racing each stage wouldn't hurt either.

Also, take a look at the start list, the field this year is pretty decent, even if there is a lack of good sprinters other than Kittel and Renshaw.

 

[Jancouver]

But how would you make it better?

The distance is a red herring, San Luis is concurrent, has transfers and the travel distance is almost as far yet still gets a decent field. The heat can be an issue there too.

A more challenging parcours? I do agree there. It doesn't need to be crazy but a couple more hills to break things up would help. An extra 30 mins racing each stage wouldn't hurt either.

Also, take a look at the start list, the field this year is pretty decent, even if there is a lack of good sprinters other than Kittel and Renshaw.

You cant force something to be better just because you want it better by making the race mandatory. You have only 9 out of TOP 100 rated riders participating in this race. The race is at a wrong time and at the wrong place. Thats why the good riders are not here. For the rest of the WT peloton that was forced to show up, it is just a training or an exotic vacation. Nothing more.

Dont mean to hurt your feelings, just being honest with you ... Sorry

 

[42x16ss]

You cant force something to be better just because you want it better by making the race mandatory. You have only 9 out of TOP 100 rated riders participating in this race. The race is at a wrong time and at the wrong place. Thats why the good riders are not here. For the rest of the WT peloton that was forced to show up, it is just a training or an exotic vacation. Nothing more.

Dont mean to hurt your feelings, just being honest with you ... Sorry

Then how DO you make it better!?!?!

If it's the timing, when should it be?

If it's the category, what category should it be?

If it's the location, where should it be?

I agree that it's one of the weaker WT races but still, it the last 3-4 editions have given us some decent racing and myself and others voice our opinions on how it could be improved.

We know how much you dislike this race, you've made it abundantly clear. What a few of us are after is how YOU would IMPROVE it.

 

[nhowson]

I dont want to be repeating myself but will all honesty, like it or not, there is no room for this race on WT calendar and only few Aussies care about the race.

We all know, the teams are forced to show up just because this is a WT race. We all know they made this a WT race because otherwise no team other than Orica would show up.

Sure, it is convenient for the riders to stay at the same area, but that does not change the fact that they have to travel half way around the globe just because UCI forced them. And the extreme heat does not help either.

How can you make the race better? Unfortunately, it is not the terrain that makes the race. Its the quality of the field. Sure, it can make the race better but if the best riders dont show up, you will never have a good race no matter what kind of route you have.

Are the fans excited? Of course, same as they are excited here for the Tour of California. ToC is not a WT race, yet I still believe it is a better race with better organization, better riders and better terrain.

And yes, the Cali Tour Tracker (and other US races with the tracker) is unmatched by any race on UCI Calendar.

Look, I will be watching the race because I love cycling, but we all know, it is not a real WT caliber race.

You've had this argument before, all you have to do is look at what teams came in the first years of the race and you'll see that they would come anyway. Never mind though, it's just going to repeat what happened in the other thread.

As for unwritten rules and respectful to others, it seems to me it depends who you are as to whether you can get away with it. (Not implying you are disrespectful or attacking others). I don't think what I said was a personal attack on you, but we'll agree to disagree in a sense of both this race and anything perioheral to it.

 

[Jancouver]

Then how DO you make it better!?!?!

If it's the timing, when should it be?

If it's the category, what category should it be?

If it's the location, where should it be?

I agree that it's one of the weaker WT races but still, it the last 3-4 editions have given us some decent racing and myself and others voice our opinions on how it could be improved.

We know how much you dislike this race, you've made it abundantly clear. What a few of us are after is how YOU would IMPROVE it.

I wish I can improve my answers. 80% of the problem is the location and 20% of the problem is the early January. But look at Tour of San Luis. 2.1 race (3rd category) yet the field is way better than TDU including the current world champion. Why didnt he come to Australia since it is "world tour" rated event?

1. How do you make it better?
You have to be able to get better field to make it better. How? Well, since January in Australia is not appealing to Top riders you have to make it attractive some other way. Big cash prizes can do wonders. I really dont see any other option than to make this race the most lucrative event on the planet. $1 million prize money per stage

2. Timing? Looking at the current UCI calendar, unfortunately there is not any date that would make it better for racing in Australia.

3. Category? You cant downgrade it, nobody would show up.

4. Location? BINGO! Australia is just way too far. Can you move Australia closer to Europe? Or move the race to Mallorca and call it Tour Down Under Mallorca Edition.

What else you want to hear? That the only worse place for cycling event in January (or any other month) than Australia is Mars?

Hey, wait a minute, isn't that the reason the Aussie Championship is called "Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships" because it is like racing on Mars?

 

[Jancouver]

You've had this argument before, all you have to do is look at what teams came in the first years of the race and you'll see that they would come anyway. Never mind though, it's just going to repeat what happened in the other thread.

As for unwritten rules and respectful to others, it seems to me it depends who you are as to whether you can get away with it. (Not implying you are disrespectful or attacking others). I don't think what I said was a personal attack on you, but we'll agree to disagree in a sense of both this race and anything perioheral to it.

We can only hope that one of the no names that are doing this race is the next Sagan. After all, they also send him over when he was a rookie because it was his duty to go to all the races the top riders from his team did not care for.

 

[42x16ss]

I wish I can improve my answers. 80% of the problem is the location and 20% of the problem is the early January. But look at Tour of San Luis. 2.1 race (3rd category) yet the field is way better than TDU including the current world champion. Why didnt he come to Australia since it is "world tour" rated event?

1. How do you make it better?
You have to be able to get better field to make it better. How? Well, since January in Australia is not appealing to Top riders you have to make it attractive some other way. Big cash prizes can do wonders. I really dont see any other option than to make this race the most lucrative event on the planet. $1 million prize money per stage

2. Timing? Looking at the current UCI calendar, unfortunately there is not any date that would make it better for racing in Australia. Like I said earlier, why not closer to Paris-Nice? Or in Beijing's old spot?

3. Category? You cant downgrade it, nobody would show up. Plenty of quality riders have shown up since day 1.

4. Location? BINGO! Australia is just way too far. Can you move Australia closer to Europe? Or move the race to Mallorca and call it Tour Down Under Mallorca Edition. I meant domestically for better temps/parcours. The distance doesn't stop guys like Koen de Kort from coming here every summer, or overseas teams and riders from doing even SMALLER races like the Herald Sun Tour when it was in SEPTEMBER.

What else you want to hear? That the only worse place for cycling event in January (or any other month) than Australia is Mars?

Hey, wait a minute, isn't that the reason the Aussie Championship is called "Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships" because it is like racing on Mars?

As for nobody doing this race:

BMC RACING TEAM (USA)

EVANS, Cadel AUS
SCHÄR, Michael CHE
STETINA, Peter USA
WYSS, Danilo CHE
DILLER, Silvan CHE
FLAKEMORE, Campbell AUS
DENNIS, Rohan AUS

ORICA GREENEDGE (AUS)

Meyer, Cameron AUS
CLARKE, Simon AUS
DURBRIDGE, Luke AUS
HEPBURN, Michael AUS
HAYMAN, Mathew AUS
BEWLEY, Sam NZL
IMPEY, Daryl RSA

TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN (GER)

KITTEL, Marcel GER
GESCHKE, Simon GER
CRADDOCK, Lawson USA
DE KORT, Koen NED
DUMOULIN, Thomas NED
TIMMER, Albert NED
HAGA, Chad USA

TEAM SKY (GBR)

PORTE, Richie AUS
KENNAUGH, Pete GBR
ROWE, Luke GBR
STANNARD, Ian GBR
PUCCIO, Salvatore ITA
THOMAS, Geraint GBR
SUTTON, Chris AUS

LOTTO-SOUDAL (BEL)

DE GENDT, Thomas BEL
BAK, Lars DEN
DOCKX, Gert BEL
DEHAES, Kenny BEL
HANSEN, Adam AUS
HENDERSON, Greg NZL
VALLEE, Boris BEL

CANNONDALE-GARMIN PRO CYCLING (USA)

HESJEDAL, Ryder CAN
HAAS, Nathan AUS
HANSEN, Lasse DEN
BAUER, Jack NZL
HOWES, Alex USA
MOSER, Moreno ITA
VILLELLA, Davide ITA

TREK FACTORY RACING (USA)

ALAFACI, Eugenio ITA
COLEDAN, Marco ITA
DIDIER, Laurent LUX
MCCONNELL, Daniel AUS
NIZZOLO, Giacomo ITA
ROULSTON, Hayden NZL
WATSON, Calvin AUS

TINKOFF-SAXO (DEN)

ROGERS, Michael AUS
BRUTT, Pavel RUS
BOARO, Manuele ITA
JUUL JENSEN, Christopher DEN
KOLAR, Michal SVK
ZAUGG, Oliver SUI
HANSEN, Jesper DEN

AG2R LA MONDIALE (FRA)

POZZOVIVO, Domenico ITA
DUMOULIN, Samuel FRA
DOMONT, Axel FRA
KADRI, Blel FRA
RIBLON, Christophe FRA
BERARD, Julien FRA
GOUGEARD, Alexis FRA

ASTANA PRO TEAM (KAZ)

SANCHEZ, Luis Leon ESP
BOOM, Lars NED
CATALDO, Dario ITA
MALACARNE, Davide ITA
TLEUBAYEV, Ruslan KAZ
WESTRA, Lieuwe NED
DE VREESE, Laurens BEL

KATUSHA (RUS)

BELKOV, Maim RUS
CARUSO, Giampaolo ITA
LAGUTIN, Sergey RUS
MACHADO, Tiago POR
SELIG, Rudiger GER
TCATEVICH, Aleksei RUS
ISAICHEV, Vladimir RUS

FDJ.fr (FRA)

ROY, Jérémy FRA
JEANNESSON, Arnold FRA
LE GAC, Olivier FRA
MANZIN, Lorrenzo FRA
PINEAU, Cédric FRA
CHAVANEL, Sébastien FRA
VEIKKANEN, Jussi FIN

MOVISTAR TEAM (ESP)

CAPECCHI, Eros ITA
FERNANDEZ, Ruben ESP
IZAGUIRRE, Gorka ESP
LASTRAS, Pablo ESP
LOBATO, Juan Jose ESP
HERRADA, Jose ESP
SANZ, Enrique ESP

IAM CYCLING (SUI)

ELMIGER, Martin SUI
CLEMENT, Stef NED
HAUSSLER, Heinrich AUS
KLUGE, Roger GER
GOMEZ, Jarlison Pantano COL
REYNES, Vicente ESP
TANNER, David AUS

ETIXX-QUICKSTEP (BEL)

BOUET, Maxime FRA
DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO, David ESP
LAMPAERT, Yves BEL
MEERSMAN, Gianni BEL
SERRY, Pieter BEL
VELITS, Martin SVK
RENSHAW, Mark AUS

LOTTO NL-JUMBO (NED)

BENNETT, George NZL
LINDEMAN, Bert NED
ROOSEN, Timo NED
MARKUS, Barry NED
KEIZER, Martijn NED
TJALLINGII, Maarten NED
FLENS, Rik NED

LAMPRE MERIDA (ITA)

BONIFAZIO, Niccolo ITA
BONO, Matteo ITA
CIMOLAI, Davide ITA
DURASEK, Kristijan CRO
FERRARI, Roberto ITA
MORI, Manuele ITA
GRMAY, Tsgabu ETH

Sure, it's not a GT start list but not bad all the same. A lot of those guys have raced the TDU pretty regularly as well they hate it so much Some strong teams for this time of the year.