2016 Tour Down Under WT January 19-24 Adelaide

[Zinoviev Letter]

There are some exceptions to the "it's not about your nationality, it's about your style" rule mind you. Any rider who isn't from Continental Europe, North America or Australia gets some free bonus popularity. Brits get particularly intense local support and a bit of bonus negative reaction to that, etc.

 

[Jancouver]

People hate Australian riders because they punch above their weight in world cycling.

Oh boy, this is the quote of the month. Can anybody seriously think that?

I don't understand why anyone would have a dislike of Caleb Ewan though, he is a kid, he is new, he is winning, he seems like a nice person.

"Dislike" ???

Why would anybody think that if someone else has an opinion on a rider that you don't agree with that for some reason the person automatically dislike or hate the rider?

I have said that Caleb Ewan is a "one trick pony" and a "crit racer". Sure, that is my opinion but why do you think that I automatically dislike him?

Just because I said that he has limitations at this time and that I do not believe that he can win San Remo or any other monument?

I can give you a long list of other riders that can be on that list that I like very much.

If there is one thing about Australians (fans), I think that they are over-sensitive and nobody in their eyes is entitled to have a negative opinion about any Aussie rider.

They just dont take it well, their riders are their heroes and everyone should think the same.

 

[The Hegelian]

I like Gerrans. He was in the top 3-4 puncheurs in the world, a notch below Gilbert but with a better sprint. i.e. more pure talent than given credit for. If you can go with the best puncheurs at the end of classic and nail them in the sprint, why the bloody hell wouldn't you? People don't seem to get that in MSR, only he and Nibbles could go with Canc. Nibbles was cooked, Gerrans played it cool - with the team sprinter and previous winner in the next group - and launched a great sprint. That ain't luck. That's brains, legs and heart in harmony. People that would prefer heart alone, separate from legs and brain, don't get bike racing.

LBL was pretty shitty, but the dude played his only hand and came up trumps. Hate should go to the goats who didn't attack, not the best sprinter who hung on. Credit is due there for hanging on in a race that probably is beyond his abilities. I reckon the WC in Spain was the one race where criticism was really warranted. A few turns there could have been enough, but he bet on Belgium and lost. The again, a few turns might have been enough and maybe GVA would have won the sprint.....

What is comes down to is that people hang him for not being a Sagan or a Merckx. But if he could click a button and inherit those genetics, what do you reckon he would do? Ergo, why hate someone for not having superstar genetics and riding in full awareness of that reality?

In sport and life generally, I always prefer the person who makes the most of their more moderate abilities, than the superstars who are born with so much talent that they are streets ahead of the field.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

What is comes down to is that people hang him for not being a Sagan or a Merckx. But if he could click a button and inherit those genetics, what do you reckon he would do? Ergo, why hate someone for not having superstar genetics and riding in full awareness of that reality?

In sport and life generally, I always prefer the person who makes the most of their more moderate abilities, than the superstars who are born with so much talent that they are streets ahead of the field.

I can't bring myself to cheer for Gerrans, because if he is in with a serious chance, usually that means that the race will have been dull. But I do agree with most of your post - Gerrans is not the most talented Australian cyclist of all time, nor is he the one with the very best palmares, but he is the one with the best palmares relative to his physical talent because he has the best racing brain of any of them.

 

[sienna]

People hate Australian riders because they punch above their weight in world cycling.

Oh boy, this is the quote of the month. Can anybody seriously think that?

I don't understand why anyone would have a dislike of Caleb Ewan though, he is a kid, he is new, he is winning, he seems like a nice person.

"Dislike" ???

Why would anybody think that if someone else has an opinion on a rider that you don't agree with that for some reason the person automatically dislike or hate the rider?

I have said that Caleb Ewan is a "one trick pony" and a "crit racer". Sure, that is my opinion but why do you think that I automatically dislike him?

Just because I said that he has limitations at this time and that I do not believe that he can win San Remo or any other monument?

I can give you a long list of other riders that can be on that list that I like very much.

If there is one thing about Australians (fans), I think that they are over-sensitive and nobody in their eyes is entitled to have a negative opinion about any Aussie rider.

They just don't take it well, their riders are their heroes and everyone should think the same.

You should come to Australia and see how hard we are on our own sportsman.
BTW you quoted the wrong person.

 

[observer]

Jeez. argue semantics. I didn't mean you dislike him as a person. The whole argument is probably better phrased as, Aussie sports media people are ignorant cheerleaders. I'd agree with that sentiment. As for the rider's ability, it is obviously pretty good at this stage, lets wait and see how he gets on with it.

 

[42x16ss]

People hate Australian riders because they punch above their weight in world cycling.

Oh boy, this is the quote of the month. Can anybody seriously think that?

I don't understand why anyone would have a dislike of Caleb Ewan though, he is a kid, he is new, he is winning, he seems like a nice person.

"Dislike" ???

Why would anybody think that if someone else has an opinion on a rider that you don't agree with that for some reason the person automatically dislike or hate the rider?

I have said that Caleb Ewan is a "one trick pony" and a "crit racer". Sure, that is my opinion but why do you think that I automatically dislike him?

Just because I said that he has limitations at this time and that I do not believe that he can win San Remo or any other monument?

I can give you a long list of other riders that can be on that list that I like very much.

If there is one thing about Australians (fans), I think that they are over-sensitive and nobody in their eyes is entitled to have a negative opinion about any Aussie rider.

They just dont take it well, their riders are their heroes and everyone should think the same.

Sadly, the bolded is quite true of many Australian sports "fans". Be grateful that you never had to deal with the likes of AusCadelFan94, Sportzchick or AussieGoddess. They were a match for any of the Sky shills getting around.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Sadly, the bolded is quite true of many Australian sports "fans". Be grateful that you never had to deal with the likes of AusCadelFan94, Sportzchick or AussieGoddess. They were a match for any of the Sky shills getting around.

It's certainly true that there are plenty of super-nationalistic Australian fans, but conversely your lot probably also include a bigger proportion of fans who seem to be just waiting for the opportunity to tear your own athletes a new one than anyone bar perhaps the French!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Oh for God's sake, Gerrans won the first intermediate sprint, increasing his lead.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

His team really worked for it, so it was deserved, but it's still a bad thing in terms of excitement.

 

[The Hegelian]

Re: Re:

What is comes down to is that people hang him for not being a Sagan or a Merckx. But if he could click a button and inherit those genetics, what do you reckon he would do? Ergo, why hate someone for not having superstar genetics and riding in full awareness of that reality?

In sport and life generally, I always prefer the person who makes the most of their more moderate abilities, than the superstars who are born with so much talent that they are streets ahead of the field.

I can't bring myself to cheer for Gerrans, because if he is in with a serious chance, usually that means that the race will have been dull. But I do agree with most of your post - Gerrans is not the most talented Australian cyclist of all time, nor is he the one with the very best palmares, but he is the one with the best palmares relative to his physical talent because he has the best racing brain of any of them.

His LBL win was definitely dull. But he's much more of an Amstel type rider - and I find those kinds of finishes pretty exhilarating. They're predictable; in Amstel everyone knows it will be controlled until the top riders explode up the Cauberg, but the precise manner of the explosion is always unpredictable and glorious. Gilbert's win in the WC there was awesome - and you can't get anything more predictable than Gilbert attacking up the Cauberg to claim a win. But I don't recall that race as dull at all. I'd rather that than Kreuziger's 2013 lone breakaway AG win, classy as that was.

Again, in the end the argument doesn't seem specific to Gerrans, it's more a general: 'I don't like races or stages which have a decisive punchy climb in or near the finale.'

The argument specific to Gerrans seems more connected to the fact that he's a boring Anglo with a good chess-poker playing mind.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

What is comes down to is that people hang him for not being a Sagan or a Merckx. But if he could click a button and inherit those genetics, what do you reckon he would do? Ergo, why hate someone for not having superstar genetics and riding in full awareness of that reality?

In sport and life generally, I always prefer the person who makes the most of their more moderate abilities, than the superstars who are born with so much talent that they are streets ahead of the field.

I can't bring myself to cheer for Gerrans, because if he is in with a serious chance, usually that means that the race will have been dull. But I do agree with most of your post - Gerrans is not the most talented Australian cyclist of all time, nor is he the one with the very best palmares, but he is the one with the best palmares relative to his physical talent because he has the best racing brain of any of them.

His LBL win was definitely dull. But he's much more of an Amstel type rider - and I find those kinds of finishes pretty exhilarating. They're predictable; in Amstel everyone knows it will be controlled until the top riders explode up the Cauberg, but the precise manner of the explosion is always unpredictable and glorious. Gilbert's win in the WC there was awesome - and you can't get anything more predictable than Gilbert attacking up the Cauberg to claim a win. But I don't recall that race as dull at all. I'd rather that than Kreuziger's 2013 lone breakaway AG win, classy as that was.

Again, in the end the argument doesn't seem specific to Gerrans, it's more a general: 'I don't like races or stages which have a decisive punchy climb in or near the finale.'

The argument specific to Gerrans seems more connected to the fact that he's a boring Anglo with a good chess-poker playing mind.

His Angloness has nothing much to do with it. Valverde gets exactly the same grief for exactly the same reasons, although there also other aspects to people's views of Valverde because there's more to his range of abilities than the ones he shares with Gerrans. Basically people get grumpy about riders who (a) are much more likely to win if they are only visible in the last few metres and (b) know it and play to that strength. That's partly irrational - after all if your best chance of winning is to do the same thing over and over and instead you do something different you are probably a fool. But it's also partially rational - people watch races for excitement and unpredictable attacking racing is more exciting.

You can like races with a punchy finish while not wanting every race with a punchy finish to be inevitably determined by a sprint at the end of that last climb.

 

[Lupi33x]

People hate Australian riders because they punch above their weight in world cycling.

Maybe more to do with Australian fans and some differences in etiquette, culture and history.

 

[ferryman]

And back to the race. One of those horrible hills that are sort of a false flat. Hate them!

 

[ferryman]

Expect the Sky train soon for Swift...

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Great sprint by Gerrans and great work by his team. He was never out of perfect position for the whole last 3km.

 

[Jspear]

 

[LosBrolin]

Impey is pretty good domestique to have in situations like this.

e. Meh, too late. Double with Jspear, pic deleted.

 

[Jancouver]

Gerrans wins ... TDU sucks

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Gerrans wins ... TDU sucks

Yet you watch it.

 

[sienna]

People hate Australian riders because they punch above their weight in world cycling.

Maybe more to do with Australian fans and some differences in etiquette, culture and history. :roll eyes:

As opposed to American fans? Grow up.

 

[Lupi33x]

Doesnt feel like the real season is underway until the arab stage races and Eurosports agrees.

 

[Jancouver]

Re: Re:

Gerrans wins ... TDU sucks

Yet you watch it.

It's an addiction. You know it's bad and yet you still do it

 

[greenedge]

Great leadout by Impey, it seems that Gerrans should win the race.
Poor McCarthy got bumped in the intermediate and the finale by Gerrans, which is a pity for him as he did a pretty good sprint (without a teammate to lead him out).

I was questioning Sky's tactics- Henao sprinting for the KOM and pulling hard for the last ten k's, when they could have conserved for Willunga- so it's good that Swift got a placing.

 

[Lupi33x]

People hate Australian riders because they punch above their weight in world cycling.

Maybe more to do with Australian fans and some differences in etiquette, culture and history. :roll eyes:

As opposed to American fans? Grow up.

Same thing. I didnt say one was better than the other. Just different.
Calm down. There's no need to be upset.