2016 Vuelta a España, stage 18: Requena > Gandía 200.6km

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

Nielsen.

That's three for Orica this Vuelta right?

Yep, that's right. Very happy to see him snag this win as he's had an excellent first GT. Not only is he finishing it strongly, with this win as a bonus, but he's been part of two major breaks and a key contributor to the St14 coup.

Looking longer term, he may end up being of more utility to OBE than the likes of Ewan. Ewan is essentially a bunch kick rider and therefore resource intensive (needs lead out) which will conflict with your GC focus. Cort has far greater survivability in the mountains and far greater utility as a domestique.

This will no doubt add to his price-tag come contract time next year but he certainly seems to be another young rider thriving in this team.

Actually OBE see Cort as a classics rider - Long term Paris Roubaix, MSR, Gent Warelgem etc - Of course he needs to improve another one or two levels - Cort has been very impressive in his first GT and showed plenty of versatility - Was supposed to ride the Eneco Tour but that could now be doubtful - Ewan getting little support in the Tour of Britain even though he is sprinting well - Doesn't help that Edmondson and Hepburn are unable to keep up with the peleton.

Most definitely a major cobbles prospect; he was in the main break at this year's PR. In fact, he may be no2 seed for them behind Keukeleire for most of next year's cobbles season and his advance MAY be the impetus for Durbridge to head elsewhere. Maybe not, but this scenario may be in play re Durbridge staying or leaving.

Expecting much from Edmondson & Hepburn straight back from a major track period would not have been realistic. Some will throw bricks at me re Ewan but I've still seen very little to alter my read that OBE will end up being a poor fit for him going forward (ie 2 years time/next contract time) given his lack of utility to a GC focused team as against the fast classics men.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I think he's more of a hilly classics guy. In the Matthews mold. AGR could suit him very well in the future, I think.

 

[RedheadDane]

Well, did not see that one coming. Especially not since Stephens went all "Nah!" when Danish media asked if Cort would be allowed to sprint.
Sneaky OBE!

 

[dirkprovin]

Re:

I think he's more of a hilly classics guy. In the Matthews mold. AGR could suit him very well in the future, I think.

Maybe; his CV to date has primarily been cobbled (3rd at Jr RVV) and all the cobbled races bar P-R include some short but rather nasty hills (when raced hard). He was top10 last year at Pluoay/Ouest France which similarly has a nasty hill or two. I think cobbles will be his primary focus but it would not surprise if he can cross over to both MSR & AGR, maybe even Quebec at some point.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't understand why there's not any decent sprinter showing up. This is a GT that's terrible for them, but the field is so weak there's like 15 spinters you could name that would almost sweep the sprinters stages. Especially sprinters that have no shot at the worlds, should've gone here.

 

[ciranda]

Re: Re:

I think he's more of a hilly classics guy. In the Matthews mold. AGR could suit him very well in the future, I think.

Maybe; his CV to date has primarily been cobbled (3rd at Jr RVV) and all the cobbled races bar P-R include some short but rather nasty hills (when raced hard). He was top10 last year at Pluoay/Ouest France which similarly has a nasty hill or two. I think cobbles will be his primary focus but it would not surprise if he can cross over to both MSR & AGR, maybe even Quebec at some point.

Well he has always been versatile I guess but especially in his last year as u23 he was very strong in races with hard uphill finishes. He crushed all kinds of competition in races like that. At that point he was not really about the northern classics, more AGR and Sanremo and even Liege. Whatever I just hope this doesn't make the team see Cort as a sprinter and make him a designated sprinter with support.

 

[Robert5091]

Congrats to young Cort - GT stage win always good when talking salary with the team.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

I think he's more of a hilly classics guy. In the Matthews mold. AGR could suit him very well in the future, I think.

Maybe; his CV to date has primarily been cobbled (3rd at Jr RVV) and all the cobbled races bar P-R include some short but rather nasty hills (when raced hard). He was top10 last year at Pluoay/Ouest France which similarly has a nasty hill or two. I think cobbles will be his primary focus but it would not surprise if he can cross over to both MSR & AGR, maybe even Quebec at some point.

Well he has always been versatile I guess but especially in his last year as u23 he was very strong in races with hard uphill finishes. He crushed all kinds of competition in races like that. At that point he was not really about the northern classics, more AGR and Sanremo and even Liege. Whatever I just hope this doesn't make the team see Cort as a sprinter and make him a designated sprinter with support.

I strongly doubt that Orica would do that, with Ewan, Mezgec and even Keukeleire they have most sprint finishes covered. Cort will probably look more towards AGR, Flanders and Pluoay.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Nielsen.

That's three for Orica this Vuelta right?

Yep, that's right. Very happy to see him snag this win as he's had an excellent first GT. Not only is he finishing it strongly, with this win as a bonus, but he's been part of two major breaks and a key contributor to the St14 coup.

Looking longer term, he may end up being of more utility to OBE than the likes of Ewan. Ewan is essentially a bunch kick rider and therefore resource intensive (needs lead out) which will conflict with your GC focus. Cort has far greater survivability in the mountains and far greater utility as a domestique.

This will no doubt add to his price-tag come contract time next year but he certainly seems to be another young rider thriving in this team.

Actually OBE see Cort as a classics rider - Long term Paris Roubaix, MSR, Gent Warelgem etc - Of course he needs to improve another one or two levels - Cort has been very impressive in his first GT and showed plenty of versatility - Was supposed to ride the Eneco Tour but that could now be doubtful - Ewan getting little support in the Tour of Britain even though he is sprinting well - Doesn't help that Edmondson and Hepburn are unable to keep up with the peleton.

Most definitely a major cobbles prospect; he was in the main break at this year's PR. In fact, he may be no2 seed for them behind Keukeleire for most of next year's cobbles season and his advance MAY be the impetus for Durbridge to head elsewhere. Maybe not, but this scenario may be in play re Durbridge staying or leaving.

Expecting much from Edmondson & Hepburn straight back from a major track period would not have been realistic. Some will throw bricks at me re Ewan but I've still seen very little to alter my read that OBE will end up being a poor fit for him going forward (ie 2 years time/next contract time) given his lack of utility to a GC focused team as against the fast classics men.

I doubt it, Durbridge had a very strong ride at Roubaix this year, helped Hayman early and came in just after the Haussler/Saramotins group despite 3 mechanicals. Unless he's otherwise unhappy Durbridge is staying put.

Hepburn is the one I expect to leave, Orica are wasting him by driving him into the ground.

 

[claude cat]

Says something for the "sprinters" here, Cort was keeping Yates out of the wind for most of the stage, and still had enough in the tank to sprint for the win!

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

Nielsen.

That's three for Orica this Vuelta right?

Yep, that's right. Very happy to see him snag this win as he's had an excellent first GT. Not only is he finishing it strongly, with this win as a bonus, but he's been part of two major breaks and a key contributor to the St14 coup.

Looking longer term, he may end up being of more utility to OBE than the likes of Ewan. Ewan is essentially a bunch kick rider and therefore resource intensive (needs lead out) which will conflict with your GC focus. Cort has far greater survivability in the mountains and far greater utility as a domestique.

This will no doubt add to his price-tag come contract time next year but he certainly seems to be another young rider thriving in this team.

Actually OBE see Cort as a classics rider - Long term Paris Roubaix, MSR, Gent Warelgem etc - Of course he needs to improve another one or two levels - Cort has been very impressive in his first GT and showed plenty of versatility - Was supposed to ride the Eneco Tour but that could now be doubtful - Ewan getting little support in the Tour of Britain even though he is sprinting well - Doesn't help that Edmondson and Hepburn are unable to keep up with the peleton.

Most definitely a major cobbles prospect; he was in the main break at this year's PR. In fact, he may be no2 seed for them behind Keukeleire for most of next year's cobbles season and his advance MAY be the impetus for Durbridge to head elsewhere. Maybe not, but this scenario may be in play re Durbridge staying or leaving.

Expecting much from Edmondson & Hepburn straight back from a major track period would not have been realistic. Some will throw bricks at me re Ewan but I've still seen very little to alter my read that OBE will end up being a poor fit for him going forward (ie 2 years time/next contract time) given his lack of utility to a GC focused team as against the fast classics men.

I doubt it, Durbridge had a very strong ride at Roubaix this year, helped Hayman early and came in just after the Haussler/Saramotins group despite 3 mechanicals. Unless he's otherwise unhappy Durbridge is staying put.

Hepburn is the one I expect to leave, Orica are wasting him by driving him into the ground.

Hepburn has another year to go on his contract. Part of his problem has been that his 2012 & 2013 were track dominated as well as a good swathe of this year. Hard to know/see where exactly he lies as a road man as he hasn't really progressed into an elite ITTer. Granted he has excellent flat land grunt utility and has been able to survive full distance of the last 3 Giros. He doesnt have a sprint and he's too big to climb well; DO please elucidate precisely where/in what capacity you can see him "making it" as anything more than a powerful "grunt" ?

Re Durbridge, it may well be that he IS looking for greener pastures. Whilst he certainly did ride well at PR, and he was a key part in Matthews' stage win at the Tour; his individual "pickings" have been distinctly slim in recent years with only a 2nd in final stage of last years Giro & a 3rd in a prologue at TdS. Again, he hasn't progressed to be an elite TTer despite being higher rated than Dennis as a Jr. Whilst I'd like to see him stay, it wouldn't be a major surprise to see him go.