Aussie Riders in the Pro Peloton - Past, Present & Future

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

Many riders would kill to have Porte's palmares, especially another Aussie.

With regards to Sean Lake, yes his age might work against him, but he only started cycling recently (right?).

They are indeed excellent palmares for the rider that Porte actually IS. Regrettably, his ambitions (so fervently bolstered by certain AUS media) range to a level significantly above that ..... and that is where he has shown his significant limitations on repeated occaisions.

One hopes he can be remembered and respected for being the former ..... rather than be remembered more for "falling short" of what he aspired to be.

For all of the talk about media hype about Porte, in the mainstream media it's still fairly moderate compared to the Evans years but then Evans had the pedigree while Porte is still looking for a podium. Be interesting to see what happens to Porte's descending style now. Will he still struggle to stay with his rivals on the technical descents or sit off the back a little like he did in the Dauphine and take a more conservative approach.

I don't really get dirkprovin's fixation on 'media hype' of certain australian riders. What do you expect? Ewan wins a few stages at the TDU every year, they need an australian rider of some sort to promote then event. It's not like he gets much 'hype' for the other 11 months of the year. Porte is the only australian who's looked capable of contending for a GT since cadel, so of course he's going to get coverage despite his obvious deficiencies.

Basically,

ARE you a resident of Australia ?? If so, then you should have a greater understanding of where the primary mass media promotion comes from ..... and my annoyance at why they must ceaselessly "pump up their tyres" rather than see them for what they are ..... and at least in Porte's case be respected for what they are rather than what he has clearly shown himself not to be.

If you are not an Australian resident, then let me provide some context. Other than the TDU (which for the last couple of years has been poached by one of the national commercial networks); the bulk of the "free to air" television coverage of top level cycling is provided by the SBS Network (a public broadcaster). This started over 25 years ago with the TDF but has expanded over time firstly to monuments like P-R and now includes the other GTs (except where they cannot acquire the rights), almost all the major one day classics and most of the major 1 week tours along with Road Worlds.

For that, they really must be commended. Its just that certain of their talking heads tend to descend into "cheer leaders" .... which is indeed not uncommon with TV talking heads. Its just when the clear evidence before my eyes on my screen is telling me a very different story to the one they are bloviating that I weary of it after a while.

In the case of Ewan, they were pumping up his tyres as the coming superstar for a number of years before he turned pro. What little I had seen of his bore out some of it in that (in that he was a fast sprinter at least in crit racing) but when I saw him in a couple of outings against the big boys in 2014 ( after it was already known he was signed for Orica) that I saw just how major his inadequacies are ..... and they still remain so. As for TDU, there have been and still remain other AUS riders who's barrows they could be pushing and arguably SHOULD be pushing over the next couple of years .... riders who can achieve a whole lot more than poor little underpowered Caleb will ever do.

As for Richie ?? Its just the blinkered view that annoys me ...... and the repetition of various "memes" or more accurately fallacies with regards to Richie that annoys ...... especially "Richie the Soooooper Time Triallist !!". I totally "get it" that they would love to have another AUS GT GC contender that they can "push" ...... its just that Richie has been given a number of chances and has failed to make anything of them (for the most part due to his own inadequacies rather than misfortune). Just wish they'd just get off his case ...... and actually let him be seen for what he legitimately is/has been (an excellent super dom/one week racer)

 

[yaco]

Dirk is right that the media 'pumps up the tyres' of Aussie riders - I shudder when I hear Keenan ( an excellent commentator ) claim that Howson can finish high up in GC at the TDF - Anyway the two key Australian riders for the upcoming years are Haig (GC ) and Edmondson for the classics.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re:

Dirk is right that the media 'pumps up the tyres' of Aussie riders - I shudder when I hear Keenan ( an excellent commentator ) claim that Howson can finish high up in GC at the TDF - Anyway the two key Australian riders for the upcoming years are Haig (GC ) and Edmondson for the classics.

Hhmm; am personally unsure that Howson will ever be more than an excellent domestique at GT level; I don't think its outrageous that he could ride to top 10 level at certain WT one weekers. I will agree that Haig looks the actual GC prospect, albeit we'll know far more on his capacities/limitations in 2 years time.

Keenan ?? In all other aspects; I feel he is an excellent commentator except when it comes to Richie .... then it's completely "out to lunch" !! Tomo ..... a professional idiot !

 

[yaco]

Have noticed Orica has been releasing signings for 2018 every second day - Another one due in 2 days - They still have around 4 essential riders to re-sign.

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Every team would love to Hansen who you can pencil in for three GT's - Makes it easier to plan rider schedules.

Pat Lane discussed possible Australian riders for the WT on the Jamie Finch-Penninger podcast - Honest but brutal assessments.

42166 - Is Hepburn staying at Orica ?

His brother said he seems happy there now he's getting a few rides for himself, that's all I know.

 

[yaco]

No Bay Crit's in 2018 - Scheduling clash with the National Championship - It's hard to fathom how this could happen.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Dirk is right that the media 'pumps up the tyres' of Aussie riders - I shudder when I hear Keenan ( an excellent commentator ) claim that Howson can finish high up in GC at the TDF - Anyway the two key Australian riders for the upcoming years are Haig (GC ) and Edmondson for the classics.

What country does this not happen in sport when discussing local athletes?

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

Dirk is right that the media 'pumps up the tyres' of Aussie riders - I shudder when I hear Keenan ( an excellent commentator ) claim that Howson can finish high up in GC at the TDF - Anyway the two key Australian riders for the upcoming years are Haig (GC ) and Edmondson for the classics.

What country does this not happen in sport when discussing local athletes?

It's a matter of 'pumping up the tyres' of the right Australian cyclist when previewing races and discussing future prospects. I am referring to specialist commentators who should know better - You wouldn't expect any better from 'Fly by Night' commentators who have little or no specialist knowledge of the sport - In saying that, I don't think Caleb Ewan was 'overly pumped up by the media' outside of when will he ride the TDF.

 

[yaco]

Ah - Listening to the three domestiques podcast where Matt Keenan advised Lotto Soudal to buy out Ewan's contract - This must be music to the ears of Dirk Provin - I wonder whether DP is Matt Keenan.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

Dirk is right that the media 'pumps up the tyres' of Aussie riders - I shudder when I hear Keenan ( an excellent commentator ) claim that Howson can finish high up in GC at the TDF - Anyway the two key Australian riders for the upcoming years are Haig (GC ) and Edmondson for the classics.

What country does this not happen in sport when discussing local athletes?

It's a matter of 'pumping up the tyres' of the right Australian cyclist when previewing races and discussing future prospects. I am referring to specialist commentators who should know better - You wouldn't expect any better from 'Fly by Night' commentators who have little or no specialist knowledge of the sport - In saying that, I don't think Caleb Ewan was 'overly pumped up by the media' outside of when will he ride the TDF.

Will differ with you re Ewan, particularly in the years leading up to him turning pro. We were being "sold" this future super-star and in fairness, the prime shop windows for selling him to AUS viewers were in crits which just happen to be his optimal racing format. It was only until he was really given some exposure against the big boys (albeit less than stellar fields) in 2014 (CommGames and Ride London) where his massive inadequacies were exposed for all who cared to take note. Yet certain AUS media still pump him up

Ah - Listening to the three domestiques podcast where Matt Keenan advised Lotto Soudal to buy out Ewan's contract - This must be music to the ears of Dirk Provin - I wonder whether DP is Matt Keenan.

Haha .. no. Regrettably, I am considerably older than Mr Keenan. Such a move by LS would certainly be beneficial to:
a. Ewan. He would now be at a team where he is the "main man" and the team would deploy their maximum available resources in support of him; something Orica cannot promise and should never promise due to their current goals
b. Orica. Allows far greater clarity as regards their focuses at GTs and major one weekers. Allows them to invest in the likes of Edmondson (and maybe others) as the classics type fast guys who can potentially win major one dayers whilst also being viable selections for GTs

The only party possibly coming out behind may be LS ... who most likely are receiving a product that proves to be a significant down-grade on Greipel when it comes to the really big races. However, Ewan's capacity to hoover up some "softer" wins early season will undoubtedly be helpful on the score of WT points

 

[Ruby United]

Re: Aussie Riders in the Pro Peloton - Past, Present & Futur

So happy to see Hamilton racing in the Vuelta.
Been watching him for a while... he's one for the future.

 

[The Hegelian]

Am finding the discussion about media a little ridiculous. For one, the whole sport is capitalised; the teams are sponsored by companies, the riders are the main product or commodity and the media (itself largely commercial) needs to impute/create value. Of course it is going to try and generate interest in the products/commodities.

To rally against this as some kind of crime against objectivity is really an abject failure to see reality: the whole thing is in the sphere of desire/value/imagination. Including these threads.

But beyond that, it hardly seems unreasonable for the Australian media to be touting Porte as a tour contender, or Ewan as a top sprinter. At the end of the day, Porte was 2nd fave **in all parts ** for the tour based on his 2017 form and results which have been by any measure outstanding. And Ewan, whatever his limitations, has been winning big sprints, not just crits.

 

[yaco]

Hepburn was a protected rider in the Bink Banck tour - Punctures with 22km to go, seems to have no assistance from the team and finishes 12m and 15s behind - Strange indeed !

 

[dirkprovin]

Re:

Am finding the discussion about media a little ridiculous. For one, the whole sport is capitalised; the teams are sponsored by companies, the riders are the main product or commodity and the media (itself largely commercial) needs to impute/create value. Of course it is going to try and generate interest in the products/commodities.

To rally against this as some kind of crime against objectivity is really an abject failure to see reality: the whole thing is in the sphere of desire/value/imagination. Including these threads.

But beyond that, it hardly seems unreasonable for the Australian media to be touting Porte as a tour contender, or Ewan as a top sprinter. At the end of the day, Porte was 2nd fave **in all parts ** for the tour based on his 2017 form and results which have been by any measure outstanding. And Ewan, whatever his limitations, has been winning big sprints, not just crits.

Oh, I fully accept that:

1. media will always have their favouriteS
2. there will almost always be a nationalistic element to this "barrow pushing"
3. there will generally tend to be some element of hype that accompanies the imminent arrival in pro ranks of anyone with a prominent record at "age level"

For the most part, I let it ride. What gets up my goat is when this continues over a number of years even when their is very clear evidence at hands with regards to the inadequacies of those being hyped .... and lessening liklihood that they will ever be whatever their boosters wish them to be.

SBS has been pushing Richie for years, not just this year, and I have no issues with it in races that he has shown he can win .... its just that they will continue to keep singing the same tedious hymns of praise/repeating the same memes even as he crumbles yet again at another GT.

As for Ewan, the bulk of his win HAVE been comparatively soft ones. Oh yes, he won a stage at the Giro but off a strike rate of 1 from 8 or 9 .... and for the most part getting his backside whacked. Yes, he won Euro-Eyes last season .... but what other one day races is he ever likely to be a regular factor ? He's fast .... but otherwise extremely limited as regards scope and skills-set. Hey, he may well make a viable longer term career for himself at this level (even if I feel its unlikely he'll ever taste victory on the Champs Elysses); I just think it needs to be at a new team as he is an increasingly bad fit for his current one

 

[The Hegelian]

Re: Re:

Am finding the discussion about media a little ridiculous. For one, the whole sport is capitalised; the teams are sponsored by companies, the riders are the main product or commodity and the media (itself largely commercial) needs to impute/create value. Of course it is going to try and generate interest in the products/commodities.

To rally against this as some kind of crime against objectivity is really an abject failure to see reality: the whole thing is in the sphere of desire/value/imagination. Including these threads.

But beyond that, it hardly seems unreasonable for the Australian media to be touting Porte as a tour contender, or Ewan as a top sprinter. At the end of the day, Porte was 2nd fave **in all parts ** for the tour based on his 2017 form and results which have been by any measure outstanding. And Ewan, whatever his limitations, has been winning big sprints, not just crits.

Oh, I fully accept that:

1. media will always have their favouriteS
2. there will almost always be a nationalistic element to this "barrow pushing"
3. there will generally tend to be some element of hype that accompanies the imminent arrival in pro ranks of anyone with a prominent record at "age level"

For the most part, I let it ride. What gets up my goat is when this continues over a number of years even when their is very clear evidence at hands with regards to the inadequacies of those being hyped .... and lessening liklihood that they will ever be whatever their boosters wish them to be.

SBS has been pushing Richie for years, not just this year, and I have no issues with it in races that he has shown he can win .... its just that they will continue to keep singing the same tedious hymns of praise/repeating the same memes even as he crumbles yet again at another GT.

As for Ewan, the bulk of his win HAVE been comparatively soft ones. Oh yes, he won a stage at the Giro but off a strike rate of 1 from 8 or 9 .... and for the most part getting his backside whacked. Yes, he won Euro-Eyes last season .... but what other one day races is he ever likely to be a regular factor ? He's fast .... but otherwise extremely limited as regards scope and skills-set. Hey, he may well make a viable longer term career for himself at this level (even if I feel its unlikely he'll ever taste victory on the Champs Elysses); I just think it needs to be at a new team as he is an increasingly bad fit for his current one

I would say the Porte hype of previous years has turned out to be rather well justified. I similarly thought it was a bit ridiculous in previous years.....but for mine, he's categorically proven that he's a genuine GT contender. And that much has happened basically twice before in Australia, maybe thrice if you count Rogers (which I wouldn't). Why wouldn't the media get more excited about this, compared with Hodge and Peiper riding as domestiques? I mean I was pretty excited when Jonker took 12th or something in the tdf riding for ONCE.

Yes, we all know the refrain: never podiumed, always has a major problem etc etc. His window may close before he ever does podium, but honestly, I don't think you can seriously deny that other contenders see Porte as a huge threat - and that's what matters in these discussions.

As for Ewan - I don't think he's particularly over-hyped. There is a lot of speculation about his potential, and frankly, he's shown more than enough incremental improvement each year to totally justify that.

The biggest gap between hype and reality in recent times = M. Goss. And that was basically Orica marketing department.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

Am finding the discussion about media a little ridiculous. For one, the whole sport is capitalised; the teams are sponsored by companies, the riders are the main product or commodity and the media (itself largely commercial) needs to impute/create value. Of course it is going to try and generate interest in the products/commodities.

To rally against this as some kind of crime against objectivity is really an abject failure to see reality: the whole thing is in the sphere of desire/value/imagination. Including these threads.

But beyond that, it hardly seems unreasonable for the Australian media to be touting Porte as a tour contender, or Ewan as a top sprinter. At the end of the day, Porte was 2nd fave **in all parts ** for the tour based on his 2017 form and results which have been by any measure outstanding. And Ewan, whatever his limitations, has been winning big sprints, not just crits.

Oh, I fully accept that:

1. media will always have their favouriteS
2. there will almost always be a nationalistic element to this "barrow pushing"
3. there will generally tend to be some element of hype that accompanies the imminent arrival in pro ranks of anyone with a prominent record at "age level"

For the most part, I let it ride. What gets up my goat is when this continues over a number of years even when their is very clear evidence at hands with regards to the inadequacies of those being hyped .... and lessening liklihood that they will ever be whatever their boosters wish them to be.

SBS has been pushing Richie for years, not just this year, and I have no issues with it in races that he has shown he can win .... its just that they will continue to keep singing the same tedious hymns of praise/repeating the same memes even as he crumbles yet again at another GT.

As for Ewan, the bulk of his win HAVE been comparatively soft ones. Oh yes, he won a stage at the Giro but off a strike rate of 1 from 8 or 9 .... and for the most part getting his backside whacked. Yes, he won Euro-Eyes last season .... but what other one day races is he ever likely to be a regular factor ? He's fast .... but otherwise extremely limited as regards scope and skills-set. Hey, he may well make a viable longer term career for himself at this level (even if I feel its unlikely he'll ever taste victory on the Champs Elysses); I just think it needs to be at a new team as he is an increasingly bad fit for his current one

I would say the Porte hype of previous years has turned out to be rather well justified. I similarly thought it was a bit ridiculous in previous years.....but for mine, he's categorically proven that he's a genuine GT contender. And that much has happened basically twice before in Australia, maybe thrice if you count Rogers (which I wouldn't). Why wouldn't the media get more excited about this, compared with Hodge and Peiper riding as domestiques? I mean I was pretty excited when Jonker took 12th or something in the tdf riding for ONCE.

Yes, we all know the refrain: never podiumed, always has a major problem etc etc. His window may close before he ever does podium, but honestly, I don't think you can seriously deny that other contenders see Porte as a huge threat - and that's what matters in these discussions.

As for Ewan - I don't think he's particularly over-hyped. There is a lot of speculation about his potential, and frankly, he's shown more than enough incremental improvement each year to totally justify that.

The biggest gap between hype and reality in recent times = M. Goss. And that was basically Orica marketing department.

Re Goss, I'm not so sure it was Orica's marketing dept but rather the fact that he has won MSR the year before. Sadly he proved to live up to his rep at CSC of being talented but lazy ..... and furthermore showed himself to be a moper when things didn't go his way

Re Richie, perhaps we'll can agree to disagree (which I don't mind doing). My line is that SBS have been pumping him up for ages; in some cases with justification (certain one weekers) but others on very equivocal grounds (ie Richie the "sooooper time-triallist; in truth whilst capable of an excellent performance on his day he is sub-elite and frequently doesn't deliver in this discipline). As for this year, whilst he showed excellent form coming into the Tour, he was already showing the vulnerability under pressure that has always brought him unstuck.

Ewan ..... maybe you missed the hype in the couple of years leading up to his signing. If we were to believer certain talking heads, he was veritably the greatest thing since canned beer .. (alright, a little artistic licence with that one but that was the line being pushed ). As for incremental inprovement, apart from a certain enhancement re his endurance (albeit MSR WAS very much soft pedalled this year); I'm not really seeing major widening in his scope as a rider or his skill-set.

Anyway, I will agree that this discussion re hype/over-hype has probably run its course and am quite happy to see it put to bed.

 

[Pirazziattacks]

Re: Re:

Many riders would kill to have Porte's palmares, especially another Aussie.

With regards to Sean Lake, yes his age might work against him, but he only started cycling recently (right?).

They are indeed excellent palmares for the rider that Porte actually IS. Regrettably, his ambitions (so fervently bolstered by certain AUS media) range to a level significantly above that ..... and that is where he has shown his significant limitations on repeated occaisions.

One hopes he can be remembered and respected for being the former ..... rather than be remembered more for "falling short" of what he aspired to be.

For all of the talk about media hype about Porte, in the mainstream media it's still fairly moderate compared to the Evans years but then Evans had the pedigree while Porte is still looking for a podium. Be interesting to see what happens to Porte's descending style now. Will he still struggle to stay with his rivals on the technical descents or sit off the back a little like he did in the Dauphine and take a more conservative approach.

I don't really get dirkprovin's fixation on 'media hype' of certain australian riders. What do you expect? Ewan wins a few stages at the TDU every year, they need an australian rider of some sort to promote then event. It's not like he gets much 'hype' for the other 11 months of the year. Porte is the only australian who's looked capable of contending for a GT since cadel, so of course he's going to get coverage despite his obvious deficiencies.

Basically,

ARE you a resident of Australia ?? If so, then you should have a greater understanding of where the primary mass media promotion comes from ..... and my annoyance at why they must ceaselessly "pump up their tyres" rather than see them for what they are ..... and at least in Porte's case be respected for what they are rather than what he has clearly shown himself not to be.

If you are not an Australian resident, then let me provide some context. Other than the TDU (which for the last couple of years has been poached by one of the national commercial networks); the bulk of the "free to air" television coverage of top level cycling is provided by the SBS Network (a public broadcaster). This started over 25 years ago with the TDF but has expanded over time firstly to monuments like P-R and now includes the other GTs (except where they cannot acquire the rights), almost all the major one day classics and most of the major 1 week tours along with Road Worlds.

For that, they really must be commended. Its just that certain of their talking heads tend to descend into "cheer leaders" .... which is indeed not uncommon with TV talking heads. Its just when the clear evidence before my eyes on my screen is telling me a very different story to the one they are bloviating that I weary of it after a while.

In the case of Ewan, they were pumping up his tyres as the coming superstar for a number of years before he turned pro. What little I had seen of his bore out some of it in that (in that he was a fast sprinter at least in crit racing) but when I saw him in a couple of outings against the big boys in 2014 ( after it was already known he was signed for Orica) that I saw just how major his inadequacies are ..... and they still remain so. As for TDU, there have been and still remain other AUS riders who's barrows they could be pushing and arguably SHOULD be pushing over the next couple of years .... riders who can achieve a whole lot more than poor little underpowered Caleb will ever do.

As for Richie ?? Its just the blinkered view that annoys me ...... and the repetition of various "memes" or more accurately fallacies with regards to Richie that annoys ...... especially "Richie the Soooooper Time Triallist !!". I totally "get it" that they would love to have another AUS GT GC contender that they can "push" ...... its just that Richie has been given a number of chances and has failed to make anything of them (for the most part due to his own inadequacies rather than misfortune). Just wish they'd just get off his case ...... and actually let him be seen for what he legitimately is/has been (an excellent super dom/one week racer)

Yeah I'm well aware of the nature of the Australian media landscape. I think you've kind've made my point for me: re your fixation on this particular subject. Personally, I'm just glad that pro cycling gets any sort of airing here at all. The coverage isn't always perfect, especially that hapless Tommo and having Tim Gilbert trying to talk about cycling during the TDU, but what do you expect? Everyone gets a blinkered view of sportspeople from their home country. "Richie could win the TDF" gets viewers, "Richie will never win a GT" doesn't.

Trust me, you'll change your tune when the inevitable sbs funding cuts come.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

Yeah I'm well aware of the nature of the Australian media landscape. I think you've kind've made my point for me: re your fixation on this particular subject. Personally, I'm just glad that pro cycling gets any sort of airing here at all. The coverage isn't always perfect, especially that hapless Tommo and having Tim Gilbert trying to talk about cycling during the TDU, but what do you expect? Everyone gets a blinkered view of sportspeople from their home country. "Richie could win the TDF" gets viewers, "Richie will never win a GT" doesn't.

Trust me, you'll change your tune when the inevitable sbs funding cuts come.

Really ... not sure that I did actually but we all read what we want to see. Overall, I do believe that SBS has to be massively commended for its support and its major role in the the growth in popularity of the sport in this country. But this coverage has grown and remains intact even for races where there IS no, or has not been any, AUS contender to win ..... and whilst that viewer-base hits a "spike" for TDF; an ever increasing majority also tune into many of the other major races covered.

Yes, there will always be a quotient of any audience who purely view a game/sport through patriotically tinted lenses/wave their pom poms ..... but I daresay that most actually trust the evidence before their own eyes not just rely on the "spin" that is being aired. The TDU is obviously held at a time that is advantageous to AUS riders but the fact remains that AUS riders do not always win it ..... yet the punters still turn out in numbers to watch it.

In short, I think that the AUS cycling fanbase, or viewerbase, are now sufficiently strong enough in their knowledge of the sport that the majority don't need nationalistic cheerleaders telling them who they need to support but acknowledge quality whoever it may be. Anyway, we can agree to differ ... and that's fine

BTW, re SBS cuts, I think it will fall in other areas (local drama) before it hits sport coverage !

 

[42x16ss]

Aussie trackie Steve Wooldridge has passed age 39. Used to watch him race a fair bit when I was a junior, probably a few others here who would have known him (Alex, Dirkproven, The Hog)

http://www.ridemedia.com.au/features/remembering-steve-wooldridge/

 

[dirkprovin]

Re:

Aussie trackie Steve Wooldridge has passed age 39. Used to watch him race a fair bit when I was a junior, probably a few others here who would have known him (Alex, Dirkproven, The Hog)

http://www.ridemedia.com.au/features/remembering-steve-wooldridge/

Certainly recall the name, teams pursuiter of the earlier 00s/Athens gold medallist. Sad to hear of his passing.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Yeah I'm well aware of the nature of the Australian media landscape. I think you've kind've made my point for me: re your fixation on this particular subject. Personally, I'm just glad that pro cycling gets any sort of airing here at all. The coverage isn't always perfect, especially that hapless Tommo and having Tim Gilbert trying to talk about cycling during the TDU, but what do you expect? Everyone gets a blinkered view of sportspeople from their home country. "Richie could win the TDF" gets viewers, "Richie will never win a GT" doesn't.

Trust me, you'll change your tune when the inevitable sbs funding cuts come.

Really ... not sure that I did actually but we all read what we want to see. Overall, I do believe that SBS has to be massively commended for its support and its major role in the the growth in popularity of the sport in this country. But this coverage has grown and remains intact even for races where there IS no, or has not been any, AUS contender to win ..... and whilst that viewer-base hits a "spike" for TDF; an ever increasing majority also tune into many of the other major races covered.

Yes, there will always be a quotient of any audience who purely view a game/sport through patriotically tinted lenses/wave their pom poms ..... but I daresay that most actually trust the evidence before their own eyes not just rely on the "spin" that is being aired. The TDU is obviously held at a time that is advantageous to AUS riders but the fact remains that AUS riders do not always win it ..... yet the punters still turn out in numbers to watch it.

In short, I think that the AUS cycling fanbase, or viewerbase, are now sufficiently strong enough in their knowledge of the sport that the majority don't need nationalistic cheerleaders telling them who they need to support but acknowledge quality whoever it may be. Anyway, we can agree to differ ... and that's fine

BTW, re SBS cuts, I think it will fall in other areas (local drama) before it hits sport coverage !

Considering that the Tour is a ratings winner for SBS especially when Australian riders like Matthews and Porte are expected to do well plus the fact that SBS is still mainly a football TV station, I doubt that cuts will effect those two sports. And since they started showing all of the GTs, the real cycling fans are lapping it up. Sadly the Giro was lost due to contractual things but they also have many of the good one day races as well. For all of the criticism towards certain personalities, SBS have to be commended for how far they have come and for the exposure they give the sport including track cycling,women's racing and BMX and mountain bike riding in highlight form at least.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

More Aussie riders doing the Vuelta for Cannondale than for Orica

 

[yaco]

Re:

More Aussie riders doing the Vuelta for Cannondale than for Orica

Its a reversal of roles - Cannondale the US team has one US cyclist, while Orica the Australian team has one Aussie cyclist.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Re:

More Aussie riders doing the Vuelta for Cannondale than for Orica

Docker switches from Orica to EF-Drapac

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

More Aussie riders doing the Vuelta for Cannondale than for Orica

Docker switches from Orica to EF-Drapac

No surprise - Had a much better 2017 compared to 2015/16 - But the team doesn't have the confidence in Docker's ability to ride a GT, which is necessary in a GC focused team.