Australian Summer of Cycling: Nationals, Bay series Crits & other races

[M Sport]

One thing not being taken in to account is that every other race in the Australian summer season is for sprinters.

The NSW series, the Bay Crits, and especially the TDU are sprinter's races. Without the Nationals on a climber's circuit, there is no chance for a European-based climber to win a major race on home soil, or for a local climber to pull off a high-profile win against the European-based pros.

Completely irrelevant. Those are criteriums, we are talking about road races.

 

[Martin318is]

Completely irrelevant. Those are criteriums, we are talking about road races.

ummm.. yes...

that is his point isn't it? What other races with a reasonable profile are there at this time of the year? And of those - which one have a steeper gradient than a freeway crossover on them?

 

[Ferminal]

http://player.sbs.com.au/cycling#/c...playlist/Bobridge-wins-Australian-road-title/

1'41" of video!!!

 

[Tuarts]

amberhalliday @ PhilLiggett I just rode the course and parts of it were basically underwater with more rain 2come. Have never done TT in these conditions!

about 1 hour ago * in reply to PhilLiggett

It has been bucketing down and I'm not surprised about this. I've been drenched on my sightseeing day ands lost half a day because of it. I wanted to find gold!

Forecast is for up to 40mm tomorrow as well. I think surfboards attached to the bikes may be more practical at this stage just crazy.

On another not, I think I saw the Vic lass that came 3rd on Sat ride pass. Wore blue/white colours with an aussie nat wind jersey. Its just crazy training in this weather. Hope it pays off.

 

[M Sport]

ummm.. yes...

that is his point isn't it? What other races with a reasonable profile are there at this time of the year? And of those - which one have a steeper gradient than a freeway crossover on them?

That's a seperate discussion. Australia and New Zealand run their calendars diffferently then the rest of the world i.e. the road seasons run in winter here rather than summer. So the fault of locals not being able to take on overseas based climbers in events such as the Baw Baw classic is a timing issue, not a course issue.

The discussion we're having is about the course for the Australian Road Race title, it's hardly relevant bring in the fact a sprinter can go win a criterium if he wants to the same week the champs are on. In the overall scheme of things crits are events they can turn up to get appearance money... no more no less. I'm sure an Australian would trade in 50 state event criterium wins for an Australian Road jersey any day of the week.

 

[battery89]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E6DgyJ9T6Q

 

[auscyclefan94]

One thing not being taken in to account is that every other race in the Australian summer season is for sprinters.

The NSW series, the Bay Crits, and especially the TDU are sprinter's races. Without the Nationals on a climber's circuit, there is no chance for a European-based climber to win a major race on home soil, or for a local climber to pull off a high-profile win against the European-based pros.

You are spot on. Why can't climbers have more of a go? Sprinters can still win imo.

Speaking to Mark after the race he feels the course is not suited to his style of riding,mainly favouring the lighter type of rider.
Regaurding point 2 you are correct just cause you live in the mountains doesnt make you a climber"but having been on training rides with Mark around Mount Panorama "He can climb OK"
Point 3 I guess if thats the case Mark will have to wait another 4 years before he can win a National Title on the Road.
But thanks for the quick response Aus.

I don't like using BMI but in this case but it does compare a guy like Renshaw with other sprinters suc as Cooke, Howard, Bobridge or Goss.

Matt Goss 22.7 (178cm 72kg)
Mark Renshaw 22.5 (179cm 72kg)
Baden Cooke 21.5 (178cm, 68kg)
Leigh Howard 21.8 (179cm, 70kg)

Goss would probably be regarded as the best climber as all of those guys but he has the highest BMI. ALl their BMI's show that he isn't that different in size (height and weight) in comparison to these guys who did well on Sunday.
I do understand that this doesn't compare physiological abilities of the riders.

 

[Roland Rat]

He has his head stuck up his jack seat.

They should be alternated between states each year. Just ridiculous having them on one course every year, year after year for six years.

Personally I don't give a toss about the sprinters, they are only looking after their own interests. I'm sure if you asked a pure climber like Matty Lloyd he would say the course is too easy, he would prefer it finishing on something like Mt Hotham.

Somewhere in between each type of course, in a different state each year is what should happen.

+1.

The "starting numbers" argument is a ridiculous one, as that is solely about the health of the sport in Aus and nothing to do with the course. It's the Nationals, the best people would ride it where-ever it is.

 

[Roland Rat]

Great ride by Bobridge. It's a bit of a coincidence that the GB, US and Aus nationals have all now been won by younger riders from a very early break. I might try it in our divisionals this season

edit: Garvelo need to sort their helmets out:

Anyone know what his tattoo says? Hope it's not something corny...

 

[auscyclefan94]

Great ride by Bobridge. It's a bit of a coincidence that the GB, US and Aus nationals have all now been won by younger riders from a very early break. I might try it in our divisionals this season

Problem is that in those countries championships, a guy goes up the road and gets a big gap, when the chasing starts it is too late. Personally, if sky (who were the only other team with numbers) didn't let bobridge go up the road (which they shouldn't of) then it is likely gerrans or a sky rider would of won.

When things are disorganised & ppl aren't paying attention, it is always a good time to attack in a bike race.

 

[theyoungest]

Problem is that in those countries championships, a guy goes up the road and gets a big gap, when the chasing starts it is too late. Personally, if sky (who were the only other team with numbers) didn't let bobridge go up the road (which they shouldn't of) then it is likely gerrans or a sky rider would of won.

When things are disorganised & ppl aren't paying attention, it is always a good time to attack in a bike race.

When Bobridge had a 40 second gap with apparently only a few kms of descending toward the finish left to do, you called the race far from over. Talk about things usually happening in a bike race

On a different note, I wish we had a nationals course like that in Holland, for once. You know, with actual climbing involved.

 

[Ferminal]

When Bobridge had a 40 second gap with apparently only a few kms of descending toward the finish left to do, you called the race far from over. Talk about things usually happening in a bike race

To be fair I think acf made that comment around the bottom of the climb. And it's not like we had heaps of infos to work with.

But I had called it by then

 

[fatandfast]

Bobridge and Cam Meyer rode great. I am glad that AU track riders are setting the trend of getting good road form from all the work they do on the boards. For a country with a tiny population they are turning out some stellar talent

 

[theyoungest]

To be fair I think acf made that comment around the bottom of the climb. And it's not like we had heaps of infos to work with.

But I had called it by then

Ok, he didn't say 40 secs, but 28:

28 seconds at KOM. This is not over! gerrans is not alone.

At that point, he's got it in the bag, 99 out of a 100 times.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ok, he didn't say 40 secs, but 28:

At that point, he's got it in the bag, 99 out of a 100 times.

There is a long stretch of straight roads after the climb which is a false flat almost. It was coming down a fair bit on the climb that i thought it is a possibility that he had started to crack.

 

[Ferminal]

Durbridge won by 50s over Hepburn in the U23s.

 

[unsheath]

The Buninyong course is made for Rouleurs. The sprinters just need to bring some early season form to be competative. Look at Goss's performance. He was climbing the course comfortably.

 

[auscyclefan94]

meyer has just taken off for his ride.

 

[Ferminal]

Where you getting your updates ACF?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Where you getting your updates ACF?

@au_sesquip (Tuarts) and also Ballarat Courier twitter feed. Also try #aorcc

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ben Day has best Time now with a time of 48 minutes and 5 seconds. Quite a good time. Some stronger riders will start coming into the finish.

 

[auscyclefan94]

47 minutes 32 seconds - Michael Matthews, new best time.

47 minutes 24 seconds - Bobridge, new best time.

 

[Kevin Rudd's Hairdryer]

Ben Day has best Time now with a time of 48 minutes and 5 seconds. Quite a good time. Some stronger riders will start coming into the finish.

Bobridge leads now, 47.24

 

[auscyclefan94]

Cam Meyer wins - 47 minutes 11 seconds

 

[auscyclefan94]

2011 Australian National Mens TT Champs:1.Cameron Meyer (47.11) 2.Jack Bobridge (47.24) 3.Michael Matthews (47.32