Down Under Cancer Council Classic

[auscyclefan94]

Down Under classic map
I thought I would start off the race/stage thread with the Down Under Classic
What are your tips for the opening big race of the year?

 

[Anonymous]

Tough to call, but I'm so damned glad to have cyclists racing against each other again. Allan Davis just tweeted that it's raining, so a lot of the guys might want to stay safe for 30 laps with the Tour Down Under proper not yet started. I think maybe some fearless young Australian with some race miles already in his legs will give it a good go.

 

[auscyclefan94]

1. Brown
2.Henderson/Sutton
3.Mcewen


They both have shown good form in the bay crits and are good crit riders.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Rain will pass over by 1:40 local time. No rain after that...

 

[Aus_Orca]

Browny, i reckon he's still steaming about the bay classic and will come out like a bull rain hail or shine. The others might want to give him a clear berth.......and the race marshalls for that matter!

 

[Tugboat]

Henderson to take out the win from Greipel and Hunter.

First time in 4 years that I haven't made the trip across the Tasman to watch the race. But luckily Sky TV here in NZ has live coverage of the classic this year in an hour's time!!

 

[auscyclefan94]

The cycling season is about to kick off right here in Down Under! Can't wait...

 

[craig1985]

30 minutes to go. SBS is good.

 

[Tugboat]

Good to see Armstrong taking some pulls on the front of the peloton to shut down the Vittoria / Meyer break.

 

[El Imbatido]

Live stream if anyone wants it.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kezzacam

 

[Tugboat]

Wonder if that's the first and last time we'll see Pereiro attack this year?

 

[El Imbatido]

Armstrong is in the break. Watch this get reeled in real quick now

 

[Tugboat]

Armstrong and Periero look very strong compared to the other 3 in that break. I'd be willing to go out on a limb and pick Armstrong to win Amstel Gold this year.

 

[Publicus]

Don't know if it means anything, but I'm surprised that Pereiro is looking so good.

 

[Anonymous]

Wonder if that's the first and last time we'll see Pereiro attack this year?

Pereiro says he wants to be one of the pillars of the new Team Astana this year. I think he'll have a good year and be a great help to Contador at the Tour.
http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=21587

 

[Publicus]

That was a strong move by the HTC-Columbia team.

And it was all for not. Team Sky did a great job of not dissipating when HTC made their move. Too bad this didn't count.

 

[Tugboat]

That's 1-nil to Sky in the Sky vs Garmin who'll get the most wins this year. Awesome effort. Hendy said in an interview with roadcycling.co.nz that they'd done a lot of work on theri lead-outs and they did it perfect. The Hendy / Sutton combination is going to win a lot of races!!

 

[Publicus]

That's 1-nil to Sky in the Sky vs Garmin who'll get the most wins this year. Awesome effort. Hendy said in an interview with roadcycling.co.nz that they'd done a lot of work on theri lead-outs and they did it perfect. The Hendy / Sutton combination is going to win a lot of races!!

I was impressed. Usually when HTC makes their move, they intimidate (seemingly) the other teams. Team Sky stayed focused and pulled out the "win." I'm looking forward to seeing them on the road this year.

 

[Anonymous]

Great last couple of laps by Team Sky, well done lads! I think that's also shown HTC their train won't be given a free run-in this season too... hopefully!

 

[Tugboat]

Interview here about the sky sprint training... http://www.roadcycling.co.nz/RaceTalk/team-sky-mastering-the-train.html

Love this...

"It’s the small things, the fine tuning, which makes such a difference. 66 is easy to beat, but 68 in the head wind is hard to come around,”

 

[Publicus]

Interview here about the sky sprint training... http://www.roadcycling.co.nz/RaceTalk/team-sky-mastering-the-train.html

Love this...

Excellent read. I'm just excited that racing (any kind of racing) has started.

 

[stefank]

The cynic would say that Armstrong was just showboating in that break, where was Radioshack at the finish? On the other hand, Sky delivered the goods, courtesy of their antipodean contingent.

 

[Anonymous]

Interview here about the sky sprint training... http://www.roadcycling.co.nz/RaceTalk/team-sky-mastering-the-train.html

Love this...

That was really good. A great early example of how Sky wants to look for one percent improvement anywhere they can find it.

 

[craig1985]

Dimspace will be happy then.

 

[Anonymous]

I just saw a photo of the finish and it seems to me Henderson and Sutton are wearing skin suits!

http://www.steephill.tv/tour-down-under/