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[yaco]

Power has the ongoing issue of recovery in stage races which will hinder his future success - MS did what needed to be done by playing poker with Trek and having S.Yates marking Porte - You need a diesel climber to challenge Porte on Willunga Hill - Anyway Porte is in better form than in the last two years, which augurs well for a good season - If only Porte was riding the Giro.

 

[movingtarget]

Unusually bad day for Impey . He's usually better than that on Willunga. He looked legless on the finish line. Porte does as expected and a nice stage win for Holmes.

 

[RedheadDane]

So, Trek-Segafredo takes both TDUs (from defending champions on Mitchelton-Scott), and the team with the semi-alcohol ban wins 50% of the stages.

 

[rick james]

A fine day for the Anglo Saxons

 

[sir fly]

So, Trek-Segafredo takes both TDUs (from defending champions on Mitchelton-Scott), and the team with the semi-alcohol ban wins 50% of the stages.

Dizzy points, RhD.

Now... have you already headed to Argentina?

 

[RedheadDane]

Dizzy points, RhD.

Now... have you already headed to Argentina?

I will this evenening!

(And I'm not dizzy. I'm as normal as I always am.)

 

[sir fly]

I will this evenening!

(And I'm not dizzy. I'm as normal as I always am.)

Then it must be me... getting seasick on the way to San Juan.
See ya!

 

[Red Rick]

Richie Porte doesn't win on Willunga Hill.

The end must be near.

 

[Faserr]

Porte races like Alaphilippe at the Tour Down under with this accelerations. Pretty good and crazy. Unfortunately he isn't with the best on long strady climbs anymore.

 

[Ranagazoo]

Van Baarle is turning into a Kiryienka-esque rider. A rouleur-climber who can do lead-out as well. There isn't anything he can't do.

Ineos should include him in their Tour line up.

He was their best domestique in last year's Tour. One to look out for in the Spring classics for sure

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

So, Trek-Segafredo takes both TDUs (from defending champions on Mitchelton-Scott), and the team with the semi-alcohol ban wins 50% of the stages.

They could still drink on special occasions, like celebrating a victory. The plan is working.

 

[RedheadDane]

They could still drink on special occasions, like celebrating a victory. The plan is working.

Exactly. It's like they looked at each other and went; "Challenge accepted!"

 

[rick james]

I like Porte peaking in January, it’s funny when he blows like *** in July

 

[woodburn]

Interesting podium with Ulissi and Geschke.

Not a bad start for Powless. Just a minute back overall and 15th place.

 

[Escarabajo]

I wonder why Ulissi does not win more often. At times He looks like Valverde and sometimes like Sagan.
Maybe he is an "in-between-er".

 

[Akuryo]

I wonder why Ulissi does not win more often. At times He looks like Valverde and sometimes like Sagan.
Maybe he is an "in-between-er".

That is often the problem these days with not specialized riders. They can get good results in different scenarios but are often outclassed by the ones who prepare for exactly that (kind of) race. The days are gone were a Sean Kelly could win the Vuelta and still finish 3 different monuments in the top 5 in one year. Take a look at Gilbert. He started out as an outstanding rider in the Ardennes, and later shifted his focus to the cobbles. But he was never able to combine both at the same time.

 

[tobydawq]

But he was never able to combine both at the same time.

He was alone in front over the Bosberg in Flanders 2011...

 

[yaco]

Gilbert always rode at a high level on the cobbles - It's more a case of BMC not allowing him to ride on the cobbles.

 

[Velolover2]

Porte races like Alaphilippe at the Tour Down under with this accelerations. Pretty good and crazy. Unfortunately he isn't with the best on long strady climbs anymore.

I have noted another pattern with Porte's acceleration when I watched him in Romandie 2017. The riders are often able to sit on his wheel for about a minute or even more when he accelerates.

He is not as explosive as a typical puncheur-climber who will get a gap almost immediately. (Think Purito, Valverde, Alaphilippe or peak Froome) and he doesn't do a lot of grueling, continuous mini-attacks like Contador, Nibali or Quintana. I wouldn't call him a diesel climber either.

His style is quite unique. The impressive thing about him is that he can keep a monstrous pace for minutes. It's like he is attacking while pacing himself at the same time.

 

[42x16ss]

I wonder why Ulissi does not win more often. At times He looks like Valverde and sometimes like Sagan.
Maybe he is an "in-between-er".

It's because Ulissi's weapons are good, but there's usually someone around who does the same thing but better.

 

[The Hegelian]

Who's the favourite for Cadel's race? Field looks a bit below par. McCarthy and Viviani are coming back from heavy crashes. Hard to look past Ewan - climbing well enough to hang on, sprinting well enough to win.

 

[42x16ss]

Probably Ewan or Bennett, but the likes of Impey, Haas, Sanchez, Ulissi or even Rosskopf could have a real chance with the way they're riding.

 

[Velolover2]

Porte crossed the top of Kerby Hill exactly 40 seconds before Ewan. That's a huge gap on such a short hill.

I might be wrong but Kerby Hill isn't that much harder than Challambra Crescent? Never understood why the climbers haven't been able to cheat the sprinters in that race.

 

[The Hegelian]

Porte crossed the top of Kerby Hill exactly 40 seconds before Ewan. That's a huge gap on such a short hill.

I might be wrong but Kerby Hill isn't that much harder than Challambra Crescent? Never understood why the climbers haven't been able to cheat the sprinters in that race.

Yeah, it's annoying. It's just too long from the top of the final ascent to the finish for a climber to stay away. (Short) history says: a sprinter will get back on and win. I think a parcours change is in order.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Just to let everyone know, you can watch the Torquay 1.1 race live here.