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Berniece

Berniece

Sep 12, 2022
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Samamba said:
Just me or is the expected start list for the TDU really underwhelming? I know it never was the favorite race for top tier riders (other side of the world, early in the season) but now even some of the best australian riders seem to be skipping it?
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I agree, just checked the list and it isn’t that exciting who’s riding. Might be good for Alaphilippe though. Could win a stage and can be in contention to win it if he’s in decent form. Would be good for morale to start the season like that.
 
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yaco

Jun 20, 2015
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The startlist is a similar quality to the last few years - What they've lacked in the last few years is the top sprinters - For example, I would like to see a rider like Kooij or Jakobsen in the race - And after the TDU is the one day Ride Torquay which is a sprinters race and the sprinters can often make the final of the Cadel Evans Race, so that's 5 chances for sprinters.
 
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Samamba

Samamba

May 10, 2015
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yaco said:
The startlist is a similar quality to the last few years - What they've lacked in the last few years is the top sprinters - For example, I would like to see a rider like Kooij or Jakobsen in the race - And after the TDU is the one day Ride Torquay which is a sprinters race and the sprinters can often make the final of the Cadel Evans Race, so that's 5 chances for sprinters.
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Last year we had O Connor, Hindley and Vine next to Simon Yates...

This year we have Simon Yates and.... Haig? Apart from that some good punchers who are decent uphill like Alaphilippe who could be interesting or guys like Ganna but it's really weak for a "top" WT stage race. Maybe last year was the exception, I honestly don't really remember the pre covid years.
 
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Squire

Squire

Dec 28, 2010
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yaco said:
The startlist is a similar quality to the last few years - What they've lacked in the last few years is the top sprinters - For example, I would like to see a rider like Kooij or Jakobsen in the race - And after the TDU is the one day Ride Torquay which is a sprinters race and the sprinters can often make the final of the Cadel Evans Race, so that's 5 chances for sprinters.
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I think it was easier to get the big name sprinters there when the race was basically six sprint stages. With two or even sometimes three stages not being sprints, it's no wonder they're not too bothered about traveling to the other side of the world in January. With how some teams now seem to go to greater lengths to optimize their season preparations, it probably makes it even harder to justy such a 'disruption'.

Samamba said:
Last year we had O Connor, Hindley and Vine next to Simon Yates...

This year we have Simon Yates and.... Haig? Apart from that some good punchers who are decent uphill like Alaphilippe who could be interesting or guys like Ganna but it's really weak for a "top" WT stage race. Maybe last year was the exception, I honestly don't really remember the pre covid years.
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I think last year was a bit of an exception due to it being the big return after two years of the race not being held. It also helped that the route was rather tough. One of the reasons Vine gave for not showing up this year was that the easier 2024 route requires him to be in better shape to be able to make the difference on the climbs, and that will throw off his form progression.
 
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claude cat

claude cat

Sep 8, 2015
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S

Skijumper Roglic fan

Aug 28, 2021
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claude cat said:
Live coverage on SBS on demand

www.sbs.com.au

Live TV | Stream Free on SBS On Demand

Live stream premium shows, movies, news, sport and more for free across SBS, SBS VICELAND, SBS Food, SBS World Movies & NITV plus your favourite SBS On Demand exclusives.
www.sbs.com.au www.sbs.com.au

Women's Elite and U23 underway

Start list: https://results.auscycling.org.au/Road/2024/RoadNats/index.html

Weather predicted to be very wet this afternoon. So far the rain holding off, but radar shows it building.
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Thank you so much!… Very much appreciated :)

Have a great Sunday. Kind regards :)
 
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yaco

Jun 20, 2015
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Samamba said:
Last year we had O Connor, Hindley and Vine next to Simon Yates...

This year we have Simon Yates and.... Haig? Apart from that some good punchers who are decent uphill like Alaphilippe who could be interesting or guys like Ganna but it's really weak for a "top" WT stage race. Maybe last year was the exception, I honestly don't really remember the pre covid years.
Click to expand...
You forgot the favorite for the race in Plapp. O'Connor and Hindley never feature in the GC in this race - I am interested in Haig how will go, seeing its his first time returning to Australia since he turned pro. Like I said in the previous post the weakness is in the sprinters field.
 
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nightowl

nightowl

Feb 8, 2023
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Squire said:
I think last year was a bit of an exception due to it being the big return after two years of the race not being held. It also helped that the route was rather tough. One of the reasons Vine gave for not showing up this year was that the easier 2024 route requires him to be in better shape to be able to make the difference on the climbs, and that will throw off his form progression.
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Interesting he said that - unless I’m missing something I don’t really see how this year’s route is easier? Mount Lofty stage is still there, the classic 2x Willunga stage is back which is definitely harder than 1x the corkscrew climb, and stage 2 this year is a very similar finale to stage 2 last year, but with the decisive climb much closer to the finish. Other than that, they’ve switched out the prologue for another sprint stage. If anything, it seems a little harder this year.
 
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yaco

Jun 20, 2015
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Skijumper Roglic fan said:
Yes, I hope he‘ll do great, and will go for GC.

As I saw, one could say,

Tue/Wed hilly,
Thu/Fri flat,
Sat/Sun mountains.

Hoping for early fireworks for this season.
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The difficulty of the route is similar to last year. Yes, you add Willunga BUT they are doing the easier side of Mt Lofty. I suggest the main reason why Vine is not riding is the removal of the ITT/Prologue.
 
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Potomac

Potomac

Jan 22, 2010
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Samamba said:
Just me or is the expected start list for the TDU really underwhelming? I know it never was the favorite race for top tier riders (other side of the world, early in the season) but now even some of the best australian riders seem to be skipping it?
Click to expand...

What? OMG!
Didn't you see who EF-Education sent?
 
Y

yaco

Jun 20, 2015
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Jayco have split the race up with 100kms to go - Plapp and Harper off the front with a chasing group of 6.
 
42x16ss

42x16ss

May 23, 2009
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yaco said:
Jayco have split the race up with 100kms to go - Plapp and Harper off the front with a chasing group of 6.
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Still off the front t with 60kms to go. At first I thought the plan was an armchair ride for Ewan/Hamilton (might still be) but they may be trying something themselves
 
42x16ss

42x16ss

May 23, 2009
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tobydawq said:
Yeah, I realised that after but they could have tried just to make the skinsuit look a little bit like the other kit, I would say.

Anyway, all streams are down, race decided with more than 100 kms to go. Great start to the season...
Click to expand...
See if SBS Cycling Central is geo blocked
 
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yaco

Jun 20, 2015
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42x16ss said:
Still off the front t with 60kms to go. At first I thought the plan was an armchair ride for Ewan/Hamilton (might still be) but they may be trying something themselves
Click to expand...

At different stages in the race both Plapp and Harper were caught behind splits and soloed a gap of 30 to 40 seconds to reach the front group.
 
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