• The Cycling News forum is still looking to add volunteer moderators with. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Hot racing coming up in Australia

Page 130 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Berniece

Berniece

Sep 12, 2022
5,678
7,100
16,180
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...
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
Y

yaco

Jun 20, 2015
14,519
5,367
28,180
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: claude cat
Samamba

Samamba

May 10, 2015
11,856
10,933
28,180
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
Squire

Squire

Dec 28, 2010
3,770
2,489
16,680
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan and Samamba
claude cat

claude cat

Sep 8, 2015
661
302
10,680
Live coverage on SBS on demand

www.sbs.com.au

Live TV

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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: yaco and Skijumper Roglic fan
S

Skijumper Roglic fan

Aug 28, 2021
1,597
2,068
6,680
claude cat said:
Live coverage on SBS on demand

www.sbs.com.au

Live TV

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.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much!… Very much appreciated :)

Have a great Sunday. Kind regards :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan and claude cat
Y

yaco

Jun 20, 2015
14,519
5,367
28,180
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
nightowl

nightowl

Feb 8, 2023
529
1,112
5,780
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan
Y

yaco

Jun 20, 2015
14,519
5,367
28,180
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandisfan, Skijumper Roglic fan and claude cat
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom