Hot racing coming up in Australia

[StryderHells]

I have a feeling Gerrans will win this race again, he's ageing but knows how to win this race plus I think an early season win is important as I doubt he will get the same chances to be a leader in the bigger races as he has in previous seasons, personally I'd be happy if he doesn't win this race. Porte could win just to give false hope to his fanboys that this is the year he finishes on the podium in a GT, always love reading the Porte thread on this forum as it's good for a laugh. I think McCarthy, Ulissi are good chances and it wouldn't surprise to see Morton and Haas do well.

 

[sir fly]

Any live images?

 

[Jancouver]

Re:

Any live images?

Her you go http://wwos.nine.com.au/2017/01/13/16/41/tour-down-under-2017-live-stream

 

[Jancouver]

Over the years, I said it million times, but year after year, you can tell it's a mandatory race as the riders are not even interested being in the break ... it a shame they are required to participate as there are tons of smaller teams that would love to race here

Edit: The organizers just realized the race sucks ... because it's too hot and the race has been shortened ... good move by the organizers

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Over the years, I said it million times, but year after year, you can tell it's a mandatory race as the riders are not even interested being in the break ... it a shame they are required to participate as there are tons of smaller teams that would love to race here

Edit: The organizers just realized the race sucks ... because it's too hot and the race has been shortened ... good move by the organizers

I actually think the teams and riders enjoy racing down here but from reading the posts you've made about the TDU over the years this is a useless argument to have with you

It was a good move shortening today's stage, 41c with the winds is damn tough conditions.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

My TDU GC top 5 prediction:
1 Porte
2 S. L. Henao
3 Gerrans
4 Woods
5 McCarthy

I would have to agree with this as well.

 

[StryderHells]

Well that was an as expected win from Ewan and what a sleep inducing stage it was.

 

[Jspear]

1. Ewan
2. Van Poppel
3. Bennett
4. Kump
5. Bonifazio
6. Arndt
7. Planckaert
8. Theuns
9. Scotson
10. De Bie

 

[Jspear]

Sagan played the faithful teammate.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

I've noticed I'm starting to follow the growing Australian mini-season more and more every year. I'm sure there'll always be traditionalists that say the season starts with Paris-Nice, but it's nice to have meaningful racing in January with a decent field, decent crowds, and some nice balanced stages that give a lot of riders the chance of victory. If you want to grow the sport, this is the way to do it, not racing in pan-flat oil-rich dictatorships with no spectators.

Now, if someone could bring pro racing back to Ireland...

I thought the traditionalists said the season started with Omloop. Or are you talking the Stage-race season?

Over the years, I said it million times, but year after year, you can tell it's a mandatory race as the riders are not even interested being in the break ... it a shame they are required to participate as there are tons of smaller teams that would love to race here

Edit: The organizers just realized the race sucks ... because it's too hot and the race has been shortened ... good move by the organizers

You sometimes see (flat) stages in the Tour where (next to) nobody is interested in being in the break.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Sagan played the faithful teammate.

He said before the stage start that he would play the teammate today to show that he is committed to the team and that he hopes that pays off later in the season when it's time for the team to work for him. It wasn't the greatest leadout but was still good to see.

 

[Jspear]

Jay Mccarthy is in 4th, 1 second ahead of Gerrans who is in 6th.

 

[yaco]

I suspect Stage 2 is even tougher than expected - The finish will be too tough for Gerrans.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I suspect Stage 2 is even tougher than expected - The finish will be too tough for Gerrans.

Gerrans most definitely will be dropped.

 

[greenedge]

If everyone is assuming Gerrans is dropped will Haas and McCarthy be too (they share the same qualities, although McCarthy is probably the best climber of them all)?

 

[TMP402]

Swift's characteristic positioning skills strike again. Also striking again was Phil Liggett, who merged two riders to create "Danny Boy van Poppel".

 

[yaco]

It's actually interesting that no media are allowed to ask the Orica rider's their GC schedule for 2017 - The team is keeping their cards close to their chest.

TDU is Porte's too lose - Sergio Henao is a big chance - Ullisi is an outside chance as is Gesink and Woods.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

If everyone is assuming Gerrans is dropped will Haas and McCarthy be too (they share the same qualities, although McCarthy is probably the best climber of them all)?

Can't see why McCarthy can't hold on tomorrow and the same goes for Haas, it's a difficult finish but that all depends on how hard they race it after descending Norton's, it's also not a certainty that Gerrans gets dropped.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Swift's characteristic positioning skills strike again. Also striking again was Phil Liggett, who merged two riders to create "Danny Boy van Poppel".

I didn't think Swift was involved in the finish at all or did he attempt to do a leadout for Kump?

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Over the years, I said it million times, but year after year, you can tell it's a mandatory race as the riders are not even interested being in the break ... it a shame they are required to participate as there are tons of smaller teams that would love to race here

Edit: The organizers just realized the race sucks ... because it's too hot and the race has been shortened ... good move by the organizers

I actually think the teams and riders enjoy racing down here but from reading the posts you've made about the TDU over the years this is a useless argument to have with you

It was a good move shortening today's stage, 41c with the winds is damn tough conditions.

Don't worry about Jancouver. January is the only month that he posts now, just to remind us all how much he dislikes the TDU. He's been doing it for a few years now.

 

[claude cat]

Sky's Owain Doull was a non starter today. Apparently a ruptured appendix.
Ellisonde replaced him.

https://roadcyclinguk.com/racing/owain-doull-sufferes-ruptured-appendix-ahead-tour.html

 

[RedheadDane]

:surprised:

Okay, I'd heard that he'd been replaced by Ellisonde because of illness, but I thought it was simply a stomach bug or something like that.

Also striking again was Phil Liggett, who merged two riders to create "Danny Boy van Poppel".

Wonder what would happen if they one day were to sprint against each other...

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Isn't Danny Boy a reference to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Boy rather than mixing Danny and Boy Van Poppel with each other?

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

Isn't Danny Boy a reference to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Boy rather than mixing Danny and Boy Van Poppel with each other?

It could've been.


But this is Phil Ligett we are speaking about.

 

[Lupi33x]

boring race boring scenery poor coverage

but glad cycling is back in the preseason which means Omloop is not far away