Hot racing coming up in Australia

[King Boonen]

This is what happened last year with Ewan wasn't it? Dominated the sprints (against slightly worse opposition) but was nowhere when the proper racing came about. Hopefully he can keep his form.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

This is what happened last year with Ewan wasn't it? Dominated the sprints (against slightly worse opposition) but was nowhere when the proper racing came about. Hopefully he can keep his form.

Yes. But I would say it wasn't a loss of form...just his true level is shown when he races in the biggest races. Of course he didn't do terrible (in the Giro for instance)....he was close a couple of times. Of course he can get better.

 

[Breh]

Re: Re:

I always wonder why Orica doesn't have the whole team training in Australia in January - Sick of seeing riders posting pics of sub zero conditions in Europe.

I wonder whether it is better to train hot or cold this time of year or any other time for that matter - generally it is colder at higher altitudes and that's an obvious factor as well.

Just book out a bunch of rooms at Falls Creek in the ski resort. It's at 1700m, not too hot (low 20's top) and the only people there are the occasional trail runners and MTBers. Then there's a HC, 3 cat 1 and a cat 2 climb right on the doorstep. The entire resort is almost deserted so accomodation is dirt cheap.

I'm still stunned most teams don't do it. Drapac stayed nearby at Bright in prep for Nationals and TDU but that was about it apart from the occasional pro self funding.

Exactly - Fall's Creek is a world class environment for athletes who need altitide training - For me its a no brainer.

Familiy, friends, home.

 

[yaco]

Re:

This is what happened last year with Ewan wasn't it? Dominated the sprints (against slightly worse opposition) but was nowhere when the proper racing came about. Hopefully he can keep his form.

Ewan did ok in Europe - Just beaten by Gaviria in a stage of Tirreno Adriatico, just beaten by Greipel in a stage of the Giro - Won the WT Cyclassics in Hamburg - He has a better lead out this year and is a chance to win a stage at the Giro - Needs to add more versatility to his reading but he's doing fine for a 22 year old.

 

[Valv.Piti]

dirkprovin won't dirkprove, I mean, approve, of this.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

This is what happened last year with Ewan wasn't it? Dominated the sprints (against slightly worse opposition) but was nowhere when the proper racing came about. Hopefully he can keep his form.

Ewan did ok in Europe - Just beaten by Gaviria in a stage of Tirreno Adriatico, just beaten by Greipel in a stage of the Giro - Won the WT Cyclassics in Hamburg - He has a better lead out this year and is a chance to win a stage at the Giro - Needs to add more versatility to his riding but he's doing fine for a 22 year old.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

The man of the moment:

He is aussie and he cares a lot about this race. In the middle of the season he won't do nothing relevant like last year

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

This is what happened last year with Ewan wasn't it? Dominated the sprints (against slightly worse opposition) but was nowhere when the proper racing came about. Hopefully he can keep his form.

McEwen didn't dominate in his first pro year either. Pretty quick to write people off in this sport. I thought he went okay last year, the best is yet to come, time will tell.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Re:

Stage 4, another sprint by the usual protagonists?

More of a drag up to the line so a chance for Haas, Macarthy, Gerro et al to feature
Sagan probably > Ewan here too

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

The man of the moment:

He is aussie and he cares a lot about this race. In the middle of the season he won't do nothing relevant like last year

That sprint yesterday was impressive.

If (and maybe it is a big if) Ewan can bring the same form to the first week of a GT he'll certainly show well in the sprints, and certainly go better than some more established names. Everyone here seems to dismiss the fact that he isn't even 23 until July. He beat Sagan and Degenkolb in a bunch sprint at a GT shortly after his 21st birthday. The kid's going to be fine.

 

[sienna]

Re: Re:

The man of the moment:

He is aussie and he cares a lot about this race. In the middle of the season he won't do nothing relevant like last year

That sprint yesterday was impressive.

If (and maybe it is a big if) Ewan can bring the same form to the first week of a GT he'll certainly show well in the sprints, and certainly go better than some more established names. Everyone here seems to dismiss the fact that he isn't even 23 until July. He beat Sagan and Degenkolb in a bunch sprint at a GT shortly after his 21st birthday. The kid's going to be fine.

He's no Tyler Farrar.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

The man of the moment:

He is aussie and he cares a lot about this race. In the middle of the season he won't do nothing relevant like last year

That sprint yesterday was impressive.

If (and maybe it is a big if) Ewan can bring the same form to the first week of a GT he'll certainly show well in the sprints, and certainly go better than some more established names. Everyone here seems to dismiss the fact that he isn't even 23 until July. He beat Sagan and Degenkolb in a bunch sprint at a GT shortly after his 21st birthday. The kid's going to be fine.

He's no Tyler Farrar.

Tyler who ?

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Re: Re:

The man of the moment:

He is aussie and he cares a lot about this race. In the middle of the season he won't do nothing relevant like last year

That sprint yesterday was impressive.

If (and maybe it is a big if) Ewan can bring the same form to the first week of a GT he'll certainly show well in the sprints, and certainly go better than some more established names. Everyone here seems to dismiss the fact that he isn't even 23 until July. He beat Sagan and Degenkolb in a bunch sprint at a GT shortly after his 21st birthday. The kid's going to be fine.

He's no Tyler Farrar.

Tyler who ?

Even Tyler Farrar isn't Tyler Farrar any more

 

[claude cat]

Ewan 3/3

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Re:

Ewan 3/3

Naturellment.
Well done, Caleb.

 

[jaylew]

Gorka suffering from his crash? Chaves up to 2nd and looks like he's no longer in the top 10.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Gorka suffering from his crash? Chaves up to 2nd and looks like he's no longer in the top 10.

Must be a mistake because Izagirre finished 49th with the same time as the stage winner

 

[Jancouver]

Did I miss anything?

 

[claude cat]

Re:

Did I miss anything?

Not really.

 

[movingtarget]

Ewan can't help winning even when he is badly positioned. He will probably win on Sunday as well.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Did I miss anything?

It was a standard sprint stage

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

Did I miss anything?

Jack Bauer isn't quite as good at timing things as his (fictional) namesake.

Caleb Ewan is on fire.
In a metaphorical sense, literally being on fire would be kinda bad.

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Did I miss anything?

A fairly boring stage with an early break of three. Only highlight was Ewan with a monster sprint after being positioned badly by Kluge and boxed in.

 

[Jagartrott]

I think this race is important to Australia and Australians, but not much more.
It has the wrong place on the calendar, also climate-wise. Baking your a**e off and then racing in Europe in cool or even cold conditions - it's hard on your physiology.

 

[Gloin22]

They dont just get back to Europe straight, most of them just go to canary islands or south of spain where its still pretty hot to continue training, considering how classics riders use TDU to start their season it should be clear its not a bad start at all