Hot racing coming up in Australia

[sienna]

Bring back the Commonwealth Bank Cycling Classic.

Yeah! I remember a skinny Ullrich dominating one year + McEwan demonstrating his future potential....

Pretty crappy parcours though.

Some of the climbs would have sorted a few of the Euro poster boys.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Re:

Anyone going to watch Race Melbourne at Albert Park on Australia Day?

http://www.cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au/race-melbourne/race-information/

Might ride up Beach Rd and have a look

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Completely agree with this. I the main problems though is that it is too far apart from any other WT race. The next WT stage race is the end of february, and that's hardly a prestigious one. A top GC rider would have to be pretty stupid to peak for a race like this in mid-January so far apart from any other decent WT event, so the quality ends up being really poor. And they cant have it as a WT race at any other time of the year, because the logistics and travel demands on the riders, require a decent buffer around it.

The race would definitely be better scaling down and not being WT; it's the least competitive WT event by a long way and will always attract criticism as such. If it was a prestigious 2:1 race instead with the best local and Asian teams and with a few of the big budget WT teams it would be much more competitive - with much more riders actually targetting the event. And they could hold it in March or October then and get riders on a much better form curve. With some decent marketing it could be like an Australian version of Tour of California. Instead, you get a load of WT riders, who are all just there to get into shape. And you don't even get the best out of shape WT riders, just the out of shape B squad.

Well, the TDU was still getting the majority of Pro Tour teams when it was HC...

(Where it should be IMO)

Yeah,it seems that from the start the organisers have decided they want big names rather than great racing. From a commercial point of view it probably makes sense, but as a cycling fan it makes it a very disappointing race.

 

[claude cat]

Re:

Anyone going to watch Race Melbourne at Albert Park on Australia Day?

http://www.cadelevansgreatoceanroadrace.com.au/race-melbourne/race-information/

This is being streamed on CT's facebook page for those that aren't in Melbourne.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Completely agree with this. I the main problems though is that it is too far apart from any other WT race. The next WT stage race is the end of february, and that's hardly a prestigious one. A top GC rider would have to be pretty stupid to peak for a race like this in mid-January so far apart from any other decent WT event, so the quality ends up being really poor. And they cant have it as a WT race at any other time of the year, because the logistics and travel demands on the riders, require a decent buffer around it.

The race would definitely be better scaling down and not being WT; it's the least competitive WT event by a long way and will always attract criticism as such. If it was a prestigious 2:1 race instead with the best local and Asian teams and with a few of the big budget WT teams it would be much more competitive - with much more riders actually targetting the event. And they could hold it in March or October then and get riders on a much better form curve. With some decent marketing it could be like an Australian version of Tour of California. Instead, you get a load of WT riders, who are all just there to get into shape. And you don't even get the best out of shape WT riders, just the out of shape B squad.

Well, the TDU was still getting the majority of Pro Tour teams when it was HC...

(Where it should be IMO)

Yeah,it seems that from the start the organisers have decided they want big names rather than great racing. From a commercial point of view it probably makes sense, but as a cycling fan it makes it a very disappointing race.

The parcours is certainly disappointing, I'd like to see the Corkscrew make a reappearance and adding something like Checkers Hill would be great too. A mini Liege style stage in the Adelaide Hills would be very possible and a good addition to the race, even if it was only 120-130kms long.

Still, a surprising number of riders keep coming back - LL Sanchez, De Ghendt, Arashiro, Ulissi etc, so something is definitely done right from a riders perspective.

 

[Lupi33x]

Re: Re:

Completely agree with this. I the main problems though is that it is too far apart from any other WT race. The next WT stage race is the end of february, and that's hardly a prestigious one. A top GC rider would have to be pretty stupid to peak for a race like this in mid-January so far apart from any other decent WT event, so the quality ends up being really poor. And they cant have it as a WT race at any other time of the year, because the logistics and travel demands on the riders, require a decent buffer around it.

The race would definitely be better scaling down and not being WT; it's the least competitive WT event by a long way and will always attract criticism as such. If it was a prestigious 2:1 race instead with the best local and Asian teams and with a few of the big budget WT teams it would be much more competitive - with much more riders actually targetting the event. And they could hold it in March or October then and get riders on a much better form curve. With some decent marketing it could be like an Australian version of Tour of California. Instead, you get a load of WT riders, who are all just there to get into shape. And you don't even get the best out of shape WT riders, just the out of shape B squad.

Well, the TDU was still getting the majority of Pro Tour teams when it was HC...

(Where it should be IMO)

Yeah,it seems that from the start the organisers have decided they want big names rather than great racing. From a commercial point of view it probably makes sense, but as a cycling fan it makes it a very disappointing race.

The parcours is certainly disappointing, I'd like to see the Corkscrew make a reappearance and adding something like Checkers Hill would be great too. A mini Liege style stage in the Adelaide Hills would be very possible and a good addition to the race, even if it was only 120-130kms long.

Still, a surprising number of riders keep coming back - LL Sanchez, De Ghendt, Arashiro, Ulissi etc, so something is definitely done right from a riders perspective.

They have to go when their WT team instructs them to.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Completely agree with this. I the main problems though is that it is too far apart from any other WT race. The next WT stage race is the end of february, and that's hardly a prestigious one. A top GC rider would have to be pretty stupid to peak for a race like this in mid-January so far apart from any other decent WT event, so the quality ends up being really poor. And they cant have it as a WT race at any other time of the year, because the logistics and travel demands on the riders, require a decent buffer around it.

The race would definitely be better scaling down and not being WT; it's the least competitive WT event by a long way and will always attract criticism as such. If it was a prestigious 2:1 race instead with the best local and Asian teams and with a few of the big budget WT teams it would be much more competitive - with much more riders actually targetting the event. And they could hold it in March or October then and get riders on a much better form curve. With some decent marketing it could be like an Australian version of Tour of California. Instead, you get a load of WT riders, who are all just there to get into shape. And you don't even get the best out of shape WT riders, just the out of shape B squad.

Well, the TDU was still getting the majority of Pro Tour teams when it was HC...

(Where it should be IMO)

Yeah,it seems that from the start the organisers have decided they want big names rather than great racing. From a commercial point of view it probably makes sense, but as a cycling fan it makes it a very disappointing race.

The parcours is certainly disappointing, I'd like to see the Corkscrew make a reappearance and adding something like Checkers Hill would be great too. A mini Liege style stage in the Adelaide Hills would be very possible and a good addition to the race, even if it was only 120-130kms long.

Still, a surprising number of riders keep coming back - LL Sanchez, De Ghendt, Arashiro, Ulissi etc, so something is definitely done right from a riders perspective.

They have to go when their WT team instructs them to.

Despite regularly changing teams? Despite teams regularly sending volunteers only? Despite staying in the one hotel for up to three weeks and often being able to bring family?

It's common knowledge that a good number of riders enjoy coming to the TDU.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

They have to go when their WT team instructs them to.[/quote]
Despite regularly changing teams? Despite teams regularly sending volunteers only? Despite staying in the one hotel for up to three weeks and often being able to bring family?

It's common knowledge that a good number of riders enjoy coming to the TDU.[/quote]

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

 

[claude cat]

Re: Re:

Despite regularly changing teams? Despite teams regularly sending volunteers only? Despite staying in the one hotel for up to three weeks and often being able to bring family?

It's common knowledge that a good number of riders enjoy coming to the TDU.

Come on, don't let the facts ruin a good story.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

You've hit the nail on the head there. WT teams basically treat the Australian races as part of a three week training camp. So, instead of a race, you get an event where 95% of the riders - including all of the non-Australian big names - are just turning up to get some miles in the legs. And that is exactly why it doesn't deserve WT status.

 

[Lupi33x]

Re: Re:

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

plenty of alternatives, Southern California, Florida, Langkawi, gulf states, South America, all closer and all more appealing than a 33 hour plane trip to the Ausie outback. While we're riding circles around one town, then may as well go to Canary Islands and ride around Tenerife.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

plenty of alternatives, Southern California, Florida, Langkawi, gulf states, South America, all closer and all more appealing than a 33 hour plane trip to the Ausie outback. While we're riding circles around one town, then may as well go to Canary Islands and ride around Tenerife.

Then you and Jancouver get the f$&k on a plane to UCI HQ and tell them where and when they should be holding events and let the rest of us actually have a discussion about the racing that's actually happening.

 

[pastronef]

Re: Re:

Then you and Jancouver get the f$&k on a plane to UCI HQ and tell them where and when they should be holding events and let the rest of us actually have a discussion about the racing that's actually happening.

ahhaah!

agree with Movingtarget too. Australia really sucks during the european winter

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

plenty of alternatives, Southern California, Florida, Langkawi, gulf states, South America, all closer and all more appealing than a 33 hour plane trip to the Ausie outback. While we're riding circles around one town, then may as well go to Canary Islands and ride around Tenerife.

Then you and Jancouver get the f$&k on a plane to UCI HQ and tell them where and when they should be holding events and let the rest of us actually have a discussion about the racing that's actually happening.

If the snow plow has done it's job properly they can ride around UCI headquarters holding banners while being watched very carefully by security.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

plenty of alternatives, Southern California, Florida, Langkawi, gulf states, South America, all closer and all more appealing than a 33 hour plane trip to the Ausie outback. While we're riding circles around one town, then may as well go to Canary Islands and ride around Tenerife.

Well, the fact that they're "riding circles around one town" is actually what makes it appeal to the riders; they get to stay at the same hotel for the duration of the race, rather than having to pack and unpack every day. Besides, if none of the non-Aussies wants to ride this, then why did G. Izagirre continue after his crash? Wouldn't that have been the perfect excuse to drop out of that stupid race? Especially after he dropped out of top-10 and - I presume - any important WT points.
Just accept that the riders actually want to race this, and do a good race.

 

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

plenty of alternatives, Southern California, Florida, Langkawi, gulf states, South America, all closer and all more appealing than a 33 hour plane trip to the Ausie outback. While we're riding circles around one town, then may as well go to Canary Islands and ride around Tenerife.

Langkawi is just as hot as Adelaide at this time of year with the added bonus of high humidity. Also since when is a city with a population of 1.25 million considered the outback?

 

[yaco]

Outside of the classics and the three GT's this is one of the WT races that actually works - The race has been around for 19 years with the last 9 as a WT race - Financial stability, suitable parcours, full on media coverage and massive crowds - It's the template for a successful WT race.

 

[Jancouver]

Re: Re:

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

plenty of alternatives, Southern California, Florida, Langkawi, gulf states, South America, all closer and all more appealing than a 33 hour plane trip to the Ausie outback. While we're riding circles around one town, then may as well go to Canary Islands and ride around Tenerife.

Langkawi is just as hot as Adelaide at this time of year with the added bonus of high humidity. Also since when is a city with a population of 1.25 million considered the outback?

It is not about the size of the city. It is about the remote location.

If there was a WT race in Tucson, Arizona or Birmingham, Alabama most people would also consider those places to be an "outback" and those metro areas have over million people each.

And BTW, Tucson Arizona would probably provide a much better weather conditions, terrain and race coverage than Adelaide at this time of the year.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Outside of the classics and the three GT's this is one of the WT races that actually works - The race has been around for 19 years with the last 9 as a WT race - Financial stability, suitable parcours, full on media coverage and massive crowds - It's the template for a successful WT race.

This is a pretty depressing take on the race. It may well work as a commercial operation - which is probably what the UCI and the organisers are most interested in. But as a cycling fan i don't care about all the finances and the sideshow stuff - I care about it being a great sporting competition. And in that respect it is pretty awful. A glorified training ride. As a sporting competition it is worst of the World Tour races by a distance imo.

But I guess it just has to be bracketed alongside Abu Dhabi and the World Championships in Qatar as another example of the UCIs priorities nowdays.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Outside of the classics and the three GT's this is one of the WT races that actually works - The race has been around for 19 years with the last 9 as a WT race - Financial stability, suitable parcours, full on media coverage and massive crowds - It's the template for a successful WT race.

This is a pretty depressing take on the race. It may well work as a commercial operation - which is probably what the UCI and the organisers are most interested in. But as a cycling fan i don't care about all the finances and the sideshow stuff - I care about it being a great sporting competition. And in that respect it is pretty awful. A glorified training ride. As a sporting competition it is worst of the World Tour races by a distance imo.

But I guess it just has to be bracketed alongside Abu Dhabi and the World Championships in Qatar as another example of the UCIs priorities nowdays.

No, this race doesn't come under the same bracket as Abu Dhabi or the Qatar Worlds. Why? Because there are fans here, and there is a very strong Aussie base for this race. Australia should have an inportant race, but because of how the world works, it has to be at the start of the season, effectively ruining it, as only Aussies really care about it. Perhaps if this race was shunted to the back end of the season, rather than the opener, then it may get a bigger, and better, field.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

plenty of alternatives, Southern California, Florida, Langkawi, gulf states, South America, all closer and all more appealing than a 33 hour plane trip to the Ausie outback. While we're riding circles around one town, then may as well go to Canary Islands and ride around Tenerife.

Langkawi is just as hot as Adelaide at this time of year with the added bonus of high humidity. Also since when is a city with a population of 1.25 million considered the outback?

It is not about the size of the city. It is about the remote location.

If there was a WT race in Tucson, Arizona or Birmingham, Alabama most people would also consider those places to be an "outback" and those metro areas have over million people each.

And BTW, Tucson Arizona would probably provide a much better weather conditions, terrain and race coverage than Adelaide at this time of the year.

Then pretend that the race doesn't exist and let those of us who want to discuss it do so in peace.

If Adelaide holding a WT race offends you so much take it up with the UCI.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

You've hit the nail on the head there. WT teams basically treat the Australian races as part of a three week training camp. So, instead of a race, you get an event where 95% of the riders - including all of the non-Australian big names - are just turning up to get some miles in the legs. And that is exactly why it doesn't deserve WT status.

You can say that for half the WT races!

 

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

But Australia is such a terrible place to go in summer ! No blizzards, no snow, good training weather, I just don't understand it ? Why do people do it ? Donald Trump would certainly cancel the TDU for a casino criterium series in Las Vegas if he was in charge. Australia is such an awful alternative to the European winter, I just don't get it !

You've hit the nail on the head there. WT teams basically treat the Australian races as part of a three week training camp. So, instead of a race, you get an event where 95% of the riders - including all of the non-Australian big names - are just turning up to get some miles in the legs. And that is exactly why it doesn't deserve WT status.

You can say that for half the WT races!

Name them.

 

[Escarabajo]

Depends. A lot of riders use some of the 1 week European races for training for the GT's. They might not say it but it happens a lot. I don't want to go in details but you know it happens.


17.01 › 22.01 Santos Tour Down Under Porte 2.UWT
29.01 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race startlist 1.UWT
23.02 › 26.02 Abu Dhabi Tour startlist 2.UWT
25.02 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad startlist 1.UWT
04.03 Strade Bianche startlist 1.UWT
05.03 › 12.03 Paris-Nice startlist 2.UWT
08.03 › 14.03 Tirreno-Adriatico startlist 2.UWT
18.03 Milano-Sanremo startlist 1.UWT
20.03 › 26.03 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya startlist 2.UWT
22.03 Dwars Door Vlaanderen / A travers la Flandre startlist 1.UWT
24.03 Record Bank E3 Harelbeke startlist 1.UWT
26.03 Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields startlist 1.UWT
02.04 Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres startlist 1.UWT
03.04 › 08.04 Vuelta al Pais Vasco startlist 2.UWT
09.04 Paris-Roubaix startlist 1.UWT
16.04 Amstel Gold Race startlist 1.UWT
18.04 › 23.04 Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey startlist 2.UWT
19.04 La Flèche Wallonne startlist 1.UWT
23.04 Liège-Bastogne-Liège startlist 1.UWT
25.04 › 30.04 Tour de Romandie startlist 2.UWT
01.05 Eschborn-Frankfurt 'Rund um den Finanzplatz' startlist 1.UWT
05.05 › 28.05 Giro d'Italia startlist 2.UWT
14.05 › 20.05 Amgen Tour of California startlist 2.UWT
04.06 › 11.06 Critérium du Dauphiné startlist 2.UWT
10.06 › 18.06 Tour de Suisse startlist 2.UWT
01.07 › 23.07 Tour de France startlist 2.UWT
29.07 › 04.08 Tour de Pologne startlist 2.UWT
29.07 Clásica Ciclista San Sebastian startlist 1.UWT
30.07 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic startlist 1.UWT
07.08 › 13.08 Eneco Tour startlist 2.UWT
19.08 › 10.09 Vuelta a España startlist 2.UWT
20.08 Cyclassics Hamburg startlist 1.UWT
27.08 Bretagne Classic - Ouest-France startlist 1.UWT
08.09 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec startlist 1.UWT
10.09 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal startlist 1.UWT
07.10 Il Lombardia startlist 1.UWT
19.10 › 24.10 Tour of Guangxi startlist 2.UWT

From the list above you can say that there are some races that some cyclist take seriously for their own reasons. But the other half the peloton might not be so. Especially those 1 week races. IMHO.

So while Australia might be the goat here they deserve their own race. Just like Colombia should have one. Maybe is the points system that needs fixing. Hec, I prefer a race in Australia than a race in the Middle East or China any day.

 

[Netserk]

So now TDU is just like any other WT 1 week stage race? I think our perceptions of reality differ too much for this conversation to have much meaning.