Hot racing coming up in Australia

Page 48 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
I saw a fair bit of the top 4 out there. It looked to me like Scotson went out a bit too hard and paid for it, Porte got hit by a bit of a gust while in a downhill tuck and seemed to stay away from tuck opportunities there after. Dennis was a class above today. Always amazes me when you are following these guys going up an incline at 50km/h.
 
Good stuff, looks like it was a pretty open race? Teams with the numbers didn't have the strength? Shortening the races looks like a very good call too given the attrition.

Alex you may be best placed on this one re: Porte, has he got a bit more upper body (muscle) mass than he would normally?
 
Re:

Ferminal said:
Good stuff, looks like it was a pretty open race? Teams with the numbers didn't have the strength? Shortening the races looks like a very good call too given the attrition.

Alex you may be best placed on this one re: Porte, has he got a bit more upper body (muscle) mass than he would normally?
I never really saw him in a position to make that judgement. Mostly watching from 40m behind. I didn't view the presentations.

The authorities made the right call about the event program changes today. It could so easily have been very bad this afternoon with that wind and heat on the dry bushland. The U23 race was hard and attrition saw field lose about 10 riders per lap, maybe 20 odd finished complete course. It was long enough to establish a fair dinkum champion. The organisers, road crews, commissaires and everyone involved did a great job rejigging to make it happen. The alternative was no race at all.

The new section through the university also adds a new dynamic to the race - with some extra technical skill required. All 3 races so far won by a solo break away from a small break group.
 
Who's favorite?

Slightly wishful thinking, but I like Durbridge for this. Would be due reward for becoming Australia's best one day rider. His ride at Strade Bianche last year proves he can get over the climbs (and of course his win in '12, but that was a bit circumstantial). Would have to get there alone though...

Otherwise: Haas, Ewan, McCarthy.

BMC would win a TTT, but unless they get lucky I don't see a winner from them.
 
NZ nationals finished in a 4 up sprint...

1. Jason Christie
2. Hayden McCormick (One Pro Cycling)
3. Michael Torckler
4. George Bennett (Lotto NL Jumbo)

gap of maybe 20 seconds

5. James Oram (One Pro Cycling)
 
Re: Re:

swuzzlebubble said:
yaco said:
Australian Road Race Titles begin this week - Orica has 9 in the men's RR, except for Jack Haig ( who is doing a Michael Matthews ), BMC has four strong riders and Team Sunweb has three or four riders - Men's RR is usually unpredictable with an even split of wins coming from the breakaway or the peleton - Durbridge could win if he brings his 2017 performance, though if Dennis puts it together he is my favorite.

Men's TT should be a battle between Dennis, Porte and Durbridge with Dennis the undoubted favourite.

Men's criterium should see a win to Orica - They have multiple options in Ewan, Meyer or Edmondson who can win.

The women's RR takes on a different dimension with Garfoot leaving Orica - Spratt, Kennedy or Roy will be hard to beat, though there will be strong opposition from the types of Garfoot, Cromwell, Gillow, Neylan and the like - This is an open race.

The women's TT should be a benefit for Garfoot, though Kennedy is a chance to podium.

The women's critierion should go to one of the Orica rider's.
Brodie Chapman has been racing strongly in Melb club racing so I'll be interested to see how she goes at Nats.
Perhaps more suited to the crit although I have no idea of her team duties.
6th in women's race for Chapman
 
Re:

The Hegelian said:
Who's favorite?

Slightly wishful thinking, but I like Durbridge for this. Would be due reward for becoming Australia's best one day rider.

Not exactly much on his sheet (a 6th in SB last year and a 6 year old national RR title) to get referred to as "Australia's best one day rider", but then again there are not many contenders at the present time to even think of using that moniker at all.
 
Re: Re:

Yingge said:
The Hegelian said:
Who's favorite?

Slightly wishful thinking, but I like Durbridge for this. Would be due reward for becoming Australia's best one day rider.

Not exactly much on his sheet (a 6th in SB last year and a 6 year old national RR title) to get referred to as "Australia's best one day rider", but then again there are not many contenders at the present time to even think of using that moniker at all.

Yes, well, Gerrans was incapable of even finishing in the front group of a WT or semi-classic finale last year, so the question is: who else?

Durbridge had a great classics season last year - wasn't just Strade. He went into RVV as an outside favourite and in my book that answers the question categorically. Haas perhaps number 2.
 
Durbridge would have won in 2017 if Orica adopted a better strategy - Once in the break and marked every attack from the break but Orica wanted to hold it together for gerrans to win in a sprint - Of course 2018 is a better year.
 
Hard to tell, 3 mins to a day long break is nothing on this course. Power is the strongest but he will get chased down easily, GreenEdge have 5-6 capable riders but no sure things unless they expect Ewan to hold on, depending on how he's going they may want to start being more active.

3.5 laps to go

1. Troy HERFOSS [134] 3:50:09
2. Robert POWER [89] +29
3. William CLARKE [14]
4. Tristan WARD [118] +52
5. Dylan NEWBERY [82] +1:05
6. Thomas KAESLER [55] +1:26
7. Sean LAKE [60]
8. Peter MILOSTIC [77] +1:40
Peloton +2:15
 
Mad, Edmondson and Harper held 10s for the last 5km after being out in front the last few laps. Porte almost closed them but Meyer pulled him back to the group and they sat up. McCarthy & Haas opened the sprint from 400m and Ewan couldn't match them, Edmondson held on anyway.

1. Alexander EDMONDSON [28] 4:54:27
2. Jay MCCARTHY [71] +1
3. Chris HARPER [43]
4. Caleb EWAN [30]
5. Nathan HAAS [41]
6. Chris HAMILTON [137]
7. Sam CROME [18]
8. Simon CLARKE [141]
9. Brendan CANTY [12]
10. Nathan EARLE [27]
11. Ben O'CONNOR [125]
12. Patrick LANE [61]
13. Mark O'BRIEN [83]
14. Richie PORTE [88]
15. Cameron MEYER [74] +7

http://www.roadnationals.org.au/road-race-results.html#1_0376BA

Pretty incredible the way GreenEdge managed that last lap. They lost Durbridge who went down hard just before the bell (probably collarbone).
 
Gotta say that MS played their cards well - Power in the break which tired out BMC - Then Edmondson attacking with just over 2 laps to go - Having Meyer,Durbridge ( until crashing with one lap to go ) and Howson neutralising attacks from the peleton and at the same time protecting Ewan - Anyway Edmondson is a super talented rider and a future classics star.