Hot racing coming up in Australia

[claude cat]

Re: Re:

While that will make the roads wet for a while it will pass pretty quickly and it won't be raining by the end of the stage, the storms aren't predicted until after the race is finished.

I hope so.
With a bit of luck it keeps the temperature down a bit too.

 

[42x16ss]

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.

 

[sir fly]

McEwen hoping for echelons...

 

[Jungle Cycle]

Paul has good point on Sagan... Hansgrohe sponsor the stage and will go for it. already working in the chase...

 

[sir fly]

I'm not sure Sagan should bank on head to head with Ewan.
I hope he'll invent something exciting.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

ouch!!

 

[claude cat]

Doesn't look like anyone is going to really challenge Ewan in the sprints at the TdU.

 

[sir fly]

Nice sprint.
Both Ewan and Sagan handled the technical lead in perfectly.
At the end it was about acceleration.

 

[StryderHells]

Sagan just lacking that top end speed which isn't surprising as this is just early season training for him. Ewan was always going to win that one once he got rolling.

Hope Izagirre isn't injured to badly

 

[Jungle Cycle]

high speed crash.. hope Gorka is ok but looks his left side is quite damaged... Ewan is the faster for sure...

 

[movingtarget]

Ewan is unbeatable at the moment on such courses. He didn't have an easy sprint but still won easily. A real Robbie McEwen sprint weaving through the pack. Obviously too early in the season for Sagan.

 

[yaco]

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.

 

[yaco]

Think being a smaller rider, Ewan can pick his way through technical finishes - Best finish for Ewan is one where the last 500 metres has a 3 or 4% gradient - This is where he can compete against the Cavendish types as he still lacks a bit top end speed compared to the others.

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

I'm not sure Sagan should bank on head to head with Ewan.
I hope he'll invent something exciting.

Sagan should have learned that at the Vuelta back in 2015. Despite Dirkproven's scepticism, Ewan will be here for the long haul.

 

[claude cat]

Re: Re:

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.

Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, hell even Thredbo/Jindy, lots of options. NZ too.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

I'm not sure Sagan should bank on head to head with Ewan.
I hope he'll invent something exciting.

Sagan should have learned that at the Vuelta back in 2015. Despite Dirkproven's scepticism, Ewan will be here for the long haul.

And I still remain sceptical. I will certainly grant that he MAY have a future at WT level (although I can also see that the US circuit may also work for him) but I struggle to see it being with ORS beyond this current contract (ending 2018). He may develop further but this will be at a team where sprint wins are that team's "core business" and ORS is gravitating well away from this and their quick men are likely to be of the classics mould rather than bunch kicks.

He is most certainly on peak form and condition at this time of year and all credit to him for looking to bank as many wins as possible whilst the circumstances are in his favour. A good win today but would he be allowed to get away with losing his leadout man's wheel/will such gaps remain open come "peak" European season ?? I think not.

His "supporting" ride on the Paracombe stage was indeed creditworthy but lets not read anything more than what it was. He can survive up a hill (as shown at 2015 Nats) but that is contingent on how hard that hill is ridden (esp from the base). GT stages, let alone major classics, are generally considerably longer and raced far harder than early season 1 week tours.

What I WILL go "on the record" with is a firm opinion that Gerrans WILL decide to collect his superannuation at the end of this season. This, in itself, should free up some $$$$ with regards to contract renewals/competing "in the market"

 

[Alexandre B.]

Time gaps on Henao, Woods, Earle, Storer and Herrada?

 

[del1962]

Re:

Time gaps on Henao, Woods, Earle, Storer and Herrada?

Doesn't look like it from results

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

I'm not sure Sagan should bank on head to head with Ewan.
I hope he'll invent something exciting.

Sagan should have learned that at the Vuelta back in 2015. Despite Dirkproven's scepticism, Ewan will be here for the long haul.

And I still remain sceptical. I will certainly grant that he MAY have a future at WT level (although I can also see that the US circuit may also work for him) but I struggle to see it being with ORS beyond this current contract (ending 2018). He may develop further but this will be at a team where sprint wins are that team's "core business" and ORS is gravitating well away from this and their quick men are likely to be of the classics mould rather than bunch kicks.

He is most certainly on peak form and condition at this time of year and all credit to him for looking to bank as many wins as possible whilst the circumstances are in his favour. A good win today but would he be allowed to get away with losing his leadout man's wheel/will such gaps remain open come "peak" European season ?? I think not.

His "supporting" ride on the Paracombe stage was indeed creditworthy but lets not read anything more than what it was. He can survive up a hill (as shown at 2015 Nats) but that is contingent on how hard that hill is ridden (esp from the base). GT stages, let alone major classics, are generally considerably longer and raced far harder than early season 1 week tours.

What I WILL go "on the record" with is a firm opinion that Gerrans WILL decide to collect his superannuation at the end of this season. This, in itself, should free up some $$$$ with regards to contract renewals/competing "in the market"

Yeah Gerrans has noticeably dropped in the past 12 months or so not helped by a lot of injuries and accidents but i think this might be his final season. i would be surprised to see him figuring in the usual good races for him like the Ardenne ones and MSR. Maybe the age factor is finally playing a part. It's early days for Ewan and she is still very raw but his future will be as a bunch sprinter or nothing else especially if he bulks up which he will do. Classics will be harder for him, longer and tougher with more climbs but then Matthews was able to do well in some of those races but he was already a decent climber for a sprinter.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

I'm not sure Sagan should bank on head to head with Ewan.
I hope he'll invent something exciting.

Sagan should have learned that at the Vuelta back in 2015. Despite Dirkproven's scepticism, Ewan will be here for the long haul.

And I still remain sceptical. I will certainly grant that he MAY have a future at WT level (although I can also see that the US circuit may also work for him) but I struggle to see it being with ORS beyond this current contract (ending 2018). He may develop further but this will be at a team where sprint wins are that team's "core business" and ORS is gravitating well away from this and their quick men are likely to be of the classics mould rather than bunch kicks.

He is most certainly on peak form and condition at this time of year and all credit to him for looking to bank as many wins as possible whilst the circumstances are in his favour. A good win today but would he be allowed to get away with losing his leadout man's wheel/will such gaps remain open come "peak" European season ?? I think not.

His "supporting" ride on the Paracombe stage was indeed creditworthy but lets not read anything more than what it was. He can survive up a hill (as shown at 2015 Nats) but that is contingent on how hard that hill is ridden (esp from the base). GT stages, let alone major classics, are generally considerably longer and raced far harder than early season 1 week tours.

What I WILL go "on the record" with is a firm opinion that Gerrans WILL decide to collect his superannuation at the end of this season. This, in itself, should free up some $$$$ with regards to contract renewals/competing "in the market"

Yeah Gerrans has noticeably dropped in the past 12 months or so not helped by a lot of injuries and accidents but i think this might be his final season. i would be surprised to see him figuring in the usual good races for him like the Ardenne ones and MSR. Maybe the age factor is finally playing a part. It's early days for Ewan and she is still very raw but his future will be as a bunch sprinter or nothing else especially if he bulks up which he will do. Classics will be harder for him, longer and tougher with more climbs but then Matthews was able to do well in some of those races but he was already a decent climber for a sprinter.

Apparently Gerrans is riding the MSR - Unsure whether this is as a protected rider or as a worker - It's a perfect race to try Magnus Cort as the protested rider.

Reckon Ewan lacks the top end speed of the top 4 or 5 sprinters ( this should get better ) and is ideally suited to slightly uphill finishes - Anyway he will come up against some top end talent in the Abu Dhabi Tour - Would like him to ride more cobbled races

 

[del1962]

Stage 4, another sprint by the usual protagonists?

 

[RedheadDane]

Err... yaco. You might wanna take a look at what you really wrote up there. :lol:

 

[greenedge]

Re: Re:

Mutant sprint by Porte. Again. One of the cycling moments of the year for sure.

Surprised to see Chaves doing so well already. I thought he would go slowly at the beginning of the season, like the past years. Guess i was wrong. Which is only good though!

Not very surprising if you consider he has a nationals to win in his hometown next month.

Yeah. Forgot about that. It's surprising because last years he was mediocre till the Giro. I thought he would have had a similair succesfull approach this year too. But it's great too see him riding at such a level already in the season!

If he's riding the TDF (which seems to be the case from a lot of reports) he can afford to have a few earlier seasons peaks of form, so it's a nice change of schedule to witness.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The man of the moment:

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Err... yaco. You might wanna take a look at what you really wrote up there. :lol:

I do agree with yaco and Cort my be ready to be a protested rider and I also have to agree with movingtarget and It's early days for Ewan and she is still very raw