Hot racing coming up in Australia

[VanBsr]

It seems that it feels good to dont have a big leader like Cancellara or Contador at Trek. Last year they had the same number of victories like they have now (6) in July after NC

 

[yaco]

I suspect MS will set this up for Howson or Meyer - Despite this year's tour being long. 2017 was more difficult.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

How can a selective part of a stage be neutralised when the weather and road are exactly as anyone would have predicted?

The teams knew what the road map was when they selected their riders and their equipment, so what reason have they to complain?

If the organisers don't want the gravel roads to be selective, why did they include them in the parcours?

 

[RedheadDane]

They didn't. They weren't originally supposed to go on the gravel, roadwork happened.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Re:

They didn't. They weren't originally supposed to go on the gravel, roadwork happened.

Fair enough, thanks for the correction.

Might make for an interesting stage next year if they decide to make it deliberate though.

 

[HBA01]

Re: Re:

They didn't. They weren't originally supposed to go on the gravel, roadwork happened.

Fair enough, thanks for the correction.

Might make for an interesting stage next year if they decide to make it deliberate though.

Would need to include a few sectors to have any huge impact. Speaking of which anyone care to make a design of the 2nd Stage of This Years Sun Tour(I'm just putting this idea out for curiosity sake)....... except with gravel sectors?(Depends on if it would be fully appropriate for this thread or the race design thread?)

 

[The Hegelian]

Re:

I suspect MS will set this up for Howson or Meyer - Despite this year's tour being long. 2017 was more difficult.

They both look strong, but I think there's enough climbing in the next two stages for Chaves to gain serious time.

 

[The Hegelian]

Actually, didn't realise today's stage finishes on Lake Mountain - Yaco, unless you know something I don't know, I can't see any other scenario than Howson riding for Chaves, Meyer getting dropped and Chaves destroying the field.

 

[Ferminal]

hmmm the stream is failing me.

 

[The Hegelian]

Yep, Chaves attacks, Meyer dropped, Howson might still be in the mix later in the climb

 

[claude cat]

Chaves wins the stage comfortably

1. 4 Jhoan Esteban CHAVES RUBIO (MTS) 5h53:55
2. 83 Alexander EVANS* (MBL) +42
3. 15 Ruben GUERREIRO (TFS) +1:09
4. 7 Cameron MEYER (MTS) +1:09
5. 1 Damien HOWSON (MTS) +1:09
6. 22 Nathan EARLE (ICA) +1:09
7. 127 Freddy OVETT (ACA) +1:09
8. 25 Krists NEILANDS (ICA) +1:09
9. 143 James WHELAN* (AUS) +1:09

 

[Ferminal]

Nice training ride for Chaves, 15km or so solo.

 

[yaco]

Stage went as expected - MS would always use their numbers to put Chaves up the road and then the fallback position would be Meyer or Howson.

 

[42x16ss]

It's that time of year again, with Bay Crits back starting tomorrow. A deeper field than usual too, with Nathan Haas bringing Marco Haller and Alex Dowsett to race as Katusha and Caleb Ewan will be leading Lotto Soudal with Roger Kluge along with all of the usual suspects.

Word is Brenton Jones is flying ATM and wants to have a good start at Delko, while Jay McCarthy has been scalped a couple of times up here in Brisbane by the likes of Mal Rudolph and Jordan Kerby. Should be interesting.

 

[yaco]

The most surprising thing is Mitchelton Scott is not riding the Bay Crits.Ryan has been the long term sponsor of this race. Has something changed ? Anyway i suspect the criterium and RR at the Nationals will be the number one target for MS in this Australian summer, as they will find the TDU and Herald Sun Tour to be challenging

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

The most surprising thing is Mitchelton Scott is not riding the Bay Crits.Ryan has been the long term sponsor of this race. Has something changed ? Anyway i suspect the criterium and RR at the Nationals will be the number one target for MS in this Australian summer, as they will find the TDU and Herald Sun Tour to be challenging

Their riders are still racing though, just not as the trade team. Durbridge is being listed as one of the major names.

As for TDU, I'm sure Impey will be keen to defend his title. MS may not have a sprinter for it this year, but I doubt it's not a major target for them.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

Just going to shamelessly quote myself here.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/jayco-herald-sun-tour-2018/stage-2/results/

The Danes are on fire!

I'd actually been sorta joking with myself; "Haha... could be rather funny if (M) Pedersen takes the second stage. Never gonna happen though..."

LoL… and I thought a couple of stages in the Herald Sun Tour were impressive…

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

The most surprising thing is Mitchelton Scott is not riding the Bay Crits.Ryan has been the long term sponsor of this race. Has something changed ? Anyway i suspect the criterium and RR at the Nationals will be the number one target for MS in this Australian summer, as they will find the TDU and Herald Sun Tour to be challenging

Their riders are still racing though, just not as the trade team. Durbridge is being listed as one of the major names.

As for TDU, I'm sure Impey will be keen to defend his title. MS may not have a sprinter for it this year, but I doubt it's not a major target for them.

Checked and Gerry is still a secondary sponsor of the Bay Crits so it's a puzzling decision - The Bay Crits actually has a good field with Ewan,Kluge, Hansen, McCarthy, DEKort, Durbridge, Jones, Haussler, C.Scotson, Howard, Dowsett, Haas and Haller.

It will be tough for MS to sneak a stage win at the TDU, while it's possible Impey could get a podium - Sun Tour will be challenging with Porte and Sky being present - Is Heppy riding the TDU or Sun Tour

 

[42x16ss]

Amanda Spratt riding the whole field off her wheel. Peta Mullens held for a short while but Spratt looks very good.

 

[42x16ss]

All too easy for Spratt, sending a big warning for nationals. Wiasak second

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Marco Haller wins the first race of the new year. Raph Freienstein second, Miles Scotson third. Great racing!

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Caleb Ewan with a convincing win today after a lot of work by Roger Kluge.

 

[42x16ss]

Ewan again after a very aggressive race. McCarthy and Haussler in particular doing a lot. Durbridge looked super strong shedding the field, Kluge looks terrific as well.

Haller wins the series, great to see after his setbacks last year

 

[claude cat]

Criterium result at the Road Nats in Ballarat

1. 93 Brenton JONES 1h01:13
2. 27 Tristan WARD +0
3. 75 Jay MCCARTHY +0
4. 64 Cameron IVORY +0
5. 50 Theodore YATES +0
6. 10 Robert STANNARD +0
7. 99 Ben HILL +0
8. 104 Shannon JOHNSON +0
9. 116 Mathew ROSS +0
10. 11 Chris HAMILTON +0
11. 33 Sam WELSFORD +0
12. 12 Jai HINDLEY +0

And the Women's result:

1. 60 Rebecca WIASAK 1h11:50
2. 7 Sarah ROY +1
3. 63 Ruby ROSEMAN-GANNON* +1
4. 30 Matilda RAYNOLDS +1
5. 44 Lauretta HANSON +1
6. 55 Natalie REDMOND +1
7. 25 Ashlee ANKUDINOFF +1
8. 50 Tiffany CROMWELL +1
9. 36 Georgia WHITEHOUSE +1
10. 35 Emily WATTS* +1

*U23

 

[yaco]

Ewan missed the criterium and will go all out for the RR - I expect him to be aggressive towards the end of the race and he's my favorite.