Hot racing coming up in Australia

[RedheadDane]

Meanwhile, the city of Sterling commemorated Uttrups win last year by putting down a marker, and... taking a picture with the Trek riders...

I'm... confused about that last bit.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Meanwhile, the city of Sterling commemorated Uttrups win last year by putting down a marker, and... taking a picture with the Trek riders...

I'm... confused about that last bit.

I came here to post that, cause I found it funny, too. Well I guess they had to pick a team that was there, but they could also have taken a picture of that TDU bus with her face on it.

 

[RedheadDane]

And of course, much more of a connection here:

(For those who don't know, to dive into the gossipy stuff, she and Miles Scotson recently got engaged.)

 

[Samu Cuenca]

And of course, much more of a connection here:

(For those who don't know, to dive into the gossipy stuff, she and Miles Scotson recently got engaged.)

Poor guy's still getting upstaged by her even when she's 16.000 km away

 

[awavey]

heres the offending photo https://www.ahc.sa.gov.au/community...wn-under-walk-of-fame-in-stirling-main-street

youd have thought they could have called Grace to sort of officially mark it, at least she had links with the team, and has a part of the path noting her win there too.

 

[stefank]

Stage 2 results:

Distance : 115.000 km
Time of the winner: 3h10'03"
Average : 36.306 km/h
RESULTS 2
Health Partners Women's Stage 2: Unley to Willunga Hill
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2025

1 93 RÜEGG Noemi +00 EFO SUI B:10"
2 36 SMULDERS Silke +10" LIV NED B:06"
3 123 OTTESTAD Mie Bjørndal +26" UXM NOR B:04"
4 21 BRADBURY Neve ' ' CSZ AUS
5 66 WLODARCZYK Dominika ' ' UAD POL
6 1 GHEKIERE Justine ' ' AGS BEL
7 51 CHABBEY Elise ' ' TFS SUI
8 44 SPRATT Amanda +29" LTK AUS
9 46 FISHER-BLACK Niamh +35" LTK NZL
10 6 VAN DE VELDE Julie +39"

 

[Samu Cuenca]

One should apparently never underestimate the power of early season Rüegg.

 

[Mina.S]

One should apparently never underestimate the power of early season Rüegg.

Rüegg had a pretty good Olympics and Worlds champs too.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Welsford about to clean up as the only proper sprinter doing tdu, though Henri looks super promising. Brennan is fast, there’s more to him than that as well, I’m hoping he is sent to opening weekend, even if it’s just to support.

Crash sounded bad, hopefully no proper injuries.

Edit: Onley's power data in the break, should be about 62kg? flying.

 

[yaco]

Willunga Hill is a power climb so suits climber types who can grind their way up the hill. It is also harder than the profile indicates and you need t0 be patient. Anyway, the Stirling circuit is challenging, so there could be changes in the GC.

 

[tobydawq]

Welsford about to clean up as the only proper sprinter doing tdu, though Henri looks super promising. Brennan is fast, there’s more to him than that as well, I’m hoping he is sent to opening weekend, even if it’s just to support.

Crash sounded bad, hopefully no proper injuries.

Henri?

Ah, got it, I wasn't caught up with the crit but can see that the only Henri in the race (Uhlig) was second there.

 

[awavey]

Willunga Hill is a power climb so suits climber types who can grind their way up the hill. It is also harder than the profile indicates and you need t0 be patient. Anyway, the Stirling circuit is challenging, so there could be changes in the GC.

thats why Id expected Chabbey to take that stage if Im honest, though I know she's said she isnt in top form for this race, I think she described it as "enough form", which yeah there are bigger mountains to climb later in the season and was in the bunch contesting for podium spot, and got a top 10, isnt a bad result by any means.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

That was a good watch for the last 20km: don't think anyone could have made a confident prediction of podium places at any point. I really didn't expect the group of 11 at 10km remaining to get caught (until Dygert did Dygert things)

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Rüegg had a pretty good Olympics and Worlds champs too.

Sure, her whole season was great, which I hadn't foreseen at all. But like this one it started out with a big result that wasn't expected. Now the question is if this is proof that she's raised her level even further.

 

[yaco]

Sure, her whole season was great, which I hadn't foreseen at all. But like this one it started out with a big result that wasn't expected. Now the question is if this is proof that she's raised her level even further.

Think that Ruegg and Smulders were at a similar level in 2024. Knew that Smulders would perform well, so it stands to chance that Ruegg would be at a good level. Tomorrow could be a tricky day for Ruegg to secure the jersey.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Think that Ruegg and Smulders were at a similar level in 2024. Knew that Smulders would perform well, so it stands to chance that Ruegg would be at a good level. Tomorrow could be a tricky day for Ruegg to secure the jersey.

Not that Smulders didn't also have a fine 2024 as well, but she wasn't quite on Rüegg's level.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Not really a big fight for the GC, but a dominant sprint from Dygert at the end.

 

[yaco]

It was pleasing that Dygert got the win as she has been the outstanding rider in this race, which augurs well for the future. The two strongest GC riders came 2nd and 3rd behind Dygert in today's stage.

I don't think there was much difference in the level of Ruegg and Smulders in 2024 when you consider the different roles they perform in their team. Anyway lets see how they perform in 2025.

 

[Mina.S]

It was pleasing that Dygert got the win as she has been the outstanding rider in this race, which augurs well for the future. The two strongest GC riders came 2nd and 3rd behind Dygert in today's stage.

I don't think there was much difference in the level of Ruegg and Smulders in 2024 when you consider the different roles they perform in their team. Anyway lets see how they perform in 2025.

I am really not a Dygert fan but I appreciate that Canyon seemed to be the team working the hardest to get her a win.

Smulders should have a good season but I think there will be more pressure on her to perform than in '24 because of the composition of the team. Fisher-Black was a bit disappointing but I have never been sure how well she would perform as a leader.

 

[pastronef]

YESSSSS DYGERT!

 

[Mina.S]

Also happy for Polites. Hopefully she can get back into some good form.

 

[yaco]

Also happy for Polites. Hopefully she can get back into some good form.

She's been awful in her two years notwithstanding injuries/illnesses. She could not finish races whether it was with Liv Alula in 2023 or the Conti team in 2024. And the only time she featured at the front of a race she punctured in the last 5 kms in a small group. Green Edge cycling made a mistake in signing her off a third place in the National Women's RR in 2022 when she needed to ride for a conti team or even a club team in Europe. Anyway, she will need to find her way back to europe this year for racing.

 

[Mina.S]

She's been awful in her two years notwithstanding injuries/illnesses. She could not finish races whether it was with Liv Alula in 2023 or the Conti team in 2024. And the only time she featured at the front of a race she punctured in the last 5 kms in a small group. Green Edge cycling made a mistake in signing her off a third place in the National Women's RR in 2022 when she needed to ride for a conti team or even a club team in Europe. Anyway, she will need to find her way back to europe this year for racing.

I think she has a lot of room for improvement, she is only 21. It was way too young to sign her but having long covid and a serious crash with a ruptured spleen kind of derailed her last few years. I hope she can get a second chance if she can sort herself out.

 

[Andy262]

Dygert looks to be in great form. I’d love to see her ride Roubaix. I don’t think she ever has but it should really suit her. With Backstedt Canyon have good options there.

 

[yaco]

With no commitments we should see Dygert's true level in 2025. It will be an interesting watch.