Robbie McEwan - Cycling Australia

[Night Rider]

Question for the Aussies: Is riding the Vuelta this year an advantage? And how long should it take for the European riders to get used to the climate in Geelong?

I live in Melbourne but don't call me an Aussie lol

The World Champ usually rides the Vuelta. This year won't be an exception.

Depends what the weather is like on the day. They might arrive and it be calm and warm for a week, then blow like hell and be freezing on the day of the race. If it's any consolation we have been getting the really cold and windy days out of the way over the last week or so, hopefuuly.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Davis still has the Vuelta to prepare for WC. And as he says himself: "another 204km in the legs just backed it off and got the Km's in. Very happy with my preperation which ended today" (22/08)
I think Davis is a good choice for WC.

I thought Gerrans' whole season was built towards this WC, so blaming him for not a good season should be done after the WC...

Surprised to see Cooke though, why not Lloyd or Lancaster?

Question for the Aussies: Is riding the Vuelta this year an advantage? And how long should it take for the European riders to get used to the climate in Geelong?

Bannan's reasoning for including Cooke is a joke which says it is a personality contest for some spots. Some riders you just have to include. The worlds are supposedly are week later this year so the vuelta riders will have a bigger gap from racing than usual.

Gerrans has won GT stages on courses like Geelong, it suits him perfectly which is why he is a co-leader, and he has the whole Vuelta to get into winning form again. His accident was bad luck not bad riding.

Porte has won an ITT stage at pro level, that’s all. And that’s why he’s doing the Time Trial at the WC’s. If he was in the road team it would be at the expense of a rider other than Gerrans.

Yes but gerrans won stages in GT"s in breakaways where he wasn't going head to head with the top guys of the wins he had in those races. I am not saying he is not that good but peopple do overrate him imo on how good his sprinting and "punchyness" on climbs is.

 

[Nearly]

From the Cervelo site ...

"It would have been a dream to start on home soil but I am not ready yet. My main focus is now already on next season, where I want to perform well again in my favourite spring classic races."

Was also confirmed by his dad in an article here that he (HH) said he wasn't fit before the final decision, and took himself out of the running.

OK thanks. I suspect there was a fair amount of interaction with the selectors post 21 (and pre 21) August which led to this conclusion especially if more 5 hour rides like the one he referred to in his blog were not showing marked improvement.

 

[Sasquatch]

I won't presume to answer for Ferminal but I think he was being very serious - Porte has had an excellent year whilst Gerro has not.

Gerro can win the World's. Porte cannot. That's why Gerro is in.

 

[karlboss]

Gerro can win the World's. Porte cannot. That's why Gerro is in.

Gerrans can win the worlds. Based on what? Top 10's in the Ardennes (never looked a threat to win IMO), stage wins at tour's? It would take more luck than exists.

Rogers is more likely to win than Gerrans.

 

[Archibald]

Yes but gerrans won stages in GT"s in breakaways where he wasn't going head to head with the top guys of the wins he had in those races.

is this what they're planning to do with him, perhaps? another option?

 

[karlboss]

is this what they're planning to do with him, perhaps? another option?

I think the point was a GT breakaway is not the same as winning a one day in the break. In a one day race, everyone wants to win or see a teammate win, in a GT stage some want to win or see a team mate win...some want to save themselves and the team for another day, others don't want to lose time on GC or help their teammates not lose time on GC.

It is tougher to win a classic than a stage of a GT.

 

[Sasquatch]

Rogers is in the team, no?

In anycase, Porte can't win. It's not a course for him. So why would they take out other options that could win, for Porte, who has never won an elite road stage? Winning a time trial means nothing in regards to winning a 250km+ stage. It's not a course for Porte, so why select him? And someone will answer for grunt work and I will reply to that now saying, there are other riders capable of that.

In summary, Gerrans is more capable of winning on this course than Porte. It needs a hell of a lot more climbing for Porte to even be a contender.

 

[karlboss]

How many winners should be on a team? I would think Goss, Davis, Evans...the I have little problem with gerrans being picked over porte, he is not a potential winner though.

 

[Sasquatch]

LOL Davis?

The guy can't win races anymore. I have no idea why he was selected but it wasn't for a win, that's for sure. He hasn't done anything to warrant being a leader. Thirds, fourths etc are not good enough.

The chances are Evans, Goss and Gerrans. That's it. If Porte should be in the team for anyone, it's Davis. And McEwen should be in for Cooke.

 

[karlboss]

LOL Davis?

The guy can't win races anymore. I have no idea why he was selected but it wasn't for a win, that's for sure. He hasn't done anything to warrant being a leader. Thirds, fourths etc are not good enough.

The chances are Evans, Goss and Gerrans. That's it. If Porte should be in the team for anyone, it's Davis. And McEwen should be in for Cooke.

Some people have mentioned Davis as a winner, I share your opinion on him. I can't for the life of me think of a reason he is there. Still Gerrans is no winner on this course. Unless he makes the early break and it stays away, does that ever happen at worlds?

McEwen for Cooke, as a domestique is he good enough?

 

[Nearly]

LOL Davis?

The guy can't win races anymore. I have no idea why he was selected but it wasn't for a win, that's for sure. He hasn't done anything to warrant being a leader. Thirds, fourths etc are not good enough.

The chances are Evans, Goss and Gerrans. That's it. If Porte should be in the team for anyone, it's Davis. And McEwen should be in for Cooke.

I agree and have previously suggested those two should not be there. Cycling Australia is on the defensive both about Davisand Cooke.

 

[danjo007]

last year the aussies were working for gerrans, and he was "supposed" to be the man. cadel was the wild card. look how that ended up. NO aussie domestiques left, gerrans flagging and cadel happened to "luck" it at the very correct moment, while the italians were ***** fighting .
gotta admit tho, that gerrans is best suited, but i doubt he'll podium.

 

[Sasquatch]

Some people have mentioned Davis as a winner, I share your opinion on him. I can't for the life of me think of a reason he is there. Still Gerrans is no winner on this course. Unless he makes the early break and it stays away, does that ever happen at worlds?

McEwen for Cooke, as a domestique is he good enough?

All Gerrans needs to do is attack on the second to last climb on the last lap. Have three to six riders with him. Then wheel suck and outsprint them at the line. That's how he would win on the course, if he won.

That's how the race will be won. No one will solo away. The pace will be heavy on the laps then a small group will get away featuring all the major countries that are left and then no one will really chase unless one country has good representation and missed the break but the countries will block their chase anyway.

It wont' be won in a big bunch sprint or a bunch of 20+ riders. It will be a select group of 3-8 riders.

 

[Nick C.]

All Gerrans needs to do is attack on the second to last climb on the last lap. Have three to six riders with him. Then wheel suck and outsprint them at the line. That's how he would win on the course, if he won.

That's how the race will be won. No one will solo away. The pace will be heavy on the laps then a small group will get away featuring all the major countries that are left and then no one will really chase unless one country has good representation and missed the break but the countries will block their chase anyway.

It wont' be won in a big bunch sprint or a bunch of 20+ riders. It will be a select group of 3-8 riders.

So you are suggesting a Ballan situation. The thing is he will be with Spain, Belgium, Italy's #2 or 3 guys ... it seems unlikely he will figure for for that matter be there essentially he is Voekleresque which is good but limited.

as for the McEwen situation everyone is missing the elephant in the room, namely if McEwen is in at the finish then he ain't winning b/c Cav will be there and frankly top 5 would be a stretch based on his GT results this year. To be honest if he couldn't make the selection in Madrid with its "McEwen corner" in 2005 what makes you think 5 years older and no longer near the peak of his powers he will do so here and a domestique type he ain't and even if he was there are other guys who would be better suited, hence Cooke et. al.

 

[irideredthebike]

Robbie was very critical of the Australian Nationals course earlier this year because it involved several laps of a circuit with a particularly steep hill each lap. See article, http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cyclists-hit-out-at-nationals-course-20100109-lzzh.html

Maybe he ruled himself out by saying that he is not well suited to this type of course.

 

[hrotha]

Robbie was very critical of the Australian Nationals course earlier this year because it involved several laps of a circuit with a particularly steep hill each lap. See article, http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cyclists-hit-out-at-nationals-course-20100109-lzzh.html

Maybe he ruled himself out by saying that he is not well suited to this type of course.

Brown said he is not well suited to the course, McEwen didn't say that. He won the Australian national championship in that course after all.

 

[taiwan]

Robbie was very critical of the Australian Nationals course earlier this year because it involved several laps of a circuit with a particularly steep hill each lap. See article, http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cyclists-hit-out-at-nationals-course-20100109-lzzh.html

Maybe he ruled himself out by saying that he is not well suited to this type of course.

He does specifically suggest the National Champs should be held at Geelong instead, though.

 

[Night Rider]

Brown said he is not well suited to the course, McEwen didn't say that. He won the Australian national championship in that course after all.

They both said it. McEwen won on a different course. It was in Ballarat but not the same circuit, or number of circuits.

 

[irideredthebike]

Brown said he is not well suited to the course, McEwen didn't say that. He won the Australian national championship in that course after all.

The article probably isn't the best source, but I couldn't anything else via a quick search. McEwan was quite critical of the course, as well as non-Australians competing, at the time.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Robbie was very critical of the Australian Nationals course earlier this year because it involved several laps of a circuit with a particularly steep hill each lap. See article, http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cyclists-hit-out-at-nationals-course-20100109-lzzh.html

Maybe he ruled himself out by saying that he is not well suited to this type of course.

Bunninyong would be a good worlds circuit

All Gerrans needs to do is attack on the second to last climb on the last lap. Have three to six riders with him. Then wheel suck and outsprint them at the line. That's how he would win on the course, if he won.

That's how the race will be won. No one will solo away. The pace will be heavy on the laps then a small group will get away featuring all the major countries that are left and then no one will really chase unless one country has good representation and missed the break but the countries will block their chase anyway.

It wont' be won in a big bunch sprint or a bunch of 20+ riders. It will be a select group of 3-8 riders.

Gerrans does not have the punch on the climbs. Does anyone have any references of him riding away from a group on a climb of a one day race.

Gerro can win the World's. Porte cannot. That's why Gerro is in.

Gerro can win the worlds? I highly doubt that. With this course and the team we have, the only chance is evans but I am not sure how good his form will be. Goss did well in Plouay but I doubt he will last the distance with the lead guys on this circuit.