Sun Tour moved to february

[brianf7]

Moving the sun tour to February.

What happens when we get tempraturs up to 47 deg in Victoria ?

We are not alowed to race if it is over 35 deg as a public health issue so will they run it at night or early morning.

Will it be a long series on criterium races or will they head up Mt Bulla and the other alpine roads That is the usual rout of the Sun Tour.

Traditionaly the raod season starts in April and ends in October for obvious reasons

People cant train properly in excessive heat riders dont get the best performances

But then again I hate the winter road season.

Any comments

 

[GPLama]

What happens when we get tempraturs up to 47 deg in Victoria ?

That is a rare event here. Temps at the Tour Down Under are usually hotter than in Victoria, with the exception of the north/north west - where its all flat and not likely to be held. Anywhere on the coast or in the hills is cooler.. 40+ days, while they do happen, they're uncommon.

Will it be a long series on criterium races or will they head up Mt Bulla and the other alpine roads That is the usual rout of the Sun Tour.

Can't see why it will change much from its usual format.

Traditionaly the raod season starts in April and ends in October for obvious reasons

People cant train properly in excessive heat riders dont get the best performances

What about in Europe? Their road season is in summer. There are tons of road events in Victoria over summer (Bright, Scotty Peoples Race, Bay Crits, Aus National Champs, track carnivals, crits almost every day of the week, etc)... yeah it gets hot but common sense prevails, people drink more.

Only thing to worry about is that we won't be able to pickup end of season bike bits the teams used to sell after the HUN tour


Lama

 

[auscyclefan94]

i'm wondering if the sun tour will get a high enough quality field?

 

[BroDeal]

We are not alowed to race if it is over 35 deg as a public health issue so will they run it at night or early morning.

WTF! I thought you Aussie blokes were supposeed to be tough.

 

[xnobrakesx]

To replace Amgen Tour of California eventually?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I've always liked the course better then the TDU, just the quality of the field has been poor imo.

 

[Nick777]

WTF! I thought you Aussie blokes were supposeed to be tough.

I won't race or train unless it is at least 35 degrees..

 

[brianf7]

Guys there is nothing tough in racing in temps above 35 deg in the hills with a raging bush fire following and heaps of bush flies trying to crawl down your ears plus mozzies biting the hell out of you.

They love the supper hydration fluid.

Then you have a lot more none cycling public on the roads.
Prefer to ride in the snow.

 

[brianf7]

I've always liked the course better then the TDU, just the quality of the field has been poor imo.

Over the years the Sun tour has had a number of good riders but the money needs to be big enough to attract pro tour teams. early days yet.

What concerns me is the total fire ban days like when we had the masters games in February last year.
the Fire authoritys stoped the racing so everyone miss out and didnt even get an entry refund.
If it is dangerous they will stop racing and that dosnt how much money is at stake or if it is a tour it will not go ahead .
We had some good one day races in the past like Melbourne to Portsea and they draw card was good but they dont do it now.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Columbia, Saxo and Garmin have shown interest to race it during Feb!

 

[beroepsrenner]

brianf7 you are a pessimist. The announcement that the suntour was moving to Feb was the best thing I have heard re the suntour ever. Only problem is its about 20 years too late for me. Your arguments against it are very feeble. Firstly 35+ degree days, while they do occur at that time of year, are not common. 30 deg is probably more the average and is no different to southern Europe where road racing is in mid summer. I remember climbing Mt Hotham in the 86 SunTour in the snow and I know which conditions I would prefer. So what if stage start times are moved to later in the day with stage finishes happening at 8pm or so. It allows more people to see the race as opposed to in the past when finishes would be at 3 or 4 pm when most people are still at work. The traditional Australian road season which has always taken place in the wet cold and windy period of the year is ******** and any move to put the important races into the summer months is a step in the right direction in my opinion.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

It's melbourne man... were almost likely to get a day off rain as we are a 35+ day

Melbourne weather FTW !

 

[beroepsrenner]

It's melbourne man... were almost likely to get a day off rain as we are a 35+ day

Melbourne weather FTW !

Despite your appalling grammer, you are absolutely correct. Racing in the rain in summer temperatures is almost enjoyable in comparison to 5 deg with a 50kph side wind to go with it. Racing in the low 30s is perfect. It just requires you to consume more water than you would at lower temps.

 

[heinkel12]

brianf7 you are a pessimist. The announcement that the suntour was moving to Feb was the best thing I have heard re the suntour ever. Only problem is its about 20 years too late for me. Your arguments against it are very feeble. Firstly 35+ degree days, while they do occur at that time of year, are not common. 30 deg is probably more the average and is no different to southern Europe where road racing is in mid summer. I remember climbing Mt Hotham in the 86 SunTour in the snow and I know which conditions I would prefer. So what if stage start times are moved to later in the day with stage finishes happening at 8pm or so. It allows more people to see the race as opposed to in the past when finishes would be at 3 or 4 pm when most people are still at work. The traditional Australian road season which has always taken place in the wet cold and windy period of the year is ******** and any move to put the important races into the summer months is a step in the right direction in my opinion.

86.....? Did Neil Stephens win that year?

 

[mherm79]

the move might encourage teams to do more training here given the Nationals are in early Jan in Ballarat, then TDU then SunTour (which UCI said will not get a license)

i think it makes more sense with the above 3 races being closer together the crowds should be stronger.

 

[Sasquatch]

They still better use the Victorian High Country or it's a crap move.

February = no big climbs or hard roads.

Do they want to make the HST another boring sprinters race like the TDU? Moving it to February effectively kills any chances of going through the High Country thus making it more sprinter friendly.

Greipel could have 10 wins by the end of February haha.

 

[laziali]

They still better use the Victorian High Country or it's a crap move.

February = no big climbs or hard roads.

Do they want to make the HST another boring sprinters race like the TDU? Moving it to February effectively kills any chances of going through the High Country thus making it more sprinter friendly.

Greipel could have 10 wins by the end of February haha.

There is some talk about the 2011 TDU having a hill-top finish of the kind that would see Greipel and friends off the back. Probably Mt Lofty. Races 3 and 4 of the Spanish season opener, Majorca Challenge, saw mountaineous roads (at least Cat. 2 climbs) this year, so it's not so controversial a move.