TDU race thread

[auscyclefan94]

What has Goss done after Milan-San Remo?

Hold your horses. Lets look at his entire season.

Post Milan San Remo
2 World Championships (Kobenhavn) R.R.
2 Tour de France, Stage 6 : Dinan - Lisieux
2 Tour de Suisse, Stage 8 : Tübach - Schaffhausen
1 Tour of California, Stage 8 : Santa Clarita - Thousand Oaks
3 Tour of California, Stage 2 : Nevada City - Sacramento

1 Milano - Sanremo

Before Milan San Remo
1 Paris - Nice, Stage 3 : Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire - Nuits-Saint-Georges
2 Paris - Nice, Stage 2 : Montfort-l’Amaury - Amilly
3 Tour of Oman, Stage 3 : Sur - Sur 5
Leader Tour of Oman, Stage 2 : Muscat - Al Wutayya
1 Tour of Oman, Stage 2 : Muscat - Al Wutayya
1 Tour Down Under, Points classification 40
2 Tour Down Under 180
3 Tour Down Under, Stage 6 : Adelaide City Circuit
3 Tour Down Under, Stage 5 : McLaren Vale - Willunga
5 Tour Down Under, Stage 4 : Norwood - Strathalbyn
3 Tour Down Under, Stage 3 : Unley - Stirling
1 Tour Down Under, Stage 1 : Mawson Lakes - Angaston
1 Tour Down Under, Criterium : Cancer Council Classic
2 National Championships Australia (Buninyong) R.R.

Yes he didn't do that much after Milan San Remo, but even so his results will still pretty good afeter MSR. I think theyoungest is right in saying it is a good race to kick off the season to get one into form going into the classics.

 

[Anonymous]

Hold your horses. Lets look at his entire season.

Eight and a half months - Mid March to October
2 World Championships (Kobenhavn) R.R.
2 Tour de France, Stage 6 : Dinan - Lisieux
2 Tour de Suisse, Stage 8 : Tübach - Schaffhausen
1 Tour of California, Stage 8 : Santa Clarita - Thousand Oaks
3 Tour of California, Stage 2 : Nevada City - Sacramento

1 Milano - Sanremo

Two and a half months - January to Mid March
1 Paris - Nice, Stage 3 : Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire - Nuits-Saint-Georges
2 Paris - Nice, Stage 2 : Montfort-l’Amaury - Amilly
3 Tour of Oman, Stage 3 : Sur - Sur 5
Leader Tour of Oman, Stage 2 : Muscat - Al Wutayya
1 Tour of Oman, Stage 2 : Muscat - Al Wutayya
1 Tour Down Under, Points classification 40
2 Tour Down Under 180
3 Tour Down Under, Stage 6 : Adelaide City Circuit
3 Tour Down Under, Stage 5 : McLaren Vale - Willunga
5 Tour Down Under, Stage 4 : Norwood - Strathalbyn
3 Tour Down Under, Stage 3 : Unley - Stirling
1 Tour Down Under, Stage 1 : Mawson Lakes - Angaston
1 Tour Down Under, Criterium : Cancer Council Classic
2 National Championships Australia (Buninyong) R.R.

Yes he didn't do that much after Milan San Remo, but even so his results will still pretty good afeter MSR. I think theyoungest is right in saying it is a good race to kick off the season to get one into form going into the classics.

ive fixed it for you.

 

[theyoungest]

What has Goss done after Milan-San Remo?

Good to see that you agree with me about this being particularly good training, to such an extent that you can win MSR on a wave of form carried from the TDU.

 

[El Pistolero]

Good to see that you agree with me about this being particularly good training, to such an extent that you can win MSR on a wave of form carried from the TDU.

If half the peloton gets taken out.

My point was that TDU is very early in the season and you can risk peaking too early. As we all know, there's only one winner in MSR and lot's of cyclists entering TDU

If you're a classics star you're better off starting your season at Qatar/Oman/Challenge Mallorca/Algarve

 

[greenedge]

CN said all the Sky Aussie contingent would come down. That's not true as Richie Porte is not. I'm also surprised with no Cav. He's probably scared he'll lose to Goss/ Renshaw/ Greipel. Why no Swift as well???

EBH could win but Goss did show at M-SR that he stayed with a select group of a Gt winner, previous WC in Ballan, Gilbert, Cancellara, a rider who finished 2nd at the Giro, Pozzato and ( 1 more who i forgot )

 

[greenedge]

What has Goss done after Milan-San Remo?

He still had good early season form.

Won at California.
Came 2nd at the WC and a TDF stage. That is quite big. EBH disappeared in Canada and the WC.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If half the peloton gets taken out.

My point was that TDU is very early in the season and you can risk peaking too early. As we all know, there's only one winner in MSR and lot's of cyclists entering TDU

If you're a classics star you're better off starting your season at Qatar/Oman/Challenge Mallorca/Algarve

LOL, there were plenty of sprinters that weren't stuck at the back. Cav was one of the sprinters caught out alongside Thor although he still beat guys like Ventoso, Petacchi, Bennati & Rojas. He also beat your boy Gilbert, Cancellara, Scarponi, Nibali & Pozzato. Don't be a tool. Goss is a world class rider and he earnt that victory so please do not imply that he won due to the crash.

 

[El Pistolero]

LOL, there were plenty of sprinters that weren't stuck at the back. Cav was one of the sprinters caught out alongside Thor although he still beat guys like Ventoso, Petacchi, Bennati & Rojas. He also beat your boy Gilbert, Cancellara, Scarponi, Nibali & Pozzato. Don't be a tool. Goss is a world class rider and he earnt that victory so please do not imply that he won due to the crash.

He beat Gilbert and Cancellara in a sprint while both weren't even in top shape? Wow, impressive. Except these guys aren't sprinters...

He won because of the crash, that's kind of obvious. Doesn't make it less well earned, but it still makes it a win because of the crash. Thor Hushovd, Cavendish, Oscar Freire all taken out because of a crash. Boonen was sick during T-A, so that was also a competitor less. Greipel had a nasty crash during T-A, so again a competitor less...

This is a sprinter classic and all sprinters got taken out except old man Petacchi, Rojas(who barely ever wins) and Bennati(who isn't even a pure sprinter).

To say that big crash wasn't a factor at all is totally ridiculous. You also seem to forget that Scarponi came back from the second peloton and wasted a lot of energy he could have used to attack on the Poggio instead. Easily the strongest man in the race.

 

[Tuarts]

4 months to go. Till the start of the season that is

I wasn't talking in a pretentious euro-snob timeframe.

 

[daveinzambia]

Right, not certain that this is the best place to post this but it is starting to look like i may have a chance to come down to Adelaide to watch the race for 3 or 4 days next year.

My wifes best friend moved there this year and is heading to Sydney that week for her birthday and has said she is happy for me to ehad the other way and stay in her flat for a few days during the race.

would probably be there from 18th to 22nd.

Question is how easy is the race to watch. Currently likely to be staying fairly central in Adelaide without access to a car or bike. Is it going to be easy to see some racing? is it going to be worth coming down. will it be worth hiring a car to get around to see the races or should i just find somewhere to hire a bike (given that 50-60 km's is my usual ride limit)

anyone able to give some advice as i know nothing about Adelaide or the race route. seems like too good a chance to give up.

 

[theyoungest]

He beat Gilbert and Cancellara in a sprint while both weren't even in top shape? Wow, impressive. Except these guys aren't sprinters...

Have you seen the Worlds? Cancellara has certainly worked on his sprinting.

Gilbert indeed isn't that quick anymore, as was evidenced in San Remo. Now as for the other names you mention... Boonen: LOL. Hushovd, Freire: usually not quicker than Goss, maybe after 300 km but Goss can evidently handle that distance as well. Cav: totally out of form there.

 

[craig1985]

He beat Gilbert and Cancellara in a sprint while both weren't even in top shape? Wow, impressive. Except these guys aren't sprinters...

He won because of the crash, that's kind of obvious. Doesn't make it less well earned, but it still makes it a win because of the crash. Thor Hushovd, Cavendish, Oscar Freire all taken out because of a crash. Boonen was sick during T-A, so that was also a competitor less. Greipel had a nasty crash during T-A, so again a competitor less...

This is a sprinter classic and all sprinters got taken out except old man Petacchi, Rojas(who barely ever wins) and Bennati(who isn't even a pure sprinter).

To say that big crash wasn't a factor at all is totally ridiculous. You also seem to forget that Scarponi came back from the second peloton and wasted a lot of energy he could have used to attack on the Poggio instead. Easily the strongest man in the race.

It's there own fault they weren't up at the front of the peloton, likewise it was Contador's fault he got caught twice with two crashes in the opening week. As much of a **** that he is, if there is one thing you could credit Armstrong is that he was able to stay right near the front of the peloton and never get caught out by crashes, like Evans did this year.

 

[rgmerk]

Right, not certain that this is the best place to post this but it is starting to look like i may have a chance to come down to Adelaide to watch the race for 3 or 4 days next year.


Question is how easy is the race to watch. Currently likely to be staying fairly central in Adelaide without access to a car or bike. Is it going to be easy to see some racing? is it going to be worth coming down. will it be worth hiring a car to get around to see the races or should i just find somewhere to hire a bike (given that 50-60 km's is my usual ride limit)

The two circuit races (the warmup crit and the last stage) are right in the middle of town so at a minimum you should be able to see both of those.

Willunga (the hilltop finish stage 5) is about 50 km out of town, maybe a bit far if you only want to ride 50 km per day.

Other stages are closer. However, be warned - it can be *extremely* hot in Adelaide at that time of year. Even if I had a bike, I'd be tempted to take a car out to watch the race, simply so I could bring shade.

Obviously, bike hire at that time of year needs to be arranged in advance!

Anyway, you'd be crazy not to go and have a look. Have fun!

 

[maltiv]

Sean Yates says EBH will not go for the GC. He won't even be going for the sprints and will primarily lead out Sutton. Makes me wonder why on earth he even wants to go here when it's evidently not even good training. But knowing Edvald, he usually starts the season in surprisingly good shape (see Oman this year), so who knows. One thing's for sure...Rogers won't win the GC.

Sorry for quoting myself but I was just randomly checking out the Sky page on facebook and noticed that someone named Dominic had copied this post and posted it there. Now that's just weird...

 

[El Pistolero]

It's there own fault they weren't up at the front of the peloton, likewise it was Contador's fault he got caught twice with two crashes in the opening week. As much of a **** that he is, if there is one thing you could credit Armstrong is that he was able to stay right near the front of the peloton and never get caught out by crashes, like Evans did this year.

Where am I stating otherwise?

But to say Goss didn't win because of the crash is a totally ridiculous statement. His win was a fair one and he worked hard for it, but the race would have been totally different if it wasn't for that crash. I genuinely believe Oscar Freire could have won without the crash(the form was still there this year as he showed in the Amstel Gold Race).

You can't count every year on half the peloton being taken out by a crash. A win is more prestigious if the competition was stronger. That's a fact.



My point is, TDU is too early for a classics star and they're better off starting their season at Qatar-Oman, Tour Méditerranéen or Challenge Mallorca-Algarve.

 

[hatcher]

Sorry for quoting myself but I was just randomly checking out the Sky page on facebook and noticed that someone named Dominic had copied this post and posted it there. Now that's just weird...

Very odd. For a while I actually thought you were Dominic, but his positive posts about Kennaugh made me change my mind.

 

[El Pistolero]

Have you seen the Worlds? Cancellara has certainly worked on his sprinting.

Gilbert indeed isn't that quick anymore, as was evidenced in San Remo. Now as for the other names you mention... Boonen: LOL. Hushovd, Freire: usually not quicker than Goss, maybe after 300 km but Goss can evidently handle that distance as well. Cav: totally out of form there.

Yeah, what could Boonen ever do in top shape at San-Remo, silly me

Thor Hushovd looked strong, very strong. I've never seen him so strong in the spring races as a matter of fact. And yeah, Cancellara is definitely fast, he came very close to Goss for not being a sprinter

So who knows what could have happened if Oscar Freire and Thor Hushovd were still there. I doubt they'd get dropped on the Poggio.

 

[Ferminal]

Where am I stating otherwise?

But to say Goss didn't win because of the crash is a totally ridiculous statement. His win was a fair one and he worked hard for it, but the race would have been totally different if it wasn't for that crash. I genuinely believe Oscar Freire could have won without the crash(the form was still there this year as he showed in the Amstel Gold Race).

You can't count every year on half the peloton being taken out by a crash. A win is more prestigious if the competition was stronger. That's a fact.



My point is, TDU is too early for a classics star and they're better off starting their season at Qatar-Oman, Tour Méditerranéen or Challenge Mallorca-Algarve.

It would have been easier for Goss to win a 30 man sprint having his team control the race. Petacchi and Bennati are perhaps the only ones who more than likely would have made it and had the speed to trouble Goss. Like anyone expected Goss to survive in the very small group with dozens of monuments between them.

Edit: Forgot Greipel, but Phil probably would have made him sacrifice even in a normal situation

 

[just some guy]

Where am I stating otherwise?

But to say Goss didn't win because of the crash is a totally ridiculous statement. His win was a fair one and he worked hard for it, but the race would have been totally different if it wasn't for that crash. I genuinely believe Oscar Freire could have won without the crash(the form was still there this year as he showed in the Amstel Gold Race).

You can't count every year on half the peloton being taken out by a crash. A win is more prestigious if the competition was stronger. That's a fact.



My point is, TDU is too early for a classics star and they're better off starting their season at Qatar-Oman, Tour Méditerranéen or Challenge Mallorca-Algarve.

Depends a lot on the European winter bad cold snow filled winter a good place to start - ie Living in Norway perfect for EBH/BFA.

 

[El Pistolero]

Depends a lot on the European winter bad cold snow filled winter a good place to start - ie Living in Norway perfect for EBH/BFA.

That's true I guess, but a classics star shouldn't be spending his winter in Norway anyway

 

[auscyclefan94]

BMC for Tour Down Under: Ballan, Roe, Blythe, Van Avermaet, Burghardt, Kohler, Quinziato

Really good team!

If only I were going to the race

EDIT: Here's the official release http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/33759/BMC-Racing-Team-confirmed-for-TDU

 

[Tuarts]

Geez, on form you'd expect 5 of them to have a shot at the GC...instead it will probably be all for Roe.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/haussler-to-lead-garmin-cervelo-at-tour-down-under

"Heinrich Haussler will be the team's leader and he will have Robbie Hunter and Jack Bauer with him in the sprints. Ryder Hesjedal will be there help out on the Willunga stage. Also, Nathan Haas, Martijn Maaskant and of course team leader Andreas Klier."

 

[gustienordic]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/haussler-to-lead-garmin-cervelo-at-tour-down-under

"Heinrich Haussler will be the team's leader and he will have Robbie Hunter and Jack Bauer with him in the sprints. Ryder Hesjedal will be there help out on the Willunga stage. Also, Nathan Haas, Martijn Maaskant and of course team leader Andreas Klier."

I'm excited to see what Haussler can do. I don't think they have given him very much free reign and its too bad, because I think he is a great rider. I would like to see him start focusing on the classics a little more. TDU, an attempt to get early season form?

 

[Tragic]

Spectating TDU

Right, not certain that this is the best place to post this but it is starting to look like i may have a chance to come down to Adelaide to watch the race for 3 or 4 days next year.

My wifes best friend moved there this year and is heading to Sydney that week for her birthday and has said she is happy for me to ehad the other way and stay in her flat for a few days during the race.

would probably be there from 18th to 22nd.

Question is how easy is the race to watch. Currently likely to be staying fairly central in Adelaide without access to a car or bike. Is it going to be easy to see some racing? is it going to be worth coming down. will it be worth hiring a car to get around to see the races or should i just find somewhere to hire a bike (given that 50-60 km's is my usual ride limit)

anyone able to give some advice as i know nothing about Adelaide or the race route. seems like too good a chance to give up.

Classic and Final stage in the city, easy. All the starts (except this year Lobethal) are in nearby suburbs. First finish is in Clare, hard to get to without a car, as are finishes in Victor Harbor and Tanunda (but there are busses, check on the TDU website). No doubt the best spectating stage is Willunga. You can take your bike on the train to Noarlunga and ride from there. Other responder is right about the possibility of heat.

Hope that helps, see you there!