Tour Down Under Stage 2: Lobethal - Stirling 148km

[maltiv]

Dont discount EBH.

If he were to win the GC he'd need to have some seconds on Gerrans already, whilst it's actually the other way around. Edvald won't get any more bonus seconds throughout the race because Sky will go for Sutton in the sprints. There's no way he can beat Gerrans up Willunga with the form he currently has.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If he were to win the GC he'd need to have some seconds on Gerrans already, whilst it's actually the other way around. Edvald won't get any more bonus seconds throughout the race because Sky will go for Sutton in the sprints. There's no way he can beat Gerrans up Willunga with the form he currently has.

+1 - I think this is Gerrans' race to lose.

So it was still a 70 man bunch sprint, extra lap didn't really do anything tangible to the end result then.

Can we consider Matthews "one of the best" in a moderate uphill finish yet?

Yeah, even with the really tough stage before hand and the really fast pace in the last lap. Seems to be limited on what you can do on the Stirling circuit.

Stage 2: Kohler in the lead - BMC racing

Vebrugghe's tatics were quite smart today. Lets hope Kohler can rejuvanate tommorow and ong friday so he can stick with the leaders. He's not bad on the hills so I think a top 5 on gc is still possible.

 

[will10]

+1 - I think this is Gerrans' race to lose.


Yeah, even with the really tough stage before hand and the really fast pace in the last lap. Seems to be limited on what you can do on the Stirling circuit.

Stage 2: Kohler in the lead - BMC racing

Vebrugghe's tatics were quite smart today. Lets hope Kohler can rejuvanate tommorow and ong friday so he can stick with the leaders. He's not bad on the hills so I think a top 5 on gc is still possible.

Don't get too ahead of yourself, there were still 65 guys there in the final.

 

[Kvinto]

yep, it did not reduce the bunch, but it made ALL pure sprinters lose, so it is still a decent profile

 

[auscyclefan94]

Don't get too ahead of yourself, there were still 65 guys there in the final.

That's what I am saying, silly! Even with the tough stage yesterday and the hard pace in the last 1.5 laps it still resulted in a large group at the finish. Ultimately I am agreeing with you.

I am going to make stage 3's thread now.

 

[Kvinto]

I am going to make stage 3's thread now.

better make a thread about The Big Willunga Showdown 'Gerrans vs Valverde'

 

[will10]

That's what I am saying, silly! Even with the tough stage yesterday and the hard pace in the last 1.5 laps it still resulted in a large group at the finish. Ultimately I am agreeing with you.

I am going to make stage 3's thread now.

Ah sorry, I thought you were replying to the "Matthews best uphill sprinter" part of the post you quoted, not the "70 guys together at the finish" part

It's a decent enough stage as a first selection.

 

[theyoungest]

Hey Edvald, speed up a little.

 

[Kwibus]

Hey Edvald, speed up a little.

It's early January, but Matthews is clearly very good at these finishes. I really hope he is able to show his form later during the season as well. Last year he kinda faded the further we got into the season.

 

[theyoungest]

It's early January, but Matthews is clearly very good at these finishes. I really hope he is able to show his form later during the season as well. Last year he kinda faded the further we got into the season.

Yeah, I read he's taking a different approach this year, with an Aussie trainer who will follow him more closely. He did indeed fade a bit last year, maybe he really is the new Freire including the laziness.

That being said, he also didn't appear in a lot of big races, and when he did the support he got in the final kilometres was minimal.

 

[auscyclefan94]

For his 1st season he had a pretty darn good season. No surprise he faded imo

 

[Ferminal]

Depends if he's going to be a sprinter only on the harder finishes and leadout the rest of the time. IMO they need to show some faith in his flat sprinting which may give him confidence and help him to improve in all areas.

 

[theyoungest]

Depends if he's going to be a sprinter only on the harder finishes and leadout the rest of the time. IMO they need to show some faith in his flat sprinting which may give him confidence and help him to approve in all areas.

Absolutely. I think he's actually very quick in flat sprints as well, and I hope he gets the chance to prove that in the coming days, with Renshaw leading him out.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Absolutely. I think he's actually very quick in flat sprints as well, and I hope he gets the chance to prove that in the coming days, with Renshaw leading him out.

LOL, Renshaw back to leadout duties.

 

[theyoungest]

LOL, Renshaw back to leadout duties.

I said that's what I hoped, probably they'll still try to get Renshaw up there for the "win".

 

[El Pistolero]

And why didn't Rabo work for Matthews if he was capable of that today? One man should have been easy to pull back...

 

[auscyclefan94]

And why didn't Rabo work for Matthews if he was capable of that today? One man should have been easy to pull back...

I haven't seen the highlights yet but I think the peloton ultimately stuffed around and Movistar just wanted to send riders up the road for a while instead of riding.

 

[maltiv]

And why didn't Rabo work for Matthews if he was capable of that today? One man should have been easy to pull back...

Well, Rabobank has never been known for their brilliant tactics...

 

[theyoungest]

The teams misjudged the final circuit a bit, I think. There was little room for them to work together to catch the break, it was too technical for that. A few k of climbing and then a long descent.

Lol @ Rabo getting the blame for this, El Pistolero again I gather?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Well it was Eddy Merckx (Kelderman) for Rabobank who was on the front chasing. I think Rabo did everything right

 

[Kwibus]

Yeah, I read he's taking a different approach this year, with an Aussie trainer who will follow him more closely. He did indeed fade a bit last year, maybe he really is the new Freire including the laziness.

That being said, he also didn't appear in a lot of big races, and when he did the support he got in the final kilometres was minimal.

Absolutely, but imo that's a big problem withing Rabobank. Their support always seems quite weak. Sometimes they put up a train, but their train seems to fall to pieces easily.

I really think Matthews is capable of great things. I'd love to see him ride cobbled classics as well.

 

[theyoungest]

Absolutely, but imo that's a big problem withing Rabobank. Their support always seems quite weak. Sometimes they put up a train, but their train seems to fall to pieces easily.

I really think Matthews is capable of great things. I'd love to see him ride cobbled classics as well.

Maybe your focussing on Rabo a little too much when watching races, there aren't many teams with great sprint trains. Rabo do lack a little bit of experience in that regard, that's true, but sprinting is not exactly their core business.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Maybe your focussing on Rabo a little too much when watching races, there aren't many teams with great sprint trains. Rabo do lack a little bit of experience in that regard, that's true, but sprinting is not exactly their core business.

What is? I certainly hope you don't say stage races

 

[theyoungest]

What is? I certainly hope you don't say stage races

Their core business is love, sweet ACF.

 

[cineteq]

Highlights

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/livestreaming.aspx?id=8403278

Feel. The. Rush.

Wow! Broadcasters are still using Windows Media???
Does anybody have a different video link?
Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yph5K8vndTs