UCI World Championships 2010, Geelong: Early Thread

[auscyclefan94]

First six names for the Dutch:

Road race: Lars Boom, Koos Moerenhout, Sebastian Langeveld, Jos van Emden, Karsten Kroon , Niki Terpstra.

TT: Van Emden, Moerenhout.

I'll tell John to get him on a better program so he can get some actual results for The Netherlands.

What's so bad about Kroon on this sort of course?

He should do well. He just has not really done anything other than a top 10 (i think) in AGR.

 

[Cerberus]

[Kroon] should do well. He just has not really done anything other than a top 10 (i think) in AGR.

More than one, more than at Amstel and more than a top 10:
(from wikipeida)
2006
1st Stage 2 3-Länder-Tour
1st Stage 5 3-Länder-Tour
3rd La Flèche Wallonne
4st Amstel Gold Race
8th Ronde van Vlaanderen
2007
4th Ronde van Vlaanderen
2008
1st Stage 2 Vuelta a Castilla y León
1st Stage 5 Sachen Tour
1st Rund um den Henninger Turm
5th Giro di Lombardia
9th Amstel Gold Race
2009
2nd Amstel Gold Race
2nd Rund um den Henninger Turm
4th Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne
5th Brabantse Pijl
2010
9th Amstel Gold Race

But true, no significant victories.

ETA: Or were yourefering to this year? Because then of cause you're right.

 

[theyoungest]

ETA: Or were yourefering to this year? Because then of cause you're right.

Of course, the reason us Dutchies have our doubts about Karsten Kroon being there is that he's done nothing of note this year. Add to that his standard post-race comment "had great legs, just couldn't do anything with them", and we're ready for the Worlds.

And naturally ACF points out his one decent result this year

(BTW, no significant victories? He won a stage at the Tour de France)

 

[Jamsque]

No David Millar for Cav at worlds, which is a bit odd. I guess the old man has had a busy season. Cav could do a lot worse than Geraint Thomas and Jeremy Hunt.

 

[theyoungest]

No David Millar for Cav at worlds, which is a bit odd. I guess the old man has had a busy season. Cav could do a lot worse than Geraint Thomas and Jeremy Hunt.

Millar will do the TT.

 

[sublimit]

No problems with that selection, Cav, Thomas. And Hunt is solid and made for this sort of course.

 

[Galic Ho]

Though I know this is contradicting what the Australian's have said, I have to agree with what I read in another thread on the forum. Davis is not truly a team leader, which is why he was chosen over Robbie McEwen, who would be less willing to work to lead out Goss.

Goss would be chosen over McEwen as the lead sprinter because 1) he's in good form) and 2) he's more proven in classics type races with some hills (Philadelphia, GP Ouest France) than McEwen and thus is more likely to make it to the finish with the lead group to sprint for the win...

There won't be a lead group sprint. There will be 5 guys max at the line. The whole Aussie team selection is a joke. There are only 4 proven performers this year on that team. The rest are just wasting time. To think that this WC is on home soil and they (selectors) picked an entire dud team. I really feel sorry for Evans because he will once again have to find something at the end of the day to salvage a result for the home nation/team for all the home grown fans. Pick a European to attain the rights to wear the WC jersey in Geelong. No Haussler...WTF!

 

[Night Rider]

Does anyone know the deadline for countries to announce teams? And what happens if there are injuries days out from the event? Are replacements fine?

 

[Polyarmour]

There won't be a lead group sprint. There will be 5 guys max at the line. The whole Aussie team selection is a joke. There are only 4 proven performers this year on that team. The rest are just wasting time. To think that this WC is on home soil and they (selectors) picked an entire dud team. I really feel sorry for Evans because he will once again have to find something at the end of the day to salvage a result for the home nation/team for all the home grown fans. Pick a European to attain the rights to wear the WC jersey in Geelong. No Haussler...WTF!

For a start Haussler ruled himself out. The 3-4 proven leaders need support from 5-6 workers. That's what is happening. You don't put 9 leaders into a team. The workers track record by definition won't be great because they spend their year sacrificing their own ambitions for others.

 

[Night Rider]

No Haussler...WTF!

He pulled out of contention injured.

They picked the best of the rest.

 

[taiwan]

For a start Haussler ruled himself out. The 3-4 proven leaders need support from 5-6 workers. That's what is happening. You don't put 9 leaders into a team. The workers track record by definition won't be great because they spend their year sacrificing their own ambitions for others.

Could argue that neither Gerrans nor Davis are proven this season.

 

[Johnalex13]

Eisels chances?

 

[Jamsque]

He spends his life babysitting Cav these days, so I really have no idea how well he is climbing. He certainly has plenty of power and a decent sprint.

 

[Johnalex13]

he won Ghent Wevelgem this year which has some pretty steep kickers similar to Geelong course.


I think he might be the darkhourse. Plus he has a decent sprint. If he got into the break up the climb he could have a good change.

 

[Galic Ho]

For a start Haussler ruled himself out. The 3-4 proven leaders need support from 5-6 workers. That's what is happening. You don't put 9 leaders into a team. The workers track record by definition won't be great because they spend their year sacrificing their own ambitions for others.

Proven leaders!!!! WTF have you been smoking? I guess you're new around here. Evans is the only proven leader there out of the four chosen who can win a bloody race that isn't the Tour Down Under. Who said anything about putting 9 leaders on a team? You did, not me. I mentioned the only ones who have shown an iota of form. There are four. Three are not leaders. The other guys with form weren't picked. God knows why.

Maybe you should go back onto old threads and the start of this one and see who the forum thinks will challenge. Only Evans has a chance against those guys and even then that is pushing the optimism levels far too high. The squad is for lack of better words a BS squad and mark my words, it will all be left up to Cadel once more. Cadel should apply for Swiss citizenship and race with Cancellara because then he'd be taken seriously.

He pulled out of contention injured.

They picked the best of the rest.

I knew he was injured. Had not heard he had not yet recovered. Oh well. $h1t happens.

I'll put it this way, only 4, maybe 5 of the preliminary 15 riders were fit for the team. The rest are dead weight. Seriously, which Aussie on this forum would back Goss or Davis in a sprint that doesn't occur in the month of January, let alone for the rainbow jersey? McEwen is over the hill and he is a better option. Damn, maybe O'Grady should be the designated sprinter if it goes down to a bunch sprint...it won't. Anyone but the secondary guys. I cannot remember the last time I saw either at a race anyone took seriously other than minor players in the Pro Tour.

I can't wait for this. Hold a preliminary team vote and good old Simon will be picked. Bluff early on and send Rogers up the road. Penultimate lap and Gerrans blows it yet again and Cadel has to salvage whatever he can because the team, once again, stuffed up before they even completed one pedal stroke. Short story, selection shows the teams strategy. It won't work because they chose the wrong team.

 

[Mambo95]

He spends his life babysitting Cav these days, so I really have no idea how well he is climbing. He certainly has plenty of power and a decent sprint.

The Austrian team, with a loyal cohort and two riders whose teams are disbanding, looks an obvious target for the Cavendish chequebook.

 

[Galic Ho]

Could argue that neither Gerrans nor Davis are proven this season.

Don't bother. It is already a given. Hence no need to argue.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Proven leaders!!!! WTF have you been smoking? I guess you're new around here. Evans is the only proven leader there out of the four chosen who can win a bloody race that isn't the Tour Down Under. Who said anything about putting 9 leaders on a team? You did, not me. I mentioned the only ones who have shown an iota of form. There are four. Three are not leaders. The other guys with form weren't picked. God knows why.

Maybe you should go back onto old threads and the start of this one and see who the forum thinks will challenge. Only Evans has a chance against those guys and even then that is pushing the optimism levels far too high. The squad is for lack of better words a BS squad and mark my words, it will all be left up to Cadel once more. Cadel should apply for Swiss citizenship and race with Cancellara because then he'd be taken seriously.

I knew he was injured. Had not heard he had not yet recovered. Oh well. $h1t happens.

I'll put it this way, only 4, maybe 5 of the preliminary 15 riders were fit for the team. The rest are dead weight. Seriously, which Aussie on this forum would back Goss or Davis in a sprint that doesn't occur in the month of January, let alone for the rainbow jersey? McEwen is over the hill and he is a better option. Damn, maybe O'Grady should be the designated sprinter if it goes down to a bunch sprint...it won't. Anyone but the secondary guys. I cannot remember the last time I saw either at a race anyone took seriously other than minor players in the Pro Tour.

I can't wait for this. Hold a preliminary team vote and good old Simon will be picked. Bluff early on and send Rogers up the road. Penultimate lap and Gerrans blows it yet again and Cadel has to salvage whatever he can because the team, once again, stuffed up before they even completed one pedal stroke. Short story, selection shows the teams strategy. It won't work because they chose the wrong team.

I'd have to agree with Galic, sadly. Goss could do well though but he is a bit young. Goss has shown results throughout the year so i wouldn't make such statements about him.

 

[hrotha]

But other than McEwen, who else is missing in this squad according to you guys? It's not like Australia has a particularly deep pool from where to draw riders, and it doesn't help if Haussler is still injured or not in form.

 

[Galic Ho]

But other than McEwen, who else is missing in this squad according to you guys? It's not like Australia has a particularly deep pool from where to draw riders, and it doesn't help if Haussler is still injured or not in form.

My nine from the 15 preliminary riders chosen. Haussler as leader with Evans as the backup. Three HTC boys, Rogers, Renshaw and Hansen (they chose Hayman). Two Saxo boys, O'Grady as road captain and Porte (they chose Baden Cooke), Sulzberger as a workhorse because he busted his **** off last year and Gerrans as a consolation, because he can be used to bluff.

Haussler is apparently still injured. Thanks Cavendouche! I'd have replaced him with McEwen. I'd have left out Goss and Davis. Goss is better than Davis, but seriously, the results they have aren't going to win a rainbow jersey. Chris Sutton was another option. Who here thinks there will be a group sprint? Hence, Davis and Cooke are a waste. The team needs workhorses who will bury themselves for Cadel. I won't hold my breath on that, but maybe his change of fortune and attitude in 2010 will endear the team. Gerrans was an option last year but he choked. He's been out of form this year. Maybe he'll find some in the Vuelta. I also read Cooke has been taken off Saxo's Vuelta squad, so why in gods name was he included on the team ahead of Renshaw and McEwen, who can both sprint better than he can and are proven loyal workers with results the last few seasons?

I'm annoyed because it looks like a political job not a sensible 'We want to win on home soil' decision was used to finalise the team. Honestly if Evans had a bad season, I would not be surprised if they tried to yank him.

I'm concerned about guys like Cancellara, Hushovd, Freire and Gilbert. Italy has a few options and so do the Russians. Why not throw in Ryder Heyjedal as well. He could be a threat with his form if Canada make a decent show. I can only see Evans matching these guys hence the team should be built around him in Hausslers adsence. Davis and Goss are secondary leaders according to the selectors. That says everything about how they think the race will go. We (Aussies who paid attention) all know who the team voted to support last year when he was in better form than this year...Gerrans.

If they didn't pick who I would have...they didn't, then McEwen should have been given the privilege of riding on home soil in could arguably be his last pro year as a cyclist. They chose Baden Cooke over him and Alan Davis. Seriously, when was the last time those boys rode for Saxo and Astana at a race anyone here paid attention to and did very well? Compare those two to the guys left out and the foreign challengers...it doesn't add up and I fear, barring a miracle (they don't happen often) that our home soil advantage will be squandered. Sadly this is typical of Aussie sports administrators.

ACF94 at least you live in Melbourne. You get to see your hero live. Makes up for the disappointing team selection in a way.

 

[Galic Ho]

I'd have to agree with Galic, sadly. Goss could do well though but he is a bit young. Goss has shown results throughout the year so i wouldn't make such statements about him.

I was unfair but read the above statement. I was trying to place his skills in context with similar riders and the main challengers. Everyone but Haussler and Evans should have been selected based on their ability to work for the win and nothing more. It appears as if Davis and Goss were not. Stupid thinking. If they are a chance to win, then so is Cavendish and that race is already decided. If that is how it is going to go down I say give Cav the jersey now. Thankfully the Spanish and Italians won't let that happen and I know O'Grady won't either. Hence, why have two sprinters in the team who have ok results but nothing that sets the world alight? It is tokenism and jingoism gone mad.

 

[blaxland]

Proven leaders!!!! WTF have you been smoking? I guess you're new around here. Evans is the only proven leader there out of the four chosen who can win a bloody race that isn't the Tour Down Under. Who said anything about putting 9 leaders on a team? You did, not me. I mentioned the only ones who have shown an iota of form. There are four. Three are not leaders. The other guys with form weren't picked. God knows why.

Maybe you should go back onto old threads and the start of this one and see who the forum thinks will challenge. Only Evans has a chance against those guys and even then that is pushing the optimism levels far too high. The squad is for lack of better words a BS squad and mark my words, it will all be left up to Cadel once more. Cadel should apply for Swiss citizenship and race with Cancellara because then he'd be taken seriously.




I knew he was injured. Had not heard he had not yet recovered. Oh well. $h1t happens.

I'll put it this way, only 4, maybe 5 of the preliminary 15 riders were fit for the team. The rest are dead weight. Seriously, which Aussie on this forum would back Goss or Davis in a sprint that doesn't occur in the month of January, let alone for the rainbow jersey? McEwen is over the hill and he is a better option. Damn, maybe O'Grady should be the designated sprinter if it goes down to a bunch sprint...it won't. Anyone but the secondary guys. I cannot remember the last time I saw either at a race anyone took seriously other than minor players in the Pro Tour.

I can't wait for this. Hold a preliminary team vote and good old Simon will be picked. Bluff early on and send Rogers up the road. Penultimate lap and Gerrans blows it yet again and Cadel has to salvage whatever he can because the team, once again, stuffed up before they even completed one pedal stroke. Short story, selection shows the teams strategy. It won't work because they chose the wrong team.

Great post Galic Ho,and i agree with most of it.But M.Goss has been going good this season(Riding Vuelta) so he deserves a spot.R.McEwan was never going to be selected due to this type of course,but as you said he deserves a spot because this will be his last worlds..considering what he has done for Aussie cyling over the years.Davis?I dont No,personally i would have selected Renshaw instead he is having a solid season...I Guess with Albi they have a back up sprinter(But we all no he only comes 4th or 5th at best)again Renshaw or Goss are better this year...Hayman and Sulzberger are work horses as proved by last years worlds.And by adding Cooke you have another good engine and loads of experience...I guess we will have to wait and see wether the Aussie selectors live or die by the sword..So im happy With who is riding for Australia but Spain and Belgium, are the favourites.(Friere and Gilbert)

 

[Galic Ho]

Great post Galic Ho,and i agree with most of it.But M.Goss has been going good this season(Riding Vuelta) so he deserves a spot.R.McEwan was never going to be selected due to this type of course,but as you said he deserves a spot because this will be his last worlds..considering what he has done for Aussie cyling over the years.Davis?I dont No,personally i would have selected Renshaw instead he is having a solid season...I Guess with Albi they have a back up sprinter(But we all no he only comes 4th or 5th at best)again Renshaw or Goss are better this year...Hayman and Sulzberger are work horses as proved by last years worlds.And by adding Cooke you have another good engine and loads of experience...I guess we will have to wait and see wether the Aussie selectors live or die by the sword..So im happy With who is riding for Australia but Spain and Belgium, are the favourites.(Friere and Gilbert)

Goss's current form is why he made the squad plus he is riding the Vuelta. Fair enough. Hayman is ok for a workhorse, but I always had 3 HTC boys in the my final squad not 2. It is a toss up between him and Hansen. Cooke is a big question mark in my books. Maybe if it were 2002 I'd be cool with his selection. I think Porte is more deserving and he has a big future ahead of himself. Robbie is just as smart and capable of working for the team and I might add more motivated given the course and home soil advantage. I guess the only ones I am not happy with are Davis and Cooke. Goss is kind of in the same boat as Porte.

Does anyone know if Cooke is riding the Vuelta? I heard he was dropped. That cannot be good news. Either way in a month we'll see if the team strategy is up to scratch. I agree Blaxland...Freire and Gilbert will be difficult to handle. Maybe 2010 the team will flog themselves for Cadel. It has been his best season in his career after all.

 

[blaxland]

Goss's current form is why he made the squad plus he is riding the Vuelta. Fair enough. Hayman is ok for a workhorse, but I always had 3 HTC boys in the my final squad not 2. It is a toss up between him and Hansen. Cooke is a big question mark in my books. Maybe if it were 2002 I'd be cool with his selection. I think Porte is more deserving and he has a big future ahead of himself. Robbie is just as smart and capable of working for the team and I might add more motivated given the course and home soil advantage. I guess the only ones I am not happy with are Davis and Cooke. Goss is kind of in the same boat as Porte.

Does anyone know if Cooke is riding the Vuelta? I heard he was dropped. That cannot be good news. Either way in a month we'll see if the team strategy is up to scratch. I agree Blaxland...Freire and Gilbert will be difficult to handle. Maybe 2010 the team will flog themselves for Cadel. It has been his best season in his career after all.

Yeah spot on Galic Ho but maybe Porte will be tired following The Time Trial.....either way i cant wait till it starts...

 

[Cerberus]

Does anyone know if Cooke is riding the Vuelta? I heard he was dropped. That cannot be good news. Either way in a month we'll see if the team strategy is up to scratch. I agree Blaxland...Freire and Gilbert will be difficult to handle. Maybe 2010 the team will flog themselves for Cadel. It has been his best season in his career after all.

Cooke got injured and isn't riding the Vuelta for that reason, which does indeed bode badly for his performance at Geelong, I don't know the nature of his injury though.