Why are British cyclists so much better than Australian cyclists?

[Lifeshape]

Dammit, I was going to say beer, too! See, Wiggo has stated that (enter paraphrasing here) "...with lager comes extra weight..." Now when you gain weight drinking beer, it motivates you to train harder to shed. Now, I may not be anything more than a self-professed expert on beer (I am!) but there are more great beers from Europe than Down Under, and I mean no disrespect at all, but that is my theory.
I dare anyone dispute that.

 

[Ferminal]

Take it to the beer thread In fact we could move this whole thread to the Cafe as a general Motherland vs Colonials thread.

Belgium and Germany are miles ahead of both of us...

Of course when our great export is Fosters, your opinion of Australian beer is going to be poor.

 

[Lifeshape]

Take it to the beer thread In fact we could move this whole thread to the Cafe as a general Motherland vs Colonials thread.

Belgium and Germany are miles ahead of both of us...

Of course when our great export is Fosters, your opinion of Australian beer is going to be poor.

Disagree. Beer may/ may not be the only reason, only a theory, which is why it belongs here. Oh and I do not say my opinion of Australian beer is poor. By all means, please, pour!

 

[DAOTEC]

'Britain's cyclists set target of between five and ten World Championship medals in 2010'

11 March 2010 - UK Sport has announced its 2010 medal targets for Britain’s summer Olympic sports, and expects the country’s cyclists to come away with between five and ten medals at this year’s UCI World Championships events.

The medals tally set is across all disciplines, so it will include the World Track Championships later this month in Copenhagen, where the British team will hope to at least hit the lower end of the target and September’s Road World Championships in Melbourne.
Britain’s Paralympic cyclists, meanwhile, had initially been set a target of between eight and 14 medals.
In total, Team GB athletes are targeting up to 98 medals across events linked to summer Olympic sports this year, with 99 targeted in events featured in the Paralympics.
More: http://www.uksport.gov.uk/news

 

[MadonePro]

Want to understand for a country with the greatest weather in the world gets rolled by a country with the worst. Maybe the Brits are tougher? Explain it to an American.

OK let's talk about the only thing Brit's wanna understand, winning!

Robbie McEwen... OK that end's it, he has actually worn a jersey at the TDF. Feel free to add a Brit rider to this equation.

Cadel Evan's - We all know that 2008, would have been his, bar a crash the day before a Oscar setup!

Riding, as you all know, isn't about climate, it's about terrain, and most rider's these day, live in Europe.

Wiggo I hear you cry, let's see where he end's up this year. Oh amuse me, let's try for a 2010 TDF top 5

1. Evans
2. Armstrong
3. A. Schleck
4. Basso
5. Contador

 

[Hugh Januss]

OK let's talk about the only thing Brit's wanna understand, winning!

Robbie McEwen... OK that end's it, he has actually worn a jersey at the TDF. Feel free to add a Brit rider to this equation.

Cadel Evan's - We all know that 2008, would have been his, bar a crash the day before a Oscar setup!

Riding, as you all know, isn't about climate, it's about terrain, and most rider's these day, live in Europe.

Wiggo I hear you cry, let's see where he end's up this year. Oh amuse me, let's try for a 2010 TDF top 5

1. Evans
2. Armstrong
3. A. Schleck
4. Basso
5. Contador

Do you have any money?

 

[blackcat]

Bojo puts it best http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsFRgIb8mAQ

 

[Kingsley A]

Bojo puts it best http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsFRgIb8mAQ

Gotta love Boris! Sooner he can give up his sideline as Mayor of London and get back to being a regular on Have I Got News For You the better

I guess Brits have greater motivation against Aussies because we as so used to be beaten at cricket by them (damn you Don Bradman ) so any victory we can score, and any sport we can challenge or dominate in becomes important.

But then we are brothers in arms at the end of the day; after all we both lose to the All Blacks with great regularity!

 

[MadonePro]

OK let's talk about the only thing Brit's wanna understand, winning!

Robbie McEwen... OK that end's it, he has actually worn a jersey at the TDF. Feel free to add a Brit rider to this equation.

Cadel Evan's - We all know that 2008, would have been his, bar a crash the day before a Oscar setup!

Riding, as you all know, isn't about climate, it's about terrain, and most rider's these day, live in Europe.

Wiggo I hear you cry, let's see where he end's up this year. Oh amuse me, let's try for a 2010 TDF top 5

1. Evans
2. Armstrong
3. A. Schleck
4. Basso
5. Contador

Do you have any money?

A little ;-)

My reasoning

1. Cadel is stronger, confident and has learnt how to attack. Combine that with a much stronger team, including Hincapie, and we should see him come close.

2. Lance, maybe i'll be wrong here, but the one thing he does have, are strong riders and the well used template for sucess.

3 Andy won't be up to the full challenge this year, due to his injury, but I feel between the bro's and Riis they'll do a great job of mixing it up.

4. My wildcard, he may come good finally, but I believe he'll squeeze into the top 5.... just

5. Contador, he'll prove me wrong for sure, he is the best, but his team need to work for him, he'll find no friends up the pointy end, and he'll be tested in the way lance was in later years, and how Evans was in 08.

 

[Cerberus]

A little ;-)

My reasoning

1. Cadel is stronger, confident and has learnt how to attack. Combine that with a much stronger team, including Hincapie, and we should see him come close.

What are you on and where can I get some? Attacking isn't magic, Cadel might attack, but he won't be able to drop his main competitors, not will he be able to follow the attacks of Contador or Schleck. As for his team he's got no one who can support him on the final climb.

2. Lance, maybe i'll be wrong here, but the one thing he does have, are strong riders and the well used template for sucess.

No amount of support or template for success will cahnge the fact that when the road tilts upwards there'll be attacks and some rider will be able to follow and some won't. I'm betting Lance will be in the later group.

3 Andy won't be up to the full challenge this year, due to his injury, but I feel between the bro's and Riis they'll do a great job of mixing it up.

You realize that there's many month until the tour starts right? He's got plenty of time to recover. His injury might prevent him from doing well in the Ardennes, but it's unlikely to impede him in the Tour.

4. My wildcard, he may come good finally, but I believe he'll squeeze into the top 5.... just

Ok, that's at least plausible.

5. Contador, he'll prove me wrong for sure, he is the best, but his team need to work for him, he'll find no friends up the pointy end, and he'll be tested in the way lance was in later years, and how Evans was in 08.

His team is not that impressive, but Contador only really needs his team if he gets into trouble. Most likely he won't.

 

[auscyclefan94]

OK let's talk about the only thing Brit's wanna understand, winning!

Robbie McEwen... OK that end's it, he has actually worn a jersey at the TDF. Feel free to add a Brit rider to this equation.

Cadel Evan's - We all know that 2008, would have been his, bar a crash the day before a Oscar setup!

Riding, as you all know, isn't about climate, it's about terrain, and most rider's these day, live in Europe.

Wiggo I hear you cry, let's see where he end's up this year. Oh amuse me, let's try for a 2010 TDF top 5

1. Evans
2. Armstrong
3. A. Schleck
4. Basso
5. Contador

Your my new best friend!

I would love that to happen! The forum would go crazy!

1)Armstrong beats Contador
2) Evans wins the tdf
3) The forum would have to listen to me!!!

 

[franciep10]

Your my new best friend!

I would love that to happen! The forum would go crazy!

1)Armstrong beats Contador
2) Evans wins the tdf
3) The forum would have to listen to me!!!

I knew you would love that post

 

[DAOTEC]

BBC at 10:55 GMT, Friday, 12 March 2010

Jason Queally named in Great Britain cycling squad

Queally will be in action almost 10 years after winning gold in Sydney

Former Olympic kilometre time trial champion Jason Queally has been named in the Great Britain squad for this month's World Championships in Denmark.

The 39-year-old retired after failing to make the sprint squad for the 2008 Games but has now targeted the 2012 London Olympics when he will be 42.

Source: bbc.co.uk

 

[Christian]

I have a question for the Australians: Who is Richie Porte? I read his profile on the Saxo Bank website and it sounds rather promising but still it doesn't really tell much.

So what kind of rider is he? What may one expect of him in the future?

Just curious!

 

[Hugh Januss]

Originally Posted by Hugh Januss
Do you have any money?

A little ;-)

My reasoning

1. Cadel is stronger, confident and has learnt how to attack. Combine that with a much stronger team, including Hincapie, and we should see him come close.

2. Lance, maybe i'll be wrong here, but the one thing he does have, are strong riders and the well used template for sucess.

3 Andy won't be up to the full challenge this year, due to his injury, but I feel between the bro's and Riis they'll do a great job of mixing it up.

4. My wildcard, he may come good finally, but I believe he'll squeeze into the top 5.... just

5. Contador, he'll prove me wrong for sure, he is the best, but his team need to work for him, he'll find no friends up the pointy end, and he'll be tested in the way lance was in later years, and how Evans was in 08.

Enough for a small wager?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I have a question for the Australians: Who is Richie Porte? I read his profile on the Saxo Bank website and it sounds rather promising but still it doesn't really tell much.

So what kind of rider is he? What may one expect of him in the future?

Just curious!

Sprinter, but he has found it quite hard in Paris nice so far as you would being a neo pro.

 

[53 x 11]

I have a question for the Australians: Who is Richie Porte? I read his profile on the Saxo Bank website and it sounds rather promising but still it doesn't really tell much.

So what kind of rider is he? What may one expect of him in the future?

Just curious!

Porte is NOT a sprinter, he is a strong time trialist and climber. He has only been riding a few years now, I think he has come from a tri background.

Hes a little guy had a great first euro season winning the tt at the baby giro. his Aus wins include Tour of Bright and Tassie both very hilly races.

I dont know why he doesnt get more press. I guess its bacause he hasnt been throught the AIS programme on the track.

 

[DAOTEC]

$$$

British Cycling snaps up Gatorade

Today, 10:14am- Deal to last beyond 2012 Olympics

Gatorade has signed a four-year deal with British Cycling to supply hydration and rehydration product to the organisation – including the GB Cycling and Para-Cycling Teams.

The signing has already been in evidence, at last night’s UCI World Track Cycling World Championships in Copenhagen.
More... http://www.bikebiz.com/news/31946/British-Cycling-snaps-up-Gatorade

 

[thehog]

Why would Spanish climbers be coming to the worlds this year? And Lance Armstrong? Why do Australians not get this?

ALBERTO Contador, Mark Cavendish ... maybe even Lance Armstrong - all in Ballarat.

Many of the world's leading cyclists, all coming to Victoria for the Road World Championships in September and October, have requested a lead-up race in preparation.

And with growing global interest in the Buninyong course used for the Australian championships, the Herald Sun World Cycling Classic was born.

As the countdown to the world titles began in earnest with the weekend's start of the Giro d'Italia, organisers of the world titles have fielded requests from some leading teams to have a warm-up before the big event in Geelong.
The race, to be confirmed in Ballarat today, will be held on Sunday, September 26, in conjunction with the Australia masters titles that have already attracted 800 entries from around the world.


While no national teams have officially entered teams, it is understood road powerhouses Spain, United States and Great Britain are among those to have inquired.

This creates the likelihood of the cream of world cycling tackling the streets of Ballarat and the famous Mt Buninyong a day after the AFL Grand Final.

Starting and finishing in Buninyong, the course will travel a 16km circuit with the final lap following the course used for the national men's elite road race.

"We have received a good indication from many countries that they would like to participate in a high quality pre-championship event," world championship organiser Michael Palmer said.

"The course has been designed to ensure that it is not too tough, but still provides a solid hit-out and an opportunity for riders to acclimatise to Australian conditions and having the final lap on the testing nationals circuit will give them a taste of what to expect in Geelong the following week."

It is uncertain whether the Australian squads will attend with a training camp booked in New South Wales across that weekend.

But if the likes of Spain's Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Oscar Freire, Americans Armstrong, Christian Vande Velde and Levi Leipheimer, Briton Cavendish, Swiss superstar Fabian Cancellara and Luxembourg's dynamic Schleck brothers tackle the Herald Sun World Cycling Classic, the world's spotlight will fall on Victoria a week earlier.

 

[Boeing]

nuff said

 

[Eyjafjallajokull]

nuff said

Took me awhile to get that one. The muscle on one arm is from pint pulling.

 

[Boeing]

 

[Potomac]

nuff said

I hear Aerosmith in the background:

Dude looks like a lady

 

[karlboss]

How are british cyclists doing against Australians this year? road and track

 

[auscyclefan94]

How are british cyclists doing against Australians this year? road and track

hog seems to dislike aussies. though nobody can deny that we are OWNING the brits so far. Will be interesting with the worlds course. Bunninyong is a tough circuit especially in the heat. That course would be a good one for the worlds though it isn't overly scenic due to the heavier bush land through there.