SOOOO much win.XD

Well, I was actually inclined to read it, since it was a nice idea to keep the team together... But the team you have selected really put me off from reading it...

Yeah, agree with Miggi to a point. Your team is ridiculously strong. You don't have any world beaters as such (Cav, Wiggans etc), but you have a huge amount of depth. 10 Climbers over 76 Mo is huge. You will win a lot, and it will get boring. I will still follow, but only until it gets predictable.

And I found it quite funny that Nibbles, Tommy and Sagan all have the same Stamina, Resistance and Recovery, even though they're 3 totally different riders with different strengths.

Edit: And all your riders have over 72 Average except 1...

Poor Juraj

Juraj almost made the cobbles team. Then i realised the swede wass good at them, or at least better then juraj.


We need ssomeonne to carry the bottles. For us team managers in the car :-P He makees an awesome cup of tea.

As for the oveerpowered moaning, all i'm gonna say is if you dont like, dont read and that results arent everything. It can still be plenty eentertaining to win lots.

Good luck and don´t forgett to check that you still riding on easy...
Miggi133 wait for me....

Several members of the Red-Bull Cannondale squad have been spotted in Sydney over the weekend.

With Australian nationals just a week away and the Santos Tour Down after starting soon after, a team has been send with the aim of gathering vital pre-season fitness. Whilst many hard miles in the saddle is obviously consisting of most of their days, it seems there is still time for a bit fun.

Whilst attending an local event sponsored by Red Bull to enourage children into cycling, they were treated to a entire unexpected race between former Olympian BMXer Luke Madill and a man hoping to being Australian national champion next week, Cameron Meyer.

"Madill just glanced over the BMX's and asked if I wanted to put on a show for the kids. I rode BMX's a bit as a kid, so it was good fun. Its just a shame we couldn't take them out of the full BMX course here, it looks really fun. I might have to give it a proper go over one winter," explained Meyer. "All the kids were totally stoked which was the important thing. As important as it is to win, you've got to make sure the next generation are getting into the sport to ensure it survives. You see days like today and it makes you hopeful about the future.

One the Red Bull-Cannondale squad oldest team members, veteran Lars Bak, also shared Meyer's views.

"Obviously the last year hasn't been a great one for stories. Its nice to come to places like this with the kids. They don't ask us about Armstrong or blood any of the many things that hang over our sport. They just wanna see the guys ride fast, or ride themselves. Its nice for us."

-

Red-Bull Cannondale Sydney Pre-Season Fitness Camp (5 Days)

Viviani, Phinney, Bak, Meyer, Sabatini, Gallopin, Durasek, Haedo, Spilak

((Aussie Nats coming in the next few hours))

Ok, this was meant to be Nats post, but instead, its seriously awesome news. Nats will get started in a moment, but first, we have the grand moment.

Its Jersey time.





I think I can speak for everyone when I say that Atlantius is a freaking god.

I had some trouble with getting the jersey to work as I am naturally an idiot. Finally done though.



2km in, first attacks. No Orica, 3 men. Looks like a Sky shirt

5km in. 3 man break was Phelan (DPC), Lang (RAI) and Porte (Sky). Lloyd (LAM) quickly followed, gap at 2 minutes. Blanco bring 2 riders the front. Looks like they will ride with Orica today. Good for us.

End of first circuit. Meyer has a problem. No-one is chasing. The gap is at 9"20. With the break still riding hard, its too big to bridge. Surely someone has to start pulling soon.

With the second circuit finish, this is looking like a really bad call. Its still just two Blanco riders at the top, leading a nothing pace. Its still to early to make any sort of move though, with 18 minutes between us and the break there is no way to bridge it solo.

With 110k left to race, the gap is at 22 minutes but something seems to be happening. Orica shirts are at the front, but not actually doing anything. Bobridge Haussler and Hayman are doing some pulling. Gap is still going up. WHAT ARE ORICA DOING!

The last 10k have been interesting. Not in that anything happened racing race. Cameron Meyer has nearly had a a brawl former Green Edge team mates. Heated words were exchanged, before Meyer slid back down the pack again, shaking his head. 100k to go for the leading group. 115k for the rest.

And just as we update, Meyer is on the attack. Good to get our jersey some air time.

Meyers attack has put him 50 seconds clear of the bunch, but Matthews comes straight to the front for Orica to pull.

The gap is out to a minute, but its being held now. If they keep this up he will have to sit up.

Dropped some bottles off to Cameron out the front, He was not happy when we told him the new, but agreed there was no point staying out if he was going to ride. Also mentioned that in future it might be wise not to rile up the strongest team in the field right before trying to break.

Its clearly a fight for 5th now. With Meyer back in the pack, everyone sits back up again. With a 22 minute lead growing again, and only 85k left for them to cover, there will be no overhauling them. Clearly not following that break was a big mistake.

In the race for 5th, 65k remain. Evans has just fallen and seems to be struggling to catch the pack. Everyone is still really coasting, so it going to be up to us to make something happen. Its highly likely now that the pack will roll into a sprint finish.

48k to the finish (for us) and Orcia make the first move. O'Grady attacks. Meyer is on it faster then a hooker to meth. He has no intention of letting Orica ride away with 5th. Everyone else seems to not like this though, and pulls up back.

With exactly 20k to go for the leading group, as if it was scripted, Porte makes the first piece of really interesting racing action since the second kilometer of the race. Llyod of Lampre follows, but for the other two riders it seems the pace is too hot for them.

We just spoke to Cameron from the team car. He says his 99% sure Matt Goss is actually asleep and Davis and Durbridge are just pushing him along.

Porte and Llyod start playing games and lose thier gap over their two other breakaway companions. They are coming up to lap the pack for a second time (Although first time they have actually gone past as they were ahead by a circuit by the time we started it.)

And the race is won. With 1k to go, Lang opened up the Sprint.. and never looked back. Porte takes 2nd just a tad ahead of Llyod. Phelan the unlucky man to finish today without a medal.

And thats it I'm afraid. The riders have reached 7k from the line, but the cut off is reached. Only 4 men finish today Australian Nationals.

1 Richard Lang Team Raleigh 5h27'53
2 Richie Porte Sky Procycling s.t.
3 Matthew Lloyd Lampre - Merida s.t.
4 Adam Phelan Drapac Cycling s.t.

Really cool looking jersey

I know, its freaking awesome isn't it. I'm so happy with it

Live updating the race. Pictures will come at the end. This may become a common style depending on how people find it. I'm likely to have very styles rather then the more standardized stories. I like doing different styles

Its always good to see different types of reporting styles

Wow. Ok, that was. Different. I might put up the pictures tomo, but there really wasn't anything to to take pictures off. Nothing happened. At all.

Export file isn't opening for me atm, and its late now so I'll fix it tomo. I'll do Aussie TT result then (Prolly no report for that, its a TT) and then the first stage of SDU that will hopefully be far more freaking entertaining that the pile of steam I just got served up. At least with a full team I can make sure something happens XD

All small champs are always like that. Regardless of whether you have 1 strong team in the race. It's something to do with the AI and the teams not chasing because they only have 3 or 4 riders. I just always get in the break

Awesome jersey that Atlantius made there! Amazing!

I've never seen aussie nats like this tho. I remember playing once, early break with porte and meyer and 3 others held to the end butt they were chased and only finished 2 minutes ahead.

About to do Aussie nats. Having some problems with export. I have OpenOffice, but it wont open the export. It keeps saying I need to install a JRE. Which I have. I've even reinstalled.

Any other ideas on how to get the file to open?

EDIT: Ok, fixed now. I forgot I'm using a different system now and had install the wrong java version XD. Yesterdays result is about to get the proper timings, and I shall have the TT up soon.

Today's Time Trial is a long but relatively straight forward affair. Its almost pan flat, the first half on a very slight downhill before the riders double back on themselves and ride the second have on a very slight increment. It is not a very technical course with the turn around point the only real challenge of the riders bike handling skills.

In Cameron Meyer, we have one the likely favorites. A former winner, he would love the chance to pull on the champions jersey all season once more.

Hoping to deny him are likely to be Cadel Evans, Michael Rogers, Richie Porte, defending champion Luke Durbridge and Jack Bobridge. Fortunately for the excitement factor, all 6 are the last 6 to ride. Bobridge will leave first, to be chased by Durbridge. setting out third will be Evans, our own Meyer will be the 4th to leave, with Richie port following and Rogers having the advantage of knowing exactly what his got to do.

William Walker is first out the the gate and by default takes the number one slot. Unfortunately for him, with a time of 55 minutes and 11 seconds, it seems unlikely he will be there for very long.

Rory Sutherland soon sets the early pace, setting a 54 minute and 4 second time that sees people struggling to match. Only Brett Lancaster can come close, finishing 5 seconds down. Jay McCarthy post a time just fractions of a second faster then Lancaster to steal 2nd position just before the first of the favourites, Jack Bobridge sets out of the gate.

Baden Cook goes 4th with a 54'12 as Bobridge approaches the first time check. As he rolls over the line, he posts a time 12 seconds off the fastest time, posted by both Sutherland and Lancaster. Durbridge is next over, hitting the exact same time as the leaders and looks strong. Evans is hanging in there, rolling across with just a 3 seconds separating him and the leaders.

Meyer powered hard at the start to get momentum and it proves to be worth it at this stage. He posts the fastest time through the first sector, putting a massive 12 seconds between himself and Durbridge with just Porte and Rogers left to post times.

Both of them are unable to match Meyer's time, but Rogers joins the group of chasers, with Porte posting a time 4 seconds slower then that. It seems that actually having to race two days ago is taking its toll on the Tasmanian.

However, by the time everyone passes through the second time check, its a very different story. Sutherland sits in the lead through the second time check, with Cameron Meyer having gone too hard too early possibly. He falls back to 5th with a time 7 seconds down. In between them lie Lancaster with a time 2 seconds back of Sutherland, with Durbridge and Rogers both 3 second back. Porte and Evans are both 12 seconds back, but interesting so was McCarthy who currently holds the second fastest time of the day.

Make that the third fastest time of the day. Out of no-where, Rohan Dennis posts a 54 minute dead, the fastest time of the day by just over 3 seconds. He was 16 seconds back through the 2nd time check and proves that no-one should count themselves out yet.

As Luke Durbridge proves. Bobridge fails to make an impact but the defending champion crosses the line with a wide smile as he glances at the clock. He smashes the previous best time by 23 seconds and shows why he is the man to beat.

Evans gives everything in the last run in as his eye glance the board, but its an effort in vain. A valiant attempt does bring him provisional second place however, splitting Dennis and Durbridge with an effort just 11 seconds down.

The roar from the crowd as Evans rolls over the line seems strange for a few moments, until it becomes apparent they arent from him. Meyer is absolutely flying. Rather then cracking, it seems he had simply been holding back because his final second has been absolutely phenomal. He doesnt just smash the time of Durbridge, he absolutely obliterates it. His 52 minute and 37 second time puts him an incredible 59 seconds ahead of Durbridge.

With just two riders to come, a podium is certain but can he hold on to 1st? As Porte comes across the line, the pain on his face is clear. The effort of two days ago had taken too much out of him, and he can only manage provisional 4th.

Rogers looks quick however, crossing 1k to go moments after Porte crosses the line. Is it fast enough. Will the two time world champion become a 2 time national champion?

No! He really suffers in the last 500, grinding across the line in a time fractionally faster then Durbridge. It is good enough for second, but the pain etched across Rogers face isn't entirely physical.

Cameron Meyer is the new National Time Trial Champion!

1 Cameron Meyer Red Bull -Cannondale Pro Cycling 52'37
2 Luke Durbridge Orica - GreenEdge + 1'00
3 Michael Rogers Team Saxo - Tinkoff s.t.
4 Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team + 1'12
5 Richie Porte Sky Procycling + 1'16


Next Up: The Santos Tour Down Under!

Will get done tommorrow. Well, the write up will, I have time to play the first stage tonight but not enough time to write it up and upload pictures etc. Not with work in the morning. Yes, there will be pictures tommorrow!

A Great start to the campaign with Cameron Meyer becoming the Australian TT Champion

Indeed. Especially after that horrendous Road Race. I'm just glad to get silly one man natz over with and get into some real racing!