Herald Sun Tour Preview

The Herald Sun Tour is surely one of the most important races in Australia and the startlist definitely proves that. Orica and MTN as World Tour teams, as well as two Aussie selections led by Jack Haig, Robert Power, Steele Von Hoff or Lachlan Morton. We can hope for some good racing down under.

The key stage is definitely the final day up and around Arthur's Seat: this is, where Simon Gerrans took the overall victory last season and it's also the only hilly rated stage this time. Anyway, we do know that crosswinds and some challenging profiles may become key factors as well.

2015 | Simon Gerrans (Orica)

Simon Clarke	Lachlan Norris	Patrick Bevin
Cameron Meyer	Jack Haig	Mark O'Brien
Caleb Ewan	Franco Pellizotti	Lachlan Morton

The Herald Sun Tour has become quite a target for Orica and the World Tour team once again lines up with a very strong squad: Clarke, Meyer or Ewan should be all considered favorites and real options to repeat last year's victory from the now injured Simon Gerrans. Ewan already won the Bay Classics, but had to settle for the runner-up in the Cadel Evans Classic.

The Continental teams from Australia do have some real contenders though: last year's 3rd O'Brien and Bevin turn Avanti into a true challenger for Orica here. Norris for Drapac and maybe Canty for Budget can be promising as well. Of course there's some international flavor with guys like Pellizotti or Morton leading other strong teams here.

Team Budget's main focus may be those three flat stages: Sam Witmitz won't be amongst the favorites (with also Wouter Wippert or Tyler Farrar at the start), but here's hoping he will be in the mix. For the queen stage at Arthur's Seat, we can hope for a good day from either Canty, Talbot or Torckler.

Herald Sun Tour Recap

One second seperated the new Herald Sun champion Simon Clarke (Orica) from up and coming Kiwi Patrick Bevin (Avanti)! The Orica team did it again and repeats Gerrans' overall victory from 2015. Avanti though proved it's strength and went for a 2-3 in the GC with also Mark O'Brien repeating his 3rd from last year. Those two teams did pretty much dominate the key stages here.

Let's begin with the prologue: reigning Kiwi timetrial champion Joseph Cooper (Avanti) took the opener by two seconds on Orica's Howson and Clarke. That's a way to present his brand new NC shirt. Budget's Brendan Canty finished 24th as best of his team.

The following three days would see bunch sprint decisions then: Caleb Ewan took stage two in style, but struggled on the following days. Brenton Jones (Drapac) took stage three and Jack Beckinsale (Jayco U23) surprisingly stage four! Team Budget did quite well with a few Top-10 finishes: Brodie Talbot (who unfortunatelly lost all GC ambitions on the second day) came 5th on stage three, Sam Witmitz 6th the day after. The team worked hard at the front and got something back.

The final stage around and up Arthur's Seat didn't go as planned though: while Brodie Talbot joined the early break and actually show a pretty good race (as 15th on the stage), our GC-hopes faded away with Brendan Canty not having the legs to stay with the small leading group, that went clear on the penultimate lap.. the big guns would then go for a thrilling fight though: Bevin and O'Brien attacked with a kilometre to go! Simon Clarke managed to hang on and overtook Bevin on the very last few metres. The bonifications would then bring him the overall victory, while Canty was our best finisher as 26th in the GC. Still some good result for our boys here.

Cooper showing off his NC shirt and taking the prologue!

Ewan celebrating his victory on second day..

Farrar in the lead, Talbot and Witmitz in the mix..

..but Brenton Jones sprints for line honours in Nagambie!

Jack Beckinsale with an unexpected victory the next day!

Brodie Talbot making the break of the day on the final day then..

..where Avanti launched a double-attack against Orica's Simon Clarke..

..while Talbot was Budget's best to fight his way to a decent result..

Clarke eventually wins on Arthur's Seat, but how close..

..and also taking the overall victory by just one second!

Tamijo wrote:
If I dont get the riders i bid for, can i get other riders later ?

The REV Classic Preview

New Zealand's premier one day cycling event returns in 2016. This year marks an amazing 11 years of delivering first-class cycling experiences in the Waikato and Waipa regions. 2016 will see introduce a number of exciting new elements, including a number of course improvements, alongside all of the traditional favourites which have made the REV a must-do event on New Zealand’s summer cycling calendar.

Patrick Bevin	James Oram	Daniel Barry
Michael Torckler	Jack Anderson	Sam Horgan
Roman Van Uden	Sam Bewley	Tim Rush

Patrick Bevin definitely as the man to beat here. The Kiwi offers the perfect skillset, as he's both a strong climber and sprinter. He certainly won't suffer from that climb inside the final third of the race. And Avanti knows how to play it smart.

Team Budget brought the strongest squad though: several possible threats for the victory with sprinter Daniel Barry (stage-win in the New Zealand Cycle Classic) and Jack Anderson (also a stage-win there) as the best options maybe. But also Sam Horgan or allrounder Michael Torckler can be considered as contenders here. A pretty small startlist (56 riders), but some international flavour with also Sam Bewley, James Oram and Roman Van Uden starting for a NZL National Team here!

sutty68 wrote:
Watch the Budget boys shine

The REV Classic Recap

Ryan Christensen (Bike Manawatu) sprinted to the biggest win in his young career, taking out the REV Classic ahead of top-favorite Patrick Bevin (Avanti) and Daniel Barry (Budget)! This young gun promises a bright future and we're already excited to see him racing in the Australian NRS this season.

How it happened: the break of the day with three riders didn't stand a chance today. Mainly Avanti and domestic team Breads of Europe took charge of the chase, supported by Team Budget for the final quarter of the race. Only a few of the 56 riders got dropped and so it came down to a bunch sprint.

Avanti's Karwowski/Bevin appeared as the strongest duo, pulling Christensen and World Tour rider Sam Bewley onto the finishing stretch. Budget's Horgan/Barry not too far behind, but they certainly missed the perfect moment. Barry had a finish as fast as Christensen, but the latter had the better position to nail the win ahead of Bevin and Barry.. Bewley with a strong 4th ahead of Sam Horgan, who completed a nice result for Team Budget.

Avanti, Budget and Breads of Europe controlling the race..

Karwowski delivering a strong leadout for Bevin..

Christensen overtaking Bevin, Barry nearing from behind..

..but Barry has to settle for 3rd as Christensen nails it!

A strong showing from Christensen, who will race the NRS this year!