You'd think the Giro points jersey holder and, well, every other sprinter, was an amateur. Ewan makes it look so damn easy.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
jandal7 wrote:
You'd think the Giro points jersey holder and, well, every other sprinter, was an amateur. Ewan makes it look so damn easy.
It also helps that Ewan had plenty of racing coming into the event and a well drilled team to work for him, beating Nizzolo isn't that much of an achievement as he always seems to find someone to beat him across the line
Despite all the trash talk this race gets it was another good event, close GC battle, lots of fans by the roadside and the route was good enough. It's far from my favorite race but isn't as bad as people keep saying it is.
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I guess the issue that most have with Tour down under is that it is given World Tour status. It is after all a glorified training camp with short sharp stages and mainly Australian winners. Enjoyed Willunga stage yesterday, I got up special for it. In fact a lot of the pre season races are fun, Qatar, Oman, omloop etc.
The real season and real prizes begin with Paris nice make no mistake.
Celeb Ewan though very excited to see how his season unfolds, perhaps nit quite ready for Tour de France, but surely he can expand WT stages this year - the guy dominated Nizzolo, Renshaw and shitty Swift. These guys are certainly decent guys.
Bonification master Gerrans beats the brute climbing forces of Henao and Porte. Nice work. Woods had a nice race as did McCarthy.
Calling it now against extreme hypocrisy of the sky hating Porte lovers
Can`t agree with you Smowz. The season just has started. Tour Down Under and Tour San Luis might be considered prep races for many. But both are awesome events and have a lot to offer that many other races in mid season don`t have.
The TdU in especially is one of the best planned and organized events all year. The crowd down there is fantastic on any stage. The GC is closer than in most other races. The stages are more open for several kind of riders (well except Willunga Hill it seems).
I really love this race and prefer watching it a lot more than the next WT events like Paris Nice or Tirreno Adriatico.
Regarding the race itself:
Gerrans as often the smartest rider and playing his advantage in the hard sprint stages very well. Must be said though that he had the strongest support with Impey. This guy was horrific and possibly could have top5`d himself as leader.
Fernandez repeated his 2015 performance here, which is great to see. Woods, Henao, McCarthy all showed great strength, which makes them riders to watch for the whole season. Same probably for Valls, who made another sign after Oman here.
For the sprinters Ewan was just too good in form after the Bay Crits. His aero position though is something that is not form related and gives him a great speed advantage over others. Really looked like the HTC Cavendish position. But same here. He surely had the strongest leadout which is not surprising seeing Orica was riding their home race.
Another outstanding rider this TdU was Pat Bevin. Fantastic looking neo-pro.
I'll just say, with Australia really affirming it's status as a powerhouse after the going of riders like Cooke or McEwen (even Goss), with Gerrans still there, Porte one of the best one-weekers in the world and Mathews and Ewan bursting out with guys like Hamilton, Haig, Power and Edmondson among many more looking very good. They need a WT race, be it TDU or something else.
I get and agree the whole "only South Australia" business but it works for the TDU and what it aims to do, yes if they figured out a different calendar spot for a different race then yes they have a whole freaking continent if you're misinformed (), but a huge landmass anyway. And that's not even the whole "down under" area On the Tazzie point, maybe one time but I wouldn't have it there on a permanent basis or even regular.
It really does promote cycling in NZ as well, I kid you not the priority here is (gong by media and Sky coverage):
TDF
Giro
Vuelta/TDU (both live with a few highlights the next day, TDU with much more advertising, etc.)
only just below that Worlds (shares a pop-up channel with not much else but still not TDF-level, each event gets a full live race and a replay or two overnight, as well as a "Day" highlight.) and monuments (Roubaix and Flanders above the rest.
One Weekers/Murican races (Cali, USAPCC and Alberta).
So bet that's no suprise to anyone here but TDU is a big deal for Kiwis as well and we probably need an Australian race at WT level as well. I get that it's a bigger-scale more coherent six-day Mallorca for many foreigners and I don't love it, but an Australian WT stage race has to stay. Guess the major thing will be the ASO v UCI wars and the 2017 reforms yes/no.
Sorry for text, just thinking out loud (or on keyboard) so it is probably incoherent to everyone else.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
I remember the same discussion last year, but I don't count TDU as an important race. It's nice for the Aussies, but which European team cares about it? Would for example Ruben Fernandez be a contender in any other WT race? TDU is absolutely needed for the globalisation of cycling, and as others have said it's a good organised race, but as long at it keeps this place on the calendar, it just won't work.
Congrats to Ian Russell for winning the Velogames league! He passed roturn on the very last stage.
I finished 26th out of 59 teams, although I had five of the six stage winners on my team. Guess that just shows how predictable many results of this tour were.
"It's very hard to work with other guys because nobody wants to work with me so it's better to drop everybody." - Peter Sagan
Although I won the TdF KOM competition a couple of years back with a nice cycling holiday as a prize, this is the first time I've ever won a main competition mini league in a good few years of trying. I've come close a few times but no cigar until now.
Nice to have a good slice of luck so early in the season and even escape from the foolhardy selection of Moreno Moser
Well done to all as the PCM league was typically strong with several teams high up in the overall standings. Roll on Spring Classics!
Edited by ianrussell on 24-01-2016 22:29
Ollfardh wrote:
I remember the same discussion last year, but I don't count TDU as an important race. It's nice for the Aussies, but which European team cares about it? Would for example Ruben Fernandez be a contender in any other WT race? TDU is absolutely needed for the globalisation of cycling, and as others have said it's a good organised race, but as long at it keeps this place on the calendar, it just won't work.
If the Euro teams wish to treat the race lightly then good luck to them and the same goes for the Euro fan's who keep looking down on races outside of Europe, it's tiring hearing the arguments like the races have no history, character or whatever! I absolutely love the classics (more than any GT) and I fully understand the history and tradition of cycling but how many Euro races are in serious financial trouble or horribly organised (looking at you San Sebastian)? Races like Beijing died off because they were bad races but the TDU has earned its stripes and the same goes for other races like California, Utah, ToB and even Oman. Cycling has changed and people wake up and see it or they will miss out
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Congratz to IanRussell for the PCM-league win, as well as to roturn and Alakagom for the remaining podium spots in the league. Very nice positions overall as well.
Personally, my team had a so-so performance. It was solid, but lacked that final edge that is often needed. A couple of bad picks, a couple of good picks missed, and so on. With that in mind, 7th in our league is a relatively good start of the season for me.
Yeah my hat off to IanRussell and roturn for top placings in velogames.
And I add that TDU is for me too a very nice race and the stuff around it (which we on TV doesn't see much) is World Tour quality.
Cycling have grown so much "Down Under" since the days of Phil Anderson. When the weather in the old world is shitty this must be a precious time (perhaps too hot sometimes) to start up a season.
Very keen to see what little Caleb can do this season. He sure look like an Aussie-Missile in style to the Manx-Missile.
Ollfardh wrote:
I remember the same discussion last year, but I don't count TDU as an important race. It's nice for the Aussies, but which European team cares about it? Would for example Ruben Fernandez be a contender in any other WT race? TDU is absolutely needed for the globalisation of cycling, and as others have said it's a good organised race, but as long at it keeps this place on the calendar, it just won't work.
If the Euro teams wish to treat the race lightly then good luck to them and the same goes for the Euro fan's who keep looking down on races outside of Europe, it's tiring hearing the arguments like the races have no history, character or whatever! I absolutely love the classics (more than any GT) and I fully understand the history and tradition of cycling but how many Euro races are in serious financial trouble or horribly organised (looking at you San Sebastian)? Races like Beijing died off because they were bad races but the TDU has earned its stripes and the same goes for other races like California, Utah, ToB and even Oman. Cycling has changed and people wake up and see it or they will miss out
It's a good race, not arguing with you there, but it's not a big race. Where's Kittel, Greipel, Cavendish or Sagan? Where's Froome, Contador, Quintana, Nibali? Willunga Hill would be perfect for guys like Rodriguez, Moreno, Valverde, Martin, Gilbert, Costa, Kwiat, ... but they're not here. As long as TDU stays on its current calendar position, it will never be a big race.
Well Greipel has done his fair share of racing in Down Under, but I agree mostly the placing in the calendar is the problem: Most teams have 2-3 units of riders anyway, so it wouldn't be difficult to split.
TDU is a nice opening race and with the limited area around South Australia it has already build some prestige. I mean, Old Willunga Hill is sorta a name in cycling by now, isn't it?
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Ollfardh wrote:
I remember the same discussion last year, but I don't count TDU as an important race. It's nice for the Aussies, but which European team cares about it? Would for example Ruben Fernandez be a contender in any other WT race? TDU is absolutely needed for the globalisation of cycling, and as others have said it's a good organised race, but as long at it keeps this place on the calendar, it just won't work.
If the Euro teams wish to treat the race lightly then good luck to them and the same goes for the Euro fan's who keep looking down on races outside of Europe, it's tiring hearing the arguments like the races have no history, character or whatever! I absolutely love the classics (more than any GT) and I fully understand the history and tradition of cycling but how many Euro races are in serious financial trouble or horribly organised (looking at you San Sebastian)? Races like Beijing died off because they were bad races but the TDU has earned its stripes and the same goes for other races like California, Utah, ToB and even Oman. Cycling has changed and people wake up and see it or they will miss out
It's a good race, not arguing with you there, but it's not a big race. Where's Kittel, Greipel, Cavendish or Sagan? Where's Froome, Contador, Quintana, Nibali? Willunga Hill would be perfect for guys like Rodriguez, Moreno, Valverde, Martin, Gilbert, Costa, Kwiat, ... but they're not here. As long as TDU stays on its current calendar position, it will never be a big race.
Never said it was a big race but doesn't mean its a bad race which many keep saying (not you by the way), the race pretty much has to stay in this space as I can't see where else it works. The riders who win or place highly tend to be class or up and coming riders with a couple of exceptions of course. Early season races will always been seen in a lesser light and but as long as the racing is good then i'm not bothered. This years edition didn't have the depth of other years but that happens to every race occasionally.
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What would make this race better would be if they replaced the boring last parade stage (while its a good race, its still not a GT) with a 8-10 km ITT to make the race more compelling and balance things out a bit more. It doesnt have to be longer than that, but just something that keep folks interested (=to keep Gerrans from winning) to the end. Such a stage just feels to anticlimactic at the end of a short race won by bonus seconds.
lakebeach wrote:
Congrats to Ian Russell for winning the Velogames league! He passed roturn on the very last stage.
I finished 26th out of 59 teams, although I had five of the six stage winners on my team. Guess that just shows how predictable many results of this tour were.
Yeah Well Done to Ian but i bet Roturn must be gutted to lose on the last day ....
Riis123 wrote:
What would make this race better would be if they replaced the boring last parade stage (while its a good race, its still not a GT) with a 8-10 km ITT to make the race more compelling and balance things out a bit more. It doesnt have to be longer than that, but just something that keep folks interested (=to keep Gerrans from winning) to the end. Such a stage just feels to anticlimactic at the end of a short race won by bonus seconds.
I agree that would be way better than the current last stage but the last stage parade is what the people behind the funding for this event want so I think it's here to stay. A good compromise would be a short TT in the day and then a short crit as the parade later in the afternoon but i'm not sure that is allowed at WT level races.
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
Riis123 wrote:
What would make this race better would be if they replaced the boring last parade stage (while its a good race, its still not a GT) with a 8-10 km ITT to make the race more compelling and balance things out a bit more. It doesnt have to be longer than that, but just something that keep folks interested (=to keep Gerrans from winning) to the end. Such a stage just feels to anticlimactic at the end of a short race won by bonus seconds.
I agree that would be way better than the current last stage but the last stage parade is what the people behind the funding for this event want so I think it's here to stay. A good compromise would be a short TT in the day and then a short crit as the parade later in the afternoon but i'm not sure that is allowed at WT level races.
Imagine the teams are glad they don't have to lug their TT gear out there and wouldn't be overly receptive to doing so for a short TT at the very start of the season. Not to say it wouldn't provide more interest and variety.
At the moment the race gradually eases them into the season - one place to stay, short stages, simple logistics, sunshine and for me it's a closely run, enjoyable return to racing = sweet spot.
Lord Di Lego wrote:
Congratz to IanRussell for the PCM-league win, as well as to roturn and Alakagom for the remaining podium spots in the league. Very nice positions overall as well.
Personally, my team had a so-so performance. It was solid, but lacked that final edge that is often needed. A couple of bad picks, a couple of good picks missed, and so on. With that in mind, 7th in our league is a relatively good start of the season for me.
Picking Woods requires big cycling knowledge and 'balls'.
Congrats Ian, as well as the 17th Overall place
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), but a huge landmass anyway. And that's not even the whole "down under" area 
