[img-r]https://imageshack.com/a/img825/4272/4itf.png[/img-r]What's this story about/It's neither a team nor a one-rider story. It's a Series story. While the focus will be on specific teams or riders though. Heading for 2015/And here we go again, yet entering the third year of covering the action in Australia's premium cycling series. Some notable changes (like defending champion Earle stepping up to World Tour level) will make for an interesting new "look" of the domestic cycling scene.. and await some more "bonus stuff" around Australia's cycling scene.. and we're going to have a focus on New Zealand as well. Oceania, here we come!
Database/ Custom Difficulty/ I will run the Series like the MG: as a reporter only Stages/ made by me Shirts/ made by miggi133 (90%), aidanvn13, FroomeDog99 and me
Info/ Some may know that I started running this story with PCM12. You'll find all links in this new thread though.
indicates NRS-events indicates UCI events indicates New Zealand events indicates other Australian/Oceanian events
o indicates "link available"
x indicates "not"
indicates Victoria State Road Series-events indicates NRS-events indicates South Australian events indicates other Australian/Oceanian events
o indicates "link available"
x indicates "not"
National Road Series - 2014
Date
Race
State
Stages
21.4
Mersey Valley Tour
TAS
ITT
2.5.
Tour de Perth
WA
2 ITT
9.5.
Tour of Toowoomba
QLD
2 TTT 2
24.5
Adelaide Tour
SA
TTT 2
20.6.
North West Tour
NSW
ITT 3
31.7.
Tour of Gippsland
VIC
5 3
10.8.
Tour of Geelong
VIC
5
18.8.
Tour of the Great South Coast
VIC
6 3
3.9.
Tour of the Murray River
VIC
7
20.9.
National Capital Tour
ACT
ITT 2
25.9.
Launceston to New Norfolk
TAS
29.9.
Tour of Tasmania
TAS
TTT 3 3
12.10.
Melbourne to Warrnambool
VIC
13.10.
Shipwreck Coast
VIC
20.10.
Golbourn to Sydney
NSW
26.10.
Grafton to Inverell
NSW
"!" indicates hill/mountaintop finish
National Road Series Archive - 2013/
Spoiler
indicates Victoria State Road Series-events indicates NRS-events indicates South Australian events indicates other Australian/Oceanian events
o indicates "link available"
x indicates "not"
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/001_Mini_African_zps839086f2.png[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]AFRICAN WILDLIFE SAFARIS #Rhys Gillett, Nathan Elliott, Tyler Spurrell, Jason Spencer
This young team made some steps forward in the past season and looks set for joining the mix for the Top-5 this year. Elliott and Spencer will add some depth!
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/001_Mini_Avanti_zpsf4ede230.png[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]AVANTI RACING TEAM #Mark O'Brien, Jack Haig, Joe Cooper, Anthony Giacoppo
Losing defending champion Earle won't stop this team from continuing it's way to be Australia's best domestic team. Couple of stars added, several still on the roster.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/001_Mini_Budget_zps2b4100da.png[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]BUDGET FORKLIFTS #Tim Roe, Sam Horgan, Jesse Kerrison, Alex Wohler
Aiming to claim the team's title they won back in 2013, Budget landed a coup by giving Roe a chance to bounce back from his injuries. Kerrison up and coming sprinter!
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/001_Mini_Charter_zps17b6c83d.png[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]CHARTER MASON GIANT RACING #Keagan Girdlestone, Shannon Johnson, Raphael Freinstein
Formerly Drapac's development team, Charter Mason goes "solo" this year. South African born Kiwi Girdlestone could be a force, just like sprint-aces Johnson/Freinstein.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/001_Mini_Data3_zps380a4901.png[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]DATA#3 SYMANTEC #James Szollosi, Fraser Gough, Ben Carman
After two years with less notable results, GPM's former development added some talent and may become a dark horse for the Top-10. Watch out for Kiwi-talent Gough!
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/001_Mini_Drapac_zps75cf7611.png[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]DRAPAC CYCLING #Wes Sulzberger, Jonathan Cantwell, Rob Hucker, Travis Meyer
Drapac just got a ProContinental, which may prevent the team from finally grabbing the NRS's team title.. may not race all events, but their talent is huge!
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/001_Mini_Euride_zpsa3d0a045.png[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]EURIDE RACING #Alex Edmondson, Harry Carpenter, Glenn O'Shea
O'Brien left this talented team after just one season, so Euride may focus on less climbing again. Edmondson has yet to break through, Carpenter will ride U23s in Europe.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/001_Mini_GPM_zps3f118320.png[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]GPM - DATA#3 #Chris Jory, Daniel Bonello, Caleb Jones
Jory will be a force in those late season one day classics, but the team lacks some outstanding stage racers and sprinters. Still some depth to race a solid season.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/001_Mini_Satalyst_zpse14e90e1.png[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]SATALYST GIANT RACING #Pat Shaw, Theo Yates, Joel Strachan, Matthew Marshall
Like African Wildlife's (which claimed continental status this year), Satalyst is one of those Aussie teams to grow with every year. Lost Paul van der Ploeg though.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/001_Mini_search2_zps6e0b4b68.png[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]SEARCH2RETAIN #Patrick Bevin, Brendan Canty, Alistair Donohoe, Cam Bayly
Lost 2013 champion Neil vdPloeg, but the team was impressive the past two years.. added two up and coming climbers with Bevin and Canty. Nice depth as well.
*this is just ten of more than twenty teams in the NRS
Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers Pro Cycling Team
92
29
Eric Sheppard
search2retain p/b health.com.au
77
30
Chris Jory
GPM Data#3
71
Nathan Elliott
Target Trek Racing Team
71
32
Tom Palmer
Drapac Cycling
70
33
Robert-Jon McCarthy
Euride Racing
68
34
James Szollosi
Pro Team Downunder
62
35
Brodie Talbot
Racing Kangaroos Cycling Development Program
55
36
Floris Goesinnen
Drapac Cycling
48
37
Mark Jamieson
Jayco/Apollo VIS Men’s Road Team
47
38
David Melville
GPM Data#3
45
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Oz Cycling Development Team
45
Alex Clements
Huon Salmon-Genesys
45
41
Jesse Kerrison
Budget Forklifts
43
42
Ben Carman
Downer EDI Mining National Cycling Team
40
Matthew Marshall
Satalyst Giant Racing Team
40
44
William Heath
Satalyst Giant Racing Team
36
45
Gordon McCauley
Drapac Cycling
35
Malcom Rudolph
Drapac Cycling
35
47
Ben Dyball
Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers Pro Cycling Team
33
48
Vaughan Bowman
Target Trek Racing Team
32
49
Josh Taylor
GPM Data#3
28
50
Darcy Ellerm-Norton
Pro Team Downunder
27
51
James Hepburn
GPM Data#3
26
52
Samuel Davis
Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers Pro Cycling Team
25
Nicholas Wood
Pro Team Downunder
25
Jordan Payne
Racing Kangaroos Cycling Development Program
25
55
Thimothy Roe
Euride Racing
23
56
Alexander Smyth
Satalyst Giant Racing Team
21
57
Jonathon Clarke
search2retain p/b health.com.au
20
58
Dean Windsor
Suzuki Bontrager
17
59
Jordan Kerby
Jayco/Apollo VIS Men’s Road Team
15
Cameron Karwowski
Oz Cycling Development Team
15
Michael Freiberg
Bianchi Lotto Arbitrage
15
Jake Sutherland
Bianchi Lotto Arbitrage
15
63
Conor Murtagh
Charter Mason / Drapac Development Team
13
Samwel Ekiru
Kenya
13
65
David Fumpson
Veneziano Blefari Cycling Team
12
Edward Bissaker
Bianchi Lotto Arbitrage
12
67
John Walker
Drapac Cycling
10
Trent Carman
Downer EDI Mining National Cycling Team
10
Joseph Lewis
GPM Data#3
10
70
James Rendall
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
8
71
Jason Spencer
Charter Mason / Drapac Development Team
7
Nicholas Costello
Racing Kangaroos Cycling Development Program
7
Jeremy Cameron
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
7
74
Ayden Toovey
Racing Kangaroos Cycling Development Program
5
Rico Rogers
search2retain p/b health.com.au
5
76
Rhys Pollock
Drapac Cycling
4
77
Miles Scotson
Euride Racing
3
Riley Maule
Data#3 Cisco Racing Team
3
Stephen Vicelich
Oz Cycling Development Team
3
Cal Britten
search2retain p/b health.com.au
3
81
Stuart Smith
search2retain p/b health.com.au
2
Henry Morley
Satalyst Giant Racing Team
2
TEAMS RANKINGS/
Rk
Team
Pts
1
Budget Forklifts
2010
2
Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers Pro Cycling Team
1771
3
search2retain p/b health.com.au
1552
4
Drapac Cycling
1541
5
Satalyst Giant Racing Team
1367
6
GPM Data#3
1182
7
Jayco/Apollo VIS Men’s Road Team
639
8
Charter Mason / Drapac Development Team
610
9
Euride Racing
571
10
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
406
11
Oz Cycling Development Team
390
12
Pro Team Downunder
273
13
Bianchi Lotto Arbitrage
255
14
Target Trek Racing Team
250
15
Suzuki Bontrager
238
16
SUVelo Racing
160
17
Racing Kangaroos Cycling Development Program
151
18
Veneziano Blefari Cycling Team
105
19
Data#3 Cisco Racing Team
70
20
Downer EDI Mining National Cycling Team
60
Series points are awarded as follows/
All NRS events will be run with the races being tiered, the higher tier level events offering teams more ranking points.
CATEGORY 1/
Tour of Gippsland
Tour of the Murray
National Capital Tour
Grafton to Inverell
Melbourne to Warrnambool
CATEGORY 2/
Tour of Tasmania
National Herald Sun Tour
Toowoomba Tour
Tour of the Great South Coast
Adelaide Tour
CATEGORY 3/
Mersey Valley Tour
North West Tour
Launceston to New Norfolk
Shipwreck Coast Classic
INDIVIDUAL POINTS/
In addition to team points, individuals will accumulate their own ranking points by placing in the top 10 at each event. They will receive individual ranking points that will decide the top Male rider in the 2013 National Road Series.
- The original story-thread to be found here
- I will update the first 5 posts with updates after every event, such like schedule/results, the updated rankings or links to rider-blogs
- for those we've not yet followed the story, feel free to check previous reports in the old thread and the story-preview
- I will start the new thread with the newest rankings and some highlight-screens (later today)
So here some of the highlight-screens of the first (PCM12) part of the National Road Series 2013. Especially made for those, who haven't followed yet and also for those, who have to see miggi133's great work with the shirts
Nathan Earle, Neil Van der Ploeg, Mark O'Brien and Bernd Sulzberger on the chase..
A breakaway in season's opener - Mersey Valley Tour
Another breakaway in Mersey Valley Tour..
O'Brien (Budget) and Earle (Huon) - two of the best climbers!
Neil Van der Ploeg in a Roubaix-style finish in Herald Sun Tour
Drapac leading a chase..
Matt Clark (Charter Mason) and Jai Crawford (Huon) trying to escape..
Matt Clark (in old shirt) going solo uphill!
Budget's Jesse Kerrison winning one of the NRS' several crits!
Ian Butler wrote:
Oh, and for the people joining in now, a quick summary: Earle is the greatest in the series
Well, the newest rankings tell a different story
And thanks both Ian and sutty!
The first Category 1-event in Gippsland obviously mixed up the individual rankings: NRS-leader O'Brien lost minutes on a windy and rainy day, so even though he scored some minor points, he was expected to give away the provisional crown.. young gun and rising star Jack Haig once again proved that he's a reliable co-leader for Huon, finishing on podium and taking the NRS-lead!
Also former NRS-leader Semple finished inside the Top-10, keeping contact with Haig, who's teammate Earle also scored valuable points as 5th.. Karl Evans is definitely the big winner here, as he jumped onto 5th thanks to his win.
The top-sprinters Law and Davison, as well as Grenda, came closer to the NRS' Top-10, so don't count the current champion Davison off. The flat classics are still to come.
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS/
Rk
Name
Team
Pts
1
Jack Haig
Huon Salmon-Genesys
277
2
Adam Semple
Satalyst Giant Racing Team
256
3
Mark O'Brien
Budget Forklifts
228
4
Nathan Earle
Huon Salmon-Genesys
225
5
Karl Evans
Budget Forklifts
213
6
Aaron Donnelly
Huon Salmon-Genesys
177
7
Neil Van der Ploeg
search2retain p/b health.com.au
160
Bradley Hall
Satalyst Giant Racing Team
160
9
Paul Van der Ploeg
Satalyst Giant Racing Team
157
10
Michael Cupitt
Budget Forklifts
148
11
Sam Rutherford
GPM Data#3
114
12
Scott Law
GPM Data#3
105
13
Matthew Clark
Charter Mason / Drapac
104
14
Darren Lapthorne
Drapac Cycling
86
15
Luke Davison
Drapac Cycling
85
16
Ben Grenda
Oz Cycling Development Team
83
17
Eric Sheppard
search2retain p/b health.com.au
77
18
Cameron Bayly
search2retain p/b health.com.au
71
19
Harry Carpenter
Euride Racing
63
20
Marc Williams
Budget Forklifts
50
Spoiler
21
Bernard Sulzberger
Drapac Cycling
46
22
Alex Clements
Huon Salmon-Genesys
45
23
Rhys Gillett
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
37
24
Brodie Talbot
Racing Kangaroos Cycling Development Program
35
25
Tom Palmer
Drapac Cycling
30
Jesse Kerrison
Budget Forklifts
30
27
Darcy Ellerm-Norton
Pro Team Downunder
27
Jai Crawford
Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers Pro Cycling Team
27
29
James Hepburn
GPM Data#3
26
Nathan Elliott
Target Trek Racing Team
26
31
Chris Jory
GPM Data#3
25
32
Jack Beckinsale
Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers Pro Cycling Team
23
Thimothy Roe
Euride Racing
23
34
Vaughan Bowman
Target Trek Racing Team
20
Lachlan Norris
Jayco/Apollo VIS Men’s Road Team
20
Nicholas Wood
Pro Team Downunder
20
37
Jordan Kerby
Jayco/Apollo VIS Men’s Road Team
15
Jake Sutherland
Bianchi Lotto Arbitrage
15
39
Josh Taylor
GPM Data#3
13
40
David Fumpson
Veneziano Blefari Cycling Team
12
41
John Walker
Drapac Cycling
10
Joseph Lewis
GPM Data#3
10
Alexander Smyth
Satalyst Giant Racing Team
10
44
James Rendall
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
8
45
Jason Spencer
Charter Mason / Drapac Development Team
7
46
Jeremy Cameron
African Wildlife Safaris Cycling Team
6
47
Floris Goesinnen
Drapac Cycling
5
Ayden Toovey
Racing Kangaroos Cycling Development Program
5
Robert-Jon McCarthy
Euride Racing
5
Brendan Johnston
Suzuki Bontrager
5
Rico Rogers
search2retain p/b health.com.au
5
52
Rhys Pollock
Drapac Cycling
4
53
Miles Scotson
Euride Racing
3
Riley Maule
Data#3 Cisco Racing Team
3
Ben Dyball
Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers Pro Cycling Team
3
Stephen Vicelich
Oz Cycling Development Team
3
Conor Murtagh
Charter Mason / Drapac Development Team
3
58
Malcom Rudolph
Drapac Cycling
2
Stuart Smith
search2retain p/b health.com.au
2
TEAMS RANKINGS/
Rk
Team
Pts
1
Budget Forklifts
688
2
Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Advisers Pro Cycling Team
The inagural Tour of the Great South Coast was first held in 2012 and was an enormous success. Conducted in Victoria's rugged and spectacular south-west region, the 5-day tour attracted more than 150 competitors from all Australian states & territories, New Caledonia and New Zealand.
Although conducted in periodic inclement weather, riders and team managers heaped praise on the course which took in Portland, Nelson, Heywood, Casterton, Port Fairy, Koroit, Peterborough & Camperdown.
The 94.2km stage from Heywood to Casterton, although conducted in driving rain, was lauded as one of the highlights of the 2012 Subaru National Road Series. Caribou is planning to expand the course in 2013, to include more manicupalities.
+ 4 flat crits
Results 2012/
1 Anthony Giacoppo
Genesys Wealth Advisers
12h31'35"
2 Darren Lapthorne
Drapac
+ 5"
3 Neil Van der Ploeg
search2retain
+ 38"
4 Jai Crawford
Genesys Wealth Advisers
+ 53"
4 Campbell Flakemore
Genesys Wealth Advisers
+ 1'10"
The opening hilly circuit in and around Mount Gambier.. ..and the finishing hilly circuit around Camperdown.
Adam Semple (Satalyst)/ Had not the best race in Gippsland, but a less tough route here in Great South Coast may suit him better. Especially as his team did well in races like that earlier this season.
Nathan Earle (Huon-Genesys)/ Back in shape? A stage-win and 5th overall in Gippsland indicates that he's still in business. The question is, wether he will now work for NRS-leader Haig or go on his own?
Paul Van der Ploeg (Satalyst)/ Winner of the National Herald Sun Tour, with a similar mix of rather easy hilly and flat stages. He's definitely one of the riders, who look like a perfect fit here, just like his brother..
Neil Van der Ploeg (search2retain)/ ..who also scored high in mixed stage-profiles like that. Given that he hilly stages won't be as selective as others we've seen before, last year's 3rd here will be a real threat!
Jack Haig (Huon-Genesys)/ Well, our blogger is one of the most talented stage-racers in the NRS, that's certain. The new NRS-leader will be top-motivated and he's one of the most consistent riders so far.
The Top-sprinters/
Luke Davison (Drapac)/ it took defending NRS-champion Davison 9 stages to take out the first win in Gippsland, but he was strong nevertheless. Expect him to score a win here, too.
Ben Grenda (Oz Cycling)/ Stage-winner in Gippsland, who struggled on the last days though. Anyway, one of the most consistent sprinters so far.
Scott Law (GPM Data#3)/ Two stage-wins in Gippsland, proving that he's as strong as Davison when in shape. Also his team GPM had a power-train in the flat stages, with Caleb Jones as another very good sprinter in the field.
Jack Beckinsale (Huon-Genesys)/ Has shown himself in a couple of flat stages so far. The young gun is just waiting for his first win this year. Will it happen here?
Jesse Kerrison (Budget)/ Another young gun, who's almost as fast as the best. Kerrison was a bit off place in Gippsland though, but took out a stage in North Western Tour. Will he back in shape?
Hm... I fell like semple and the Van der Ploegs have the edge here... As for the sprinters, I think that Law is on a roll. Maybe he'll be this years top sprinter in the NRS. One thing for sure: with semple and the VDP's being decent enough in sprinting and O'Brien, Earle and Haig (and to some extent Crawford) being impenetrable in the mountains, it surely won't be a Sprinter who will be crowned this years NRS Champion!
