World Champion RR	---->		Fabian Cancellara
World Champions ITT	---->		Alberto Contador

	From	To
Rigoberto Urán	Sky Procycling	Vacansoleil
Alexander Kristoff	Katusha	Saxo - Tinkoff
Nick Nuyens	Garmin Sharp	Saxo - Tinkoff
Nicolas Roche	Saxo - Tinkoff	Sky Procycling
Robert Gesink	Belkin Pro Cycling	BMC Racing Team
Jakob Fuglsang	Astana Pro Team	Cannondale
Tyler Farrar	Garmin Sharp	Cannondale
Michele Scarponi	Lampre - Merida	Cannondale
Ryder Hesjedal	Garmin Sharp	FDJ
Matti Breschel	Saxo - Tinkoff	Garmin - Sharp
Juan Antonio Flecha	Sky Procycling	Garmin - Sharp
Taylor Phinney	BMC Racing Team	Garmin - Sharp
Sergio Henao	Sky Procycling	Katusha
Daniel Moreno	Katusha	Lampre - Merida
Mikel Nieve	Euskaltel	Lotto - Belisol
Ivan Basso	Cannondale	Orica - GreenEdge
Samuel Sánchez	Euskaltel	Radioshack - Trek

Sadly yes. Contador crushed everybody last year at the TT. Martin didn't participate and Wiggins + Cancellara was in quite bad form, while Contador came with topform from winning the Vuelta

See for yourself here: https://pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread....ost_663054

andy222c wrote:

Alakagom wrote:


Love the way the first comment after the Worlds ITT report is by .. Ian

Great to see this back. Amazing layout, best ever in a story I'd say. Looking forward to racing. And nice you stayed with Sky, I think with Sky if you gain a bit more insight into them, everyone would like them that bit more, like I guess you did.

Alakagom: Thanks, those are some very motivating words! I must admit that i like Sky but Froome has destroyed it a little bit for me. Otherwise i think that it is a great team with lots of fine features and parts that i admire

Cunego: Already finished the Santos Tour Down under, so reports will be up soon

Jesleyh: Yup, as far as i recall it he won from a breakway

Pre-Tactics
It's the first race of the season, so getting into the race rhythm will be very difficult. We've brought a strong but also a very young squad with Edvald as our leader and today we'll try to keep it together for a mass-sprint, where i'll be a part of the leadout for Edvald.

As the start went off only one rider wanted to go onto the front. Evan Huffman was the brave rider to start the show, but also the last. As things developed he was on a solo-ride, at an unattainable mission.


Huffman didn't gain more than four minutes on the maximum, so when the pack increased its pace, Huffman was caught with 8 kilometres left.


Going into the sprint, i led the pack with Trentin and Boasson in my wheel. I was forcing the pace up high on the downhill section before the finish line, preventing other riders from passing our train.


We had set the pace so high that no other team could form a sprinting train, forcing them to take our wheels. Most prominent riders behind us seemed to be Gavazzi, Meersman and Belletti.


Trentin fired off Edvald at the kilometer port towards the finish line. Both Gavazzi and Meersman seemed very equal to Edvald. No doubt that the win was going to be decided between those three.


In the end Meersman proved to be a cut above Edvald and Gavazzi. With a comfortable lead Meersman rode home his first victory of the season, taking both the leaders and points jersey. Edvald managed to take second place just ahead of Gavazzi on third.

It's great to be back on track again! I can feel that it's been some time since i raced last time, but anything else would have been strange. I rode the leadout for Trentin and Edvald and i think i did a fine job leading them to the finish line. Boasson wasn't able to twist the victory from Meersman, but second is also a great result.

Alakagom wrote:


Love the way the first comment after the Worlds ITT report is by .. Ian

Pre-Tactics
I came fine through yesterdays first stage and i'm feeling ready for todays challenge. The profile suits me great and if Edvald is in great mood, he'll let me try to slip away on the last hill. Ambitions are high and if i don't succeed in slipping away, i'll help Edvald for the sprint.

The morning breakaway struggled to keep the front, when setting off at the start of the stage. I. Gutiérrez, J. Fumeaux, A. Lund and M. Da Dalto though managed to get away after a long fight with the pack.


Unfortunately for J. Fumeaux, he had a puncture, at the time the pack finally calmed down. Therefore he was forced to drop back to the pack quickly, to save what was left of his reserves.


Especially Lampre and Radioshack were very active at the front of the pack, having high hopes for Ulissi and Bakelandts for the victory.


With 25 kilometres to go, Löfkvist, Dumolin and Kern wanted to try catching the breakaway before the pack. Although of a couple of powerful attacks, only Dumolin was strong enough to manage to get away mid roads between the pack and the breakaway.


With Radioshack leading into the final 10 kilometres, upwards the final climb, Dumolin was the only one left at the front, with a narrow lead of 40 seconds. All favorites were placed up front in the pack.


Mid-ways before the top of the climb, i couldn't wait any longer! Boasson had given me free rein and therefore i didn't wanted to waste the opportunity. But nobody else wanted to go off.


Dumolin seemed done, so i went straight past him at the top. With five kilometres to go i was still in front with only the downhill section lying before me. Could it be a victory this early?


Containing about 15 riders, the favorite group chased hard to catch Dumolin and i. Boasson was still in here sitting comfortably.


All alone i went into the final flat section before the finish line. I rode with all i had in the fear of what was coming from behind. No way that the win was secure enough to take it easy on the last metres.


What the hell! This was fabulous! I couldn't dream of a better start of the season. I had been fast on the downhill section, where the favorites couldn't catch me, leaving them not less than 30 seconds behind me. This could only mean one thing... Leader's jersey!

This is what i'm training for. This success is it all worth! I knew that i was one of the strongest on the climb, but i was surprised that nobody wanted to attack once we got there. I knew i wasn't going to hesitate when sitting in the perfect position, so i'm glad i took the chance.

Winning here in Australia is big and prestigious. Now i'm in the leader's jersey, and i know that the team will support me if i ask them to, so let's see how long i can go on. The remaining stages suits me great, so it would be foolish not to dream big.