The final day of the North West Tour and it's a flat stage from Coonabarabran to Gunnedah.. it looks like an easy day for a mass-sprint, but there's a short climb very close to the finish. Will we see some sprinters fading or a puncheur attacking?
So this only difficulty seems to be the last remaining concern for GC-leader Stu Smith.. will we see O'Brien attacking in order to achieve the North West-triple?
Breakaways have been quite succesful so far in the flat stages of the NWT this year, so today's break of the day may hope for a shot at the win:
Hall (Bianchi), Donati (Downer EDI), Cooke (Satalyst), Payne (Kangaroos) and Rendall (African) build a 5-men-group!
The escapees established a huge gap, but 20km before finish, it looks like the chasing bunch will narrow this gap soon:
Charter Mason, GPM and Budget lead the pursuit for their top-sprinters, the escapees leed by a minute only.
But tough weather conditions make for a thrilling race! 2km before finish, we're on the small climb close to the finishing stretch, and the peloton couldn't yet catch all of the escapees:
Donati holds on to a 25"-gap, dropping the last remaining breakaway companions.. will he stand a chance?
It ain't looking bad, but it's getting closer though:
a Budget-duo (Kerby, Kerrison) got themselves a small advantage over the rest of the sprinting pack, narrowing the gap to Donati..
..but he takes out the final stage! Reuben Donati finishes close ahead of Budget's duo for his team's second stage-win here in the North West! Definitely the biggest race for the small team yet!
No more notable changes in the GC today, so Stuart Smith brings home a great win for search2retain!
What a race he had: two stage-wins, points-shirt, KoM-shirt and of course the GC-win! This will be a nice points haul for the 23 years old Victorian based climber.
O'Brien 2nd ahead of Dyball! While O'Brien might have hoped for more points here, Dyball finally proved his talents and surprisingly lead his Huon-team for the first time in two years. Crawford (17th) and Haig (13th) couldn't deliver, bad news for the latter in particular.
Hucker and Cupitt complete the Top-5, with pre-race favorite Clark taking 6th. Good points for Drapac.. a strong Talbot, young gun Spencer, in-shape Bayly and Welsord round up the Top-10.
Biggest disappointments: Haig, Crawford, last year's 3rd Evans (16th), Norris (18th) and Lapthorne (21st)..
@sutty: Yap, not unfortunately no stage-win for Budget this time. Maybe next time
While most people focussed on wether O'Brien (or someone else) would be able to take the NRS-lead or not - with Earle skipping the North West Tour - it turned out to be a one-man-show: Stuart Smith conquered the North West with two stage-wins, the overall win and 20 (!) points in total! So search2retain has not only Van der Ploeg or Bayly to go for great results, it seems.
O'Brien did well as 2nd, scoring 10 points and narrowing the gap to Earle to only 3 points. He definitely had hoped for more, as he failed to score points (aka podium) the queen stage. Haig still sits on 3rd, but failed to score any points, as Dyball proved to be Huon's strongest in the NWT.
The team's rankings saw some major changes this time: search2retain (18 points) and also Drapac (14) scored well needed points to put some pressure on Euride, which was expected to struggle in this mountainous race though.. Huon and Budget (both 12) did well again and remain where they seem to belong.
Great result for Huon and Earle. O'Brien dropped points there. At least it is still close at the top of the individual rankings. Team looking ever better for Huon as more of it's riders prove they can score whatever the situation
@Ian: Not really a miracle, but good for him anyway
@sutty: Again, agree
@Manx: Huon looks definitely strong enough to take back the team's title from Budget, yes. Also thanks to guys like Dyball or Cooper.. Earle with a small advantage, but still open. Good race for him indeed, as O'Brien could have scored 15 pts by winning the queen stage plus GC. So now it's "just" 10 pts...
The Lakes Oil Tour of Gippsland is an 8 stage road tour that starts on scenic Phillip Island, where they battle it out on the infamous Grand Prix circuit in the second stage.
The race then heads into South Gippsland where the riders will endure a stage full of rolling hills from Leongatha to Yinnar. The second road stage starts from Sale and finishes with a climb up to bushfire affected Licola.
An afternoon road stage on a testing course from Lakes Entrance across to the sleepy fishing village of Metung will conclude the tour on the final day then.
Results 2013/
1
Karl Evans
Budget Forklifts
11h53'29
2
Bradley Hall
Satalyst Giant
+ 2
3
Jack Haig
Huon Salmon-Genesys
+ 6
4
Matthew Clark
Charter Mason
+ 12
5
Nathan Earle
Huon Salmon-Genesys
+ 20
Budget Forklifts was really on fire at this time back in 2013: even though team captain O'Brien lost minutes due to a split in the bunch on the opening day, the team managed to keep it's winning streak - Karl Evans celebrated a huge win in this Category 1-event. A close race, may we hope for the same in 2014.
More impression from 2013/
Rhys Gillett (AWS) took out the queen stage - his biggest win!
Haig, O'Brien and Talbot on the attack..
More attacks on a crucial climb, including Karl Evans..
Rainy weather on the opening made for a thrilling race!
Was searching something (US Pro Road Events) that's similar to this and checked how big this project is. Hats off, for 10th time i guess ( ) , just keep it up. I can surely say my favourite story atm (and is for some time).
Thank you very much for this kind words, admirschleck it's always a nice thing to read, so thank you! Yes, this project has become quite big in the meantime and i really enjoy it. Are you talking about a similar US Pro-story, btw? Or the real series there?
@all: Will post the second preview for Gippsland in a few hours, i guess!
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Haig_zps8d12cd78.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Jack Haig (Huon Salmon - Genesys) Key stats/ HI 73
It's again a Huon-race without NRS-leader Earle and even though Dyball did well in the latest event, this time Haig is expected to go for well needed points.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_NeilVanderPloeg_zps9f1165f0.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Neil Van der Ploeg (search2retain) Key stats/ HI 71, SPR 71
We don't need to say why VdP is that high on the list: he is capable of finishing strong in both the flat and the hilly stages, so this race suits him, simple thing.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_WiWalker_zpse14f53a2.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]William Walker (Drapac) Key stats/ HI 73
Walker hasn't shown anything good since his comeback to the NRS and this has to change now! Being rated as one of the strongest puncheurs, he's a favorite.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Anderson_zps7a324a36.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Jack Anderson (Budget) Key stats/ HI 74
Anderson, who looked extraordinary strong in the summer (4th in Australian NC), has all skills to go for the win here, which would bring well needed points.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_OBrien_zpsd0ff84f7.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Mark O'Brien (Euride Racing) Key stats/ HI 72
O'Brien has delivered in all of his appearences so far in the season. Gippsland won't be the race where he's the very top-favorite though. Still dangerous.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Wurf_zps678ac5a7.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Cameron Wurf (Subway) Key stats/ HI 71
Wurf has skipped a couple of races recently, but is expected to come back strong here. As the reigning VRS-champ, he knows the Victorian roads quite well.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Norris_zpsd23d82ed.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Lachlan Norris (Jayco - Honey Shotz) Key stats/ HI 71
Like O'Brien, Norris definitely prefers the mountainous races, but he's also strong on shorter climbs and should be amongst those, who aim for a Top-5 at least.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Elliott_zpse52577cf.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Nathan Elliott (Target Trek) Key stats/ HI 70
Victoria based Elliott will aim for something special, as this may be one of the best races for him. Being a "local hero" and top-motivated, he ain't chanceless.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Gillett_zpsb42bcdd2.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Rhys Gillett (African Wildlife Safaris) Key stats/ HI 70
Same goes for our blogger Gillett, who managed to take out last year's queen stage here in Gippsland! A coup like that may bring him a nice GC-result this time.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_PaulVanderPloeg_zpsde09d6c7.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Paul Van der Ploeg (Satalyst) Key stats/ HI 69, SPR 71
Neil's brother struggled so far in the season and has been quite invisible recently.. he had a pretty good start early in 2013, will we see him finding back to shape?
Pre-race comments/
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Williams_zpsc8f0f678.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Marc Williams (Budget) "It's a huge race and we know we have to deliver now! Jack Anderson should be amongst the top-favorites and we will support him wherever possible.. on the other hand, guys like Evans or even myself can do something, too."
-- Oh, I see. every stage race has the same amount of points, so he's better of winning 2 4-day stage races than 1 8-day race. Double points for the same race days
I see this as a bit of a waste for O'Brien given his high MO and TT stats. No mountains and no time trial really puts him into a fight with a lot of similar ability riders. Obviously he is still a threat, and can score well, but for me there were better ways to spend the days.
Haig leading the Huon again. Strong rider, race that suits him and Huons constant stream of top results make him favorite for me. That said it looks like a fairly open race with a number of potential winners.
Hoping that a few guys can get ahead of O'Brien and deny him some points and keep the advantage with Earle
Well, to be honest i had that in idea (to start story). Maybe in future, who knows. If i start , i would firstly need stage-maker and jersey-maker , but that's not important. I'll try to focus on Michal now, that's still only idea.
admirschleck wrote:
Well, to be honest i had that in idea (to start story). Maybe in future, who knows. If i start , i would firstly need stage-maker and jersey-maker , but that's not important. I'll try to focus on Michal now, that's still only idea.
Cool idea I would definitely consider helping with stages and fortunately, the PCMdaily-DB already offers some US-races and teams. I also noticed some good stages made my other members, like MarghNorway. Tbh, the US Pro Series looks quite cool, too. But i see your point with focussing on Michael first!
@Ian: Fair point there but on the other hand, more stages could also offer more chances to score points through single stage's results.. But with only three hilly stages here, i think you're right
@Manx: Well, it's bit of a gamble for O'Brien, yes. But he has to go for races with less mountains, too, so... Will be thrilling to watch from Earle's point of view. If the stronger puncheurs like Haig, Walker or Anderson keep O'Brien off the podium, then Earle would have less pressure in his next race.
Strange that nobody made any comment about those GREAT 2013 impression screens.. .. "People are strange". I love those screens mate, i really want to see J.Anderson winning this race.. i agree with admirschleck, imo there is 1 or 2 good stories but this one it´s the best... ( i would not expect anything else from you).. now let me see some more great reports and screens....
@baia: Thank you very much, mate For both the comment on the screens and the story in general. It's always great to get feedback like that, especially from a mate like yours
First report for Gippsland should be up within the next hour, btw!
) , just keep it up. I can surely say my favourite story atm (and is for some time). 
it's always a nice thing to read, so thank you! Yes, this project has become quite big in the meantime and i really enjoy it. Are you talking about a similar US Pro-story, btw? Or the real series there?
.. "People are strange". I love those screens mate, i really want to see J.Anderson winning this race.. i agree with admirschleck, imo there is 1 or 2 good stories but this one it´s the best... ( i would not expect anything else from you).. now let me see some more great reports and screens....
