The sprinters took control of the rankings for two of the last three NRS events and so we see two pure sprinters in the Top-5 by now: Davison (12 points in Murray River) jumped onto 3rd, Giacoppo (18) on 5th and also Law (20) made the Top-10!

While Davison might have hoped to score more points in Murray River, Giacoppo and Law delivered after a rather disappointing Geelong Tour a couple of weeks ago.. so will Davison still have a chance to challenge O'Brien for the NRS-title? One thing is for sure: he needs to deliver in the three remaining flat classics!

GPM Data#3 (21 pts) and Huon (19) were the big winners in the team competition this time. While GPM may be already too far from the Top-5, Huon made a huge step towards the NRS team's title, as Budget (12) lost his second place to Drapac (14) for the first time in a long time!

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS/

Rk	Name	Team	Points
1	Mark O'Brien	Euride Racing	47
2	Nathan Earle	Huon Salmon - Genesys	41
3	Luke Davison	Drapac Cycling	37
4	Neil Van der Ploeg	search2retain	34
5	Anthony Giacoppo	Huon Salmon - Genesys	33
6	Jack Haig	Huon Salmon - Genesys	29
	Scott Law	GPM Data#3	29
8	Alex Wohler	Budget Forklifts	28
9	Robbie Hucker	Drapac Cycling	26
10	Michael Cupitt	Budget Forklifts	25
11	Aaron Donnelly	Huon Salmon - Genesys	23
12	Jack Anderson	Budget Forklifts	22
	Stuart Smith	search2retain	22
	Adam Semple	Satalyst Giant Racing	22
15	William Walker	Drapac Cycling	21
	Joel Strachan	Target Trek Racing Team	21

TEAM RANKINGS/

Rk	Team	Points
1	Huon Salmon - Genesys	129
2	Drapac Cycling	108
3	Budget Forklifts	106
4	Euride Racing	94
5	search2retain	80
6	GPM Data#3	64
7	Jayco - Honey Shotz	59
8	Satalyst Giant Racing	46
9	Target Trek Racing Team	41
10	African Wildlife Safaris	25
11	Charter Mason / Drapac DT	21
12	Pro Team Downunder	18
13	Subway Cycling Team	17
	Pure Tasmania & Polygon Cycling	17
15	Suzuki Bontrager	13
16	Downer EDI Mining	11
17	Racing Kangaroos	9
18	SUVelo Racing	6
19	St George Skoda HP Team	5
	Bianchi Lotto Arbitrage	5
21	Data#3 Cisco Racing Team	4
22	Veneziano Blefari	3

sutty68 wrote:
Team Budget and there riders need to change there tactics and soon

National Capital Tour

The second edition of the National Capital Tour in and around Canberra and - again - four stages with a nice mix of different profiles:

A challenging ITT is followed by a long mountain-top-finish, even though the slopes ain't the toughest we've seen this year. Anyway, the climbers will try to gain valuable minutes/seconds here.. also the sprinters will have - most probably - two chances to shine.






Neil Van der Ploeg (search2) began his "mission to the NRS title" right here one year ago: a rather surprising, but well deserved victory it was. He managed to grab two stage-wins and finished also 3rd in the ITT and 6th in the tough mountain-stage! Will better climbers like O'Brien, Haig or Clark do better this year?

Harry Carpenter (Euride) finished 2nd in the ITT..

Lachlan Norris (Jayco) took out the queen-stage, but crashed later!

The peloton chasing in the flat road race around the Lake..

Canberra - it's Capital Hill and Capital Circle..

National Capital Tour (Preview #2)

Earle (Huon), Anderson (Bugdet), Lapthorne (Drapac), Norris (Jayco)

[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/ MO 74, HI 72, TT 68
The current NRS-leader has the big chance to go for a crucial gap in the rankings! He already leads by 6 pts on Earle, who won't be at the start here!

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Clark_zps49aa474c.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Matthew Clark (Drapac)
Key stats/ MO 73, HI 70, TT 68
Despite being rated as one of the best climbers in the NRS, Clark struggled to do anything special so far in the season: 5 pts in the NRS is way too less.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Cupitt_zpsc4e56da6.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Michael Cupitt (Budget Forklifts)
Key stats/ MO 72, HI 71, TT 68
Cupitt had his best race a few weeks ago, as 3rd overall in the Great South Coast. He has proven that he's amongst the best climbers more than once.

[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 Forklifts)
Key stats/ MO 70, HI 71, TT 70
And Budget will have at least one more serious GC-contender in Williams. The 30 years old veteran failed to score points so far, but he's a very good allrounder.

[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/ MO 70, HI 73, TT 72
Haig dropped onto 6th in the NRS recently, but here's his chance to attack the podium-spots. The super talented stage-racer struggled in his last races, though.

[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/ MO 65, HI 71, TT 72
It ain't the perfect profile for VdP, as he's not the best climber. But if he attacks early in the crucial climb, like he did in 2013, he may be a real threat again!

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Bayly_zps7babefc2.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Cameron Bayly (search2retain)
Key stats/ MO 70, HI 70, TT 67
If VdP won't compete with the best climbers, there is still Bayly, on which search2retain can rely. His strong performance in Toowoomba was impressive.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Hucker_zps910367a9.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Robbie Hucker (Drapac)
Key stats/ MO 71, HI 71, TT 67
And another team with two possible leaders - Drapac! If Clark continues to struggle, Hucker (9th in the NRS) could be there. A very good climber and in good shape.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Crawford_zpsb32504c2.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Jai Crawford (Huon Salmon - Genesys)
Key stats/ MO 73, HI 68, TT 66
Also Huon will have at least one co-leader, especially as Crawford is amongst the best three climbers in the NRS. Needs to limit the losses in the ITT.

[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Katsonis_zps8d2c75c2.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Nicholas Katsonis (Charter Mason)
"Don't underestimate our chances here. I know it's a tough startlist with the very best climbers in the NRS taking part, but guys like Jason Spencer or even myself can climb well, too. Maybe we will have a shot at a To-5 or Top-10."

Ian Butler wrote:
I must say I've been disappointed in the latest startlists in the sense that I want to see a man to man battle between O'Brien and Early. They're just avoiding each other now

National Capital Tour (Stage 1, ITT, 17km)

The Capital Tour kicks off with a 17km ITT and it's about more than "just" a stage-win today: the GC-contenders can either win or lose crucial seconds or minutes here.


Cameron Wurf (Subway) may be on of the dark horses here. While he ain't the best climber, a strong performance today may give him an advantage on some pure climbers.

4th so far: 23'34" behind Kaesler (Euride), Palmer (Drapac), Edwards (Subway)!


Jordan Kerby (Budget) is aiming for the stage-win here. He looks good, but misses the provisional lead:

3rd by now: + 2" on still leading Kaesler!


Joe Cooper (Huon) should be always considered as a top-favorite against the clock. And also a GC-contender maybe.. he delivers:

1st: 23'23"!


But there's still Harry Carpenter (Euride), who's also amongst the very best in this discipline. It's a close decision for the stage-win, but..

new BT for Carpenter: 23'20", beating Cooper by three seconds!

So Carpenter takes out the opening stage and he's not chanceless in the mountains! Cooper 2nd ahead of another Euride-rider with Kaesler!

Tomorrow's mountain-stage will be the crucial stage anyway, but of course we've seen some gaps between the GC-favorites today:

10	Ben Dyball	Huon Salmon - Genesys	+ 14
...
15	Neil Van der Ploeg	search2retain	+ 22
16	Marc Williams	Budget Forklifts	+ 23
...
25	Cameron Bayly	search2retain	+ 34
...
32	Jack Haig	Huon Salmon - Genesys	+ 40
...
34	Adam Semple	Satalyst Giant Racing Team	+ 41
...
37	Robbie Hucker	Drapac Cycling	+ 42
...
40	Mark O'Brien	Euride Racing	+ 44
...
49	Jai Crawford	Huon Salmon - Genesys	+ 47
50	Michael Cupitt	Budget Forklifts	s.t.
...
55	Matthew Clark	Drapac Cycling	+ 48
56	Karl Evans	Budget Forklifts	s.t.

So especially Jack Haig really struggled to put pressure on the better climbers like O'Brien, Clark or even teammates Dyball and Crawford! Quite a surprise, as Haig is known as a very good TT-specialist. Van der Ploeg could be amongst today's biggest winners, as well as Dyball, Bayly and also Williams!

National Capital Tour (Stage 2, Mountain, 104km)

Second day here in Canberra and it's expected to be the crucial one: a tough mountain-stage is likely to create decisive gaps and split the peloton into pieces.

Race-leader Carpenter (Euride) still may have a chance to survive the day in yellow, as most of the climbers are more than 30" behind. Or will he work for top-favorite O'Brien instead?


It took a while for a first breakaway to be formed, but eventually it's a 4-men-group building a decent gap halfway through the race:

Davis (Huon), Rudolph (Drapac), Allenby (SUVelo) and Aldridge (New Zealand)!

So both Huon and Drapac managed to get a decent climber in this group. Maybe an important tactical move..


With still 35km remaining and Szollosi (ProTeamDU) catching up to the leading group in the meantime, 4 more riders attack:

Semple/Marshall (Satalyst), Davies (St George) and Bonello (GPM)!

So well-known names, Semple in particular! He ain't known as the best climber, but got support by the team's best climber in Marshall!


Of course this move would make the peloton chasing harder now and so it's an empty-handed attempt for now:

18km to go and except of early escapee Aldridge and a still fighting Davies, all escapees are reeled in!


16km remaining and it's a thrilling race now! Aldridge leads by 48" on the chasing bunch, where we see the first top-favorites launching an early move!

O'Brien (Euride)
Haig (Huon) and always-aggressive
Taylor (GPM)

try to escape! The race is on!


That move was the end for Aldridge's solo-effort and so it's up to the top-favorites to set the agenda late in the race:

O'Brien and Haig couldn't yet create a bigger gap, but they go again with 11km and the tough finishing climb ahead! They are joined by young gun Gassner (Veneziano)!


It's a brutal pace back in the bunch now and so the group once again wouldn't establish a decent gap..

..except of Jack Haig! He looks super-strong on this climb and dropped O'Brien easily! With 6.5km to go, Haig leads solo by already 54" on O'Brien, who's joined by more favorites!


2.8km remaining and a chasing group of 7 riders desperately tries to hang on with an impressive Haig:

E1/

Haig (Huon)

E2/

Cupitt and Williams (Budget)
O'Brien (Euride)
Hucker and Clark (Drapac)
Dyball (Huon)
Bayly (search2) at 1.32

P/

with Carpenter, Crawford, Van der Ploeg at 1.57

So Haig managed to create an even bigger gap and as the group behind already fights hard to keep it's own pace, it looks like Haig will take this..


He does! And how strong he was today! Jack Haig wins the queen stage with an impressive gap, as no one is to be seen in the back while he's celebrating his victory!

Eventually, the group O'Brien finished 1'50" later! What a gap.. Drapac's duo Clark/Hucker complete today's podium and the peloton with race-leader Carpenter lost 2'39" on Haig.


So of course that's the GC-lead for Haig, who struggled in the opening timetrial but answered in style today!

Teammate Dyball did a great job to hang on with the top-favorites and thanks to his good ITT, he's the new 2nd with 1'34" behind Haig!

Williams 1'43" in arrears as 3rd, with Bayly, Hucker, Clark and O'Brien all a few more seconds behind. Carpenter and Cooper managed to stay in the Top-10 today.

Two flat stages remain. Will we see bonus seconds become crucial inside this close Top-10? O'Brien will definitely hope for a better result than this 7th place.

National Capital Tour (Stage 3/4, two flat)

Time for the two final flat stages in Canberra! Yesterday's queen stage saw Jack Haig taking a comfortable GC-lead thanks to a great ride.

Anyway, it's still a close race (inside the Top-10 behind Haig) and bonus seconds are still to be rewarded.. and of course we do remember last year's GC's 2nd Norris crashing in the final crit!

STAGE 3 - LAKE BURLEY GRIFFIN LOOP/


It's a rather long stage around the Lake Burley Griffin and a tough pace plus crosswinds (38kmh) lead to a major split in the peloton, that caught an early breakaway 5km before finish:

only 57 riders remain in the first bunch and some notable names will lose (unexpected) time today!

Dyball (Huon, GC's 2nd) as the most "shocking" name, as well as
Semple (Satalyst)
Will Walker (Drapac)
Wurf (Subway) or
Joe Cooper (Huon, GC's 10th)!

So especially Huon obviously with horrible news, losing two possible Top-10-places here! At least Haig did well to stay safely in the bunch.


Back to the front, where the bunch sprint kicks off.. with Pure Tasmania setting up a perfect leadout for top-sprinter Ben Grenda!


And so it's an easy looking win for Grenda! Some kind of redemption for his crash in the same stage one year ago!

Talbot (Kangaroos) and Palmer (Drapac) complete the podium.. Dyball/Cooper lose more than 2 minutes due to the split and so both drop out of the GC's Top-10! Tough luck.

STAGE 4 - CANBERRA CITY CRITERIUM/


9 riders try their luck with a breakaway attempt in the final criterium through Canberra. No danger for the GC, most notable names are Wood (ProTeamDU), Costello (Kangeroos) and Aitkin (Jayco)..


The peloton narrows the gap to 30" with only 4km to go and so Costello launches a late move, soloing away from his breakaway companions!


It's a close one, but Costello holds on to a small gap to take out the final stage here in Canberra!

A huge result for him and his team, as teammate Talbot finishes 2nd again, completing a 1-2 for the Kangaroos! Top-sprinter Law grabs the 3rd place in a close sprint.


No more change inside the GC's Top-10, as Jack Haig takes a dominating overall victory in the National Capital Tour 2014!

Marc Williams brings home a nice 2nd place for Budget Forklifts (and his first points in the NRS this year), thanks to his good ITT. Bayly (search2) completes the podium.

Drapac's duo Hucker/Clark inside the Top-5, ahead of O'Brien, who scores only a few points this time - just like Earle did in the Great South Coast though.

Cupitt, Carpenter, Kaesler and Edwards complete the Top-10.. no points for Van der Ploeg (11th) here, so he couldn't repeat his dominating success from 2013.