That was some nice racing! I was hoping an NRS rider would walk away with the RR jersey, but it wasn't to be. Tobin at least got away with the crit champs, so we'll see him racing in the green and gold at least.
@aidan: Well, a road race victory would have been awesome, but it's quite a step from O'Brien/Roe to Gerrans/Porte And yes, Tobin at least. He is allowed to wear his NC shirt just in crit races though. Fortunatelly, there are a couple of those on the NRS schedule.. I just have to remember to switch from general to NC jersey then
New Zealand Elite Road Nationals Preview
The Calder Stewart Elite National Championships is New Zealand’s premier national road cycling event, attracting New Zealand’s top professional and amateur road cyclists.
The highly anticipated Elite Men's Race is on the final day which culminates in a spectacular finish, which is supported by large crowds of spectators in the hills of Cashmere and finishes at Rose Street, Hoon Hay, Christchurch.
See the list of top-favorites below, as well as some few notes on the most promising names!
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_NZL_Gunman_zps0899701a.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Taylor Gunman (Avanti Racing) Joined the team after winning the Tour of Southland as a guest rider for Huon late in 2014.. strong against the clock, he should be a real threat in Joe Cooper's abscence. Amongst the top-favorites for the TT, contender in the RR.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_NZL_Odlin_zpsf9ffa4fc.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Paul Odlin (-) The veteran pops up whenever a timetrial event is on the menu, such as last year's Oceanian TT-event, where finished 6th eventually. This flat parcours here will suit him better though. List him as a favorite for the first event.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_NZL_Roulston_zps4f89044b.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Hayden Roulston (Trek Factory) Defending champion on the road and still going strong in the WorldTour, Roulston definitely has another shot at the NC-jersey this year. Expect him to be there, when it counts and proving his strength on the flat sectors in particular.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_NZL_Bauer_zps1749b881.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Jack Bauer (Garmin) Garmin lines up with... Jack Bauer! The most serious contender beside Roulston, Bauer has a nice allround package of skills and is of course one of the strongest Kiwi cyclists these days. Lacks any support though..
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_NZL_Torckler_zps2969572c.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Michael Torckler (Smartstop) The Kiwi, riding for up and coming US-team Smartstop, is kind of an allrounder, too. He may someone to watch out for in the road race, leading a bunch of contenders like NRS-riders Vink/Gough/Barry (Budget) or Gunman.
I'm sort-of obliged to jump on the Drapac bandwagon here also, but seeing as they won't be in all of the races I'll probably end up supporting the smaller teams.
My predictions: Bauer to win TT, Vennell (if he's there) for the RR.
@sutty: Horgan would be cool... check the timetrial-report to see if a double is possible
@OZ: Why not choose former Drapac-development team Charter Mason? Used to like this team.. as for Vennell: no, kinda missed him to add to the DB, it seems. Maybe next year. Bauer will only ride the road race though
New Zealand Elite Road Nationals - Timetrial
CHRISTIE GRABS THE TITLE IN A THRILLER!
Jason Christie (Breads of Europe) shocked the top-seeded riders like Sam Horgan (Budget), Paul Odlin and Taylor Gunman (Avanti) to win the timetrial by a small margin of 10 seconds ahead of Horgan!
Christie, who rode some NRS-races in the past two years (mainly with now folded Subway Cycling), was amongst the contenders, but this victory came quite surprising anyway.. top-favorite Gunman (4th) had his problems today and so Horgan or Odlin would have been the most promising riders to take this one. Coming to the split halfway through the race, Christie already lead the race by 6" though! He would hold on for the win.
Christie, who will ride for Breads of Europe - a domestic cycling team based in New Zealand - this year, may hope for some more interest in his services now. This was definitely a very good way to show himself after some quiet years spent in the NRS and New Zealand.
Christie setting his winning time!
With Joe Cooper (Avanti) not at the start, Horgan had hoped for this win..
Losing 32" on Christie, Avanti's Gunman clearly hadn't his best day..
tsmoha wrote:
@OZ: Why not choose former Drapac-development team Charter Mason? Used to like this team.. as for Vennell: no, kinda missed him to add to the DB, it seems. Maybe next year. Bauer will only ride the road race though
Fair enough, Charter Mason it is. Don't worry about adding Vennell or anything, I was just trying to think of someone decent who rode the NCs in my Drapac career.
@OZrocker: Oh, I see. Anyway, as I'm open for any suggestions and adding new riders with every new year, thanks for the hint And Charter, good choice!
New Zealand Elite Road Nationals - Road Race
BAUER ATTACKS RIGHT IN TIME FOR SOLO-WIN!
Jack Bauer (Garmin) is 2015's road champion in New Zealand, taking over this title from Hayden Roulston (Trek), who could just sprint for a 4th place in a rather quiet race around Christchurch today.. Sam Dobbs (TotalPos) and TT-champion Jason Christie (BoE) held off the bunch to complete the podium.
An 8-men-group went clear early into the race, so several teams had some hopes for this breakaway to succeed. A few of those eight would come close, as the peloton struggled to close the gap on the final two laps of the circuit. Dobbs and Christie would attack this leading group 15km before finish to secure themselves a podium result eventually.
Jack Bauer though played his tactics to perfection, attacking the bunch solo, bridging a 2-minutes-gap to the two remaining escapees quickly to take out the race in style.. except of Wes Gough (Budget), who launched an empty-handed move a few moments before, no other favorite did really try to escape like Bauer. We've seen more entertaining races, but at least Bauer brought shome action!
Lovegrove (NZ Cycling) and Wills (Armstrong Group) were the first to escape..
Gough gave it a go two times, empty-handed though..
Roulston leading the reduced bunch into the final 30km..
Christie's pace makes the breakaway go into pieces..
Christie and Dobbs attacking the leading group on the final lap!
Bauer launching his well-timed move on the final climb..
..bridging the gap to the last two escapees quickly..
..for the win! A dominating victory in the end!
Bunch sprint for 4th place.. Roulston finishes off Oram's work!
sutty68 wrote:
Three riders finish in the top ten for Budget but none of them will be too pleased with the outcome i suppose
At least Gough was one of only two real contenders to attack the bunch, though empty-handed.. not the worst result for Budget, imo, but given two early escapees survived til the end, it's always kinda missed chance to grab a podium or more
Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Classic UCI 1.1, Preview
Starting and finishing on the magical waterfront of Geelong the races could not be showcased in a more picturesque location, made famous as images of the 2010 UCI World Road Championships were beamed around in globe in October of that year. A new race on the calendar "inspired by the spring classics"!
The finish is a fast one. Provided the sprinters are still all intact, look for a big bunch finish into the finish adjacent to Steampacket Gardens. Once through the finish line for the men, they will be told three laps to go.
A few WorldTour-teams with some of Australia's (and other nation's) best riders subscribed for this inaugaral event, as well as our continental-licensed NRS-teams Drapac, Avanti, Budget, African Wildlife and Satalyst. Those teams will enjoy this challenge against some world classed competition, so it's a great start to a series of three UCI-events concluding the Australian summer of cycling!
Three times over the toughest climb on the course, up Challambra..
And another challenging climb close to the line!
Startlist
Favorites
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Cadel_Goss_zps6dc04e15.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Matthew Goss (Orica) The course offers chances for either sprinters, puncheurs or roleurs, but Gossy should be amongst the top-favorites anyway. Given the team works just for him, he will be a threat when it comes down to a bunch sprint.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Aussie_Durbridge_zpscb7e89d0.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Luke Durbridge (Orica) Orica has not just a sprinter (and puncheur), but also Luke Durbridge, who's extraordinary strong on the flat and knows, how to win such type of a classic. Given Gossy or Gerro will struggle, he should be there to go for the win.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Cadel_Haussler_zps24d21bd7.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Heinrich Haussler (Lotto Belisol) Also Haussler will of course go and try to grab this premier victory of this classic, which should suit him quite well. Same as for Orica, also Lotto will have a real threat beside their top-sprinter Greipel.. Haussler will have a free role.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Aussie_Gerro_zps931c0b70.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Simon Gerrans (Orica) Crowned Australia's road champion Gerrans will hope for those climbs to be crucial, suiting a puncheur more than a sprinter. He showed some impressive shape in the RoadNats and may try his luck with an attack here.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Aussie_Evans_zps183aefda.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Cadel Evans (Trek Factory) And now for the guy, who designed the route: Evans is going to quit his career soon and this will be his day (riding through his hometown and knowing those streets too well). He won't be given a "free ride", but may attack.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Horgan_zps0f4b22e9.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Sam Horgan (Budget Forklifts) Classics-specialist Horgan is one of our NRS-boys to feature the list of possible favorites. The Kiwi leads a team packed with strong roleurs like Wohler, Witmitz, Nankervis or Barry, as well as pure sprinter Jesse Kerrison!
[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 (Drapac) Another rider, who loves those classics: Anderson won the prestigious Melbourne to Warrnambool back in 2013 (with Budget) and except of winning the Oceanian Timetrial Champs last year, he has something to prove for Drapac.
[img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/15NRS_Edmondson_zpsaf4c88fd.jpg[/img-l][img-l]https://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x323/tsmoha/NRS_Portraits/NRS_Platzhalter_zps31ed228a.png[/img-l]Alex Edmondson (U23 National Team) And another well known name from the NRS. Edmondson, racing for an U23 selection (together with Haig, Carpenter and upcoming star Robert Power) is a punchy sprinter, who will fancy his chances for a Top-5 at least.
OZrocker wrote:
PS: Any reason why the Baku team have a Thailand flag?
Yes and no. Yes, because I was too lazy to add missing countries to the DB (Azerbajdan, Singapore, e.g.) and no, because it won't have any influence on the actual racing anyway
@sutty/hoyle: Thanks, guys! It ain't exactly an addition to the NRS itself though, hoyle Just kinda gimmick pre-season stuff to the actual National Road Series later in the season. Wanted to include some UCI-races to see "our" NRS-riders competing with some international teams.
Selwink wrote:
Also, any reason why Watson isn't riding for Trek?
He will be riding for the U23 selection from Australia instead
@roturn: Edmondson, yes. Guess you want to see him mentioned as a pre-race favorite in the ManGame, too That said, he's doing quite well there already.
New Zealand Elite Road Nationals Preview
, although if my game is anything to go by then its going to be Jack Bauer 
