Benoot.
Really - I’d go with Dumoulin every day and twice on Sunday’s - An inform and committed Dumoulin could podium the 2022 TDF - Anyway it’s in Tom’s hands if he changes team - Teams and sponsors are in support.
Kelland O’Brien signs as a neo-pro for Bike Exchange - He’s talented and I expect him to win races from year two.
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I like Tom, but I think he’s past his best.
Honestly, the chances of winning a GT if your name isn’t Roglic, Pogacar or Bernal seems rather remote.
I’d rather get some quality in the team that can win stages and classics.
Lucy Kennedy has joined the Australian Cycling Academy as a coach - It’s a pity that she lost her nerve as she was one of the few who was happy in BEX’s women’s team.
The Australian cyclocross championship has been cancelled for a second year running - The last two years have been a disaster for all disciplines of cycling in Australia.
Ruby is WT standard. She is a classy rider who has a quick finish. Should be in Europe on Jan 2.
I see Gigante is back in Australia, just completed her 14 isolation.
Yes - She is back to complete Uni Exams, although you think she could have done them remotely - She comes back two weeks later and no quarantine - This is a make-or-break year for Gigante - She’s barely raced as a pro in two years because of injury and illness and has never competed in a stage race in Europe, so she needs to get race days on the board in the next year.
Posted months ago that despite teams advising their riders not to return, some would return anyway - You should get a few of the Melb and Sydney based riders return because of the no quarantine requirements, and my guess is one or two will ride the Bay Crits - I am unsure what is happening with the Nationals ? Supposedly the TDU organizers are making a last ditch effort to hold the race - It’s so disappointing because the UCI wanted the event to go ahead, so gave them until the end of September to make a decision - I doubt it will happen now.
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Bike Exchange sign Colombian Jesus David Pena - Twice the under 23 of the Vuelta Colombia and twice second in a stage of the Baby Giro - Think he has a higher ceiling than Colleoni.
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I believe there are two new signings for both men and women to be announced. Then it will be renewals.
Believe that S Yates is riding the TDF in 2022. Unsure if for GC or stage hunting.
BEX have gone back to the future with the signings of Alexandra Manly and Georgia Baker from the track program. Manly previously did 5 years with BEX and is very capable if she commits to the road - Baker struggled during her previous one year stint - The jury is out on this signing - Think with unannounced renewals, the team will be full.
I understand the men’s team has one more new signing and then it will be the announcement of contract renewals.
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A good article from Spencer Martin which fairly much re-iterate my assertions in this thread - The only area he didn’t cover was training which has been reviewed and should lead to better performances - As Spencer pointed out they must evolve their tactics with an emphasis on more flexibility.
2022 is a holding year where they are building the foundations for 2023, although they should achieve better results than in 2021.
A couple of key objectives for 2022
- S.Yates to ride each GT as a stage hunter - Let’s face it he has only won a single stage race in his career and is hopeless in one day races.
- Mezgec to ride every race possible with Groves to give him a perfect lead-out.
- Matthews to target the Giro and the Vuelta for stages. Only consider a sprint jersey in one of these grand tours.
- Let L.Hamilton focus on one week stage races in the first half of the year with the possibility of a GC tilt at the Vuelta.
I will add that the riders who returned to Australia in the 2020 off-season nearly all performed below expectations. Two weeks quarantine is not a good preparation for racing - I have to wonder about the professionalism of Durbridge who has again returned to Perth where he must undergo another two weeks of quarantine - I have no qualms about riders who are based in Melbourne and Sydney returning home, while you could just about return home just before XMAS in all states bar WA - I would like some of the returning BEX riders to ride the Bay Crits to prepare themselves for the Nationals ( if they go ahead ) - It would be great if Matthews ( who usually returns home to Sydney for 2 weeks in December ) actually kickstarts his season in OZ at the Bay Crits and possibly the Nationals. I would avoid the Mickey Mouse TDU - Will post other thoughts in the next few days.
Anyway, BEX have signed Swiss Neo-pro Alexander Balmer - Comes from a mountain biking background but has primarily ridden road in the last two years in the under 23’s - He’s good at the ITT and can get up punchy climbs - A tantalising prospect.
Anyone have any idea what “minor breach” Mike Tomalaris committed to be forced to resign abruptly from SBS? According to a statement from him recently he committed some sort of a minor breach of the code of conduct and they demanded he resign. He thought it was because they were ageist.
Nope.
BEX sign NZ track rider Campbell Stewart. He is quick and talented. Interested in how he adapts to the road. This is a surprise signing and is reflective of how the team is changing its focus.
The Aussie juniors and under 23s will ride in Europe this season. Juniors have been given permission to leave Australia while it appears some money has been reallocated from the track program to fund an under 23’s team.
Sutherland from CA was very pointed in his criticism of the Aussie men’s performance in the Olympic’s and particularly the World’s - Chose the wrong riders or injured riders for the Olympics, while he inferred the riders didn’t try hard at the World’s - As I pointed out at the time it was a joke that there was no rider with Matthews with 60km to go - He was less critical of the Women’s team BUT he pointed out that injuries showed the lack of depth of Aussie women in the peleton.
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No but I think most people found it hugely surprising he got the ■■■■. He is to cycling coverage what Richie was to cricket, Bruce to footy or Les Murray to soccer - synonymous.
This perhaps explains a little.
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BEX announcing another signing tonight.
Jan Maas who has been riding for the Leopard Trek conti team - I suspect this is a last minute replacement for the 29 year old Aussie who is the subject of a DV allegation in Andorra.
BEX now have 24 riders listed for 2022 - Non-confirmed renewals are Juul-Jensen, Grmay, Hepburn, Peak and Groves - Peak will not be renewed, Groves has renewed, Juul-Jensen has renewed - Grmay you want to keep, while Hepburn could be a question mark.