Men’s Australian National Road Crit championship currently in progress
Ewan wins the National Criterium Championship as the breakaway is caught in the final lap.
Apparently Ewan is riding the TDU, the new criterium in Melbourne and the Cadel Evans RR - Then off to Europe and South Africa for training and in the middle will ride the Abu Dhabi Tour.
Orica has riders in the National’s RR with the withdrawal of Power - Unsure if Power is injured or training in Europe - Haig training in Europe suggests he will be riding mainly with the GC guys in stage races - Edmondson is training in Adelaide so could be a chance for the TDU and Herald Sun Tour - Hayman is on baby duties so will ride sometime in February - I’ll be disappointed if Durbridge fails to finish 2nd in the ITT.
Meanwhile in Spanish press, Matthews cites conflict with Gerrans as reason for him leaving Orica.
No real surprise, but not much to be gained by saying it. Races where they are both competing may be interesting this year.
Meanwhile in Spanish press, Matthews cites conflict with Gerrans as reason for him leaving Orica. http://www.ciclismointernacional.com/noticias-breves-del-peloton-9/No real surprise, but not much to be gained by saying it. Races where they are both competing may be interesting this year.
I don’t think there was anything malicious in Matthew’s comments. I think it’s fair compare the situation to Hamilton - Rosberg; both guys are winners and aren’t willing to take a back step. That being said, IMO neither had great years last year, how much the situation contributed to that nobody knows.
TT day at the Nationals.
Callum Scotson wins the U23 TT
Garfoot easily wins the womens ITT
Mens results:
- 26 Rohan DENNIS (BMC) 50:59.27
- 33 Luke DURBRIDGE (ORS) 51:57.52 +58.2
- 34 Ben DYBALL 52:37.99 +1:38.7
- 53 Michael HEPBURN (ORS) 53:04.09 +2:04.8
- 111 Miles SCOTSON (BMC) 53:28.59 +2:29.3
- 14 Brendan CANTY (CDT) 55:00.76 +4:01.4
- 75 Sean LAKE (ISW) 55:06.09 +4:06.8
- 138 Cameron WURF (CDT) 55:13.24 +4:13.9
- 92 Lachlan NORRIS (UHC) 55:33.66 +4:34.3
Meanwhile in Spanish press, Matthews cites conflict with Gerrans as reason for him leaving Orica. http://www.ciclismointernacional.com/noticias-breves-del-peloton-9/No real surprise, but not much to be gained by saying it. Races where they are both competing may be interesting this year.
People believe this spin - Yes Gerrans and Matthews didn’t have the best relationship like players in every sports team in the world - The biggest issue was in the 2015 World’s when McGee had 2 leaders in which Gerrans had 4 support riders and Matthews had 3 support riders Matthews lead every race for Orica in which he participated in 2016 - Look at the TDF where Gerrans was a domestic and Matthews was going for stage victories - The hierachy was made clear by Orica in 2016 - Matthews left because Orica made it clear they wouldn’t match his wage demands - It had nothing to do with Gerrans - Sometimes people overlook facts.
Garfoot easily wins the womens ITT
Garfoot is a gun - Was only 12 seconds off winning the World’s TT in 2016 - Reckon she can give it a shake in 2017 as well as winning a big race with a classics type parcour.
Had a good look AT THE under 23 Mens Criterium and noticed the results for the under 23 TT - IMpressed that Lucas Hamilton and Jai Hindley split up the critirium with their aggression - This augurs well for future GC riders - Mitchell Storer did well to finish 3rd in the under 23’s TT - He’s definitely the best at this group in TT and he is the youngest - I expect Orica to pick 2 of these riders in the next two years.
Good ride by Durbridge in the TT - Continue his rate of improvement and he could sneak a win at the WT level, especially in shorter TT’s - And the Vuelta has a TTT in 2017 - It was actually the TTT that set Contador on the back foot from day one in the 2016 Vuelta.
Interesting that Orica is supposed to have a training camp in South Africa in February - Yet they are riding the Herals Sun Tour and the Volta Communitat 1 to 5 February, 2 one day races in Spain on Feb 11 and 12 and the Tour of Abu Dhabi 22 to 26 February - So could be a case of riders coming in and out of the camp.
Good to see Durbo doing a decent ITT - it has been a while.
Most interesting performances for me were Miles Scotson in his first year out of U23, and Brendan Canty. Following on from Barry saying Canty was flying up the local Millpond ramps, I expect him to try and light up the Nats Road Race at some point.
When your TT goes bad.
+$1000 fines for your support crew for ■■■■■■■ off the commissaires!
Chaves arrives in OZ on Sunday - Impey riding the TDU - Only 5 teams inc Orica to name their squads for the TDU.
Very hot in Ballarat today for the U23 RR
20% drop out rate already.
That is impressive bike handling given he is paying more attention to the dog than where he is going.
U23 RR results
- 47 Samuel JENNER 3h27:52
- 88 Alexander PORTER (SAS) +47
- 38 Lucas HAMILTON +47
- 28 Alistair DONOHOE (ATG) +47
- 68 Oliver MARTIN +47
- 9 Scott BOWDEN (ISW) +47
- 102 Michael STORER +47
- 77 Cyrus MONK (DPV) +47
- 59 Peter LIVINGSTONE (MBS) +47
- 64 Angus LYONS +47
Women’s RR completed.
- 17 Katrin GARFOOT (ORS) 2h57:50
- 54 Amanda SPRATT (ORS) +0
- 28 Lucy KENNEDY +1:27
- 39 Shannon MALSEED (HWC) +3:00
- 18 Shara GILLOW +3:00
- 12 Jenelle CROOKS (ORS) +3:00
- 10 Ruth CORSET (RSH) +3:00
- 57 Carlee TAYLOR (ALE) +3:00
- 11 Tiffany CROMWELL (LPR) +6:34
- 63 Rebecca WIASAK (HFD) +6:34
That was a terrific race.
Canty went one lap too early and thought he won it.
Then it looked like Gerro would suck up Durbo and get the win, only for Miles Scotson to make a late brilliant attack to win.
Provisional Result
- 111 Miles SCOTSON (BMC) 4h37:55
- 44 Simon GERRANS (ORS) +0
- 49 Nathan HAAS (DDD) +0
- 4 Cameron BAYLY (ISW) +0
- 35 Nathan EARLE +0
- 85 Travis MEYER +0
- 14 Brendan CANTY (CDT) +0
- 60 Robbie HUCKER (ISW) +0
- 92 Lachlan NORRIS (UHC) +0
-
93 Mark O'BRIEN +0 -
83 Jay MCCARTHY (BOH) +0 -
34 Ben DYBALL +0 -
84 Cameron MEYER +4