Yes. The replay was interesting last night. Showed more of the riders racing for seconds/bonus points behind Porte. Which as it turned out was where the GC was won. So 9 had rolling cameras in place, the idiot producer was just putting the wrong vision to air live - e.g. struggling Sagan amidst the car convoy.
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Barry you were right with your information on Chaves.
He’s now included in the team for the Cadel Evans race. He may be more of a factor with 4 climbs of Chambery. Impey and Meyer are also options.c
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Think Ewan will be happy to arrive in Europe - he’s lead-outs have been patchy and haven’t always given him the best opportunity - In saying that, I am happy with Ewan’s form and he is reading a finish better and showing more versatility - He’ll be happy to re-unite with Mezgec.
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McCarthy takes the Cadel Ocean Race.
Quite entertaining. Viviani 2nd, Impey 3rd.
Chaves had a really good hitout.
https://twitter.com/ProCyclingStats/status/957474272796200961
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Viviani was the surprise of the race - Go back to the Stirling stage won by Ewan in the TDU and Viviani finished 6th - Have to think Ewan may have survived if he rode the race - Chaves looks in ripping form - Seems that A.Yates will be lonely in the TDF.
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Reading the interview by Ewan CN fairly much confirms my info that Ewan at this stage will stay at MS for 2019, unless he gets a monster offer from another team.
MS team for the Herald Sun Tour:
Esteban Chaves (COL, 28)
Alex Edmondson (AUS, 24)
Michael Hepburn (AUS, 26)
Damien Howson (AUS, 25)
Robert Power (AUS, 22)
Lucas Hamilton (AUS, 21)
Cameron Meyer (AUS, 30)
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Its a super strong team for this kind of race.
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Hun Tour prologue top 10
1 Edward Clancy (GBr) JLT Condor 0:01:55
2 Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:01
3 Lasse Norman Hansen (Den) Aqua Blue Sport 0:00:01
4 Alex Frame (NZl) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:01
5 Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Bennelong SwissWellness 0:00:01
6 Alex Edmondson (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:02
7 Ian Bibby (GBr) JLT Condor 0:00:04
8 Michael Hepburn (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:04
9 Graham Briggs (GBr) JLT Condor 0:00:04
10 Matthew Gibson (GBr) JLT Condor 0:00:04
Mezgec second to Boy Van Poppel in stage one of Valenciana - Thought Mezgec would win at the 100 metres but couldn’t get past Van Poppel.
And Lasse Hansens wins stage 2 of the Herald Sun Tour from Van Hoff and Meyer - Cross winds smashed the peleton with 30kms to go causing splits - Meyer and Howson in the leading group of nine - Chaves and Hepburn in the second group 23sback.
And Mads Petersen wins stage 2 from Steele Van Hoff and Alex Edmondson - Something is wrong with Edmondson’s sprint as he should be winning that sprint - It’s a worry.
And Valverde wins stage 2 in a breakaway from Leon Sanchez and Fuglsang - Birdsong and Valverde attacked on the final climb and fairly much held a 20 to 30 second lead for the last 30 km - Kreuziger and A. Yates in the peleton 19s back.
The dirt section was a late modification to the course due to roadworks, as I understand it, rather than planned. If the sand was soft neutralizing is fair enough IMO.
— Robert Merkel (@rgmerk) February 2, 2018
No idea whether true but seems reasonable explanation.
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The teams were well aware of the section before they got there. So it’s not as if it wasn’t expected.
Apparently, Edmondson dropped a chain in the last km and lost his lead-out with 800 metre to go - A disappointing effort by the team - Anyway MS should attack tomorrow - Put Power in the break and then in the last 20km, Chaves and then Meyer should attack while Howson stays with the leaders. Will add that watching Chaves ride in the cross-winds and the gravel, makes it clear why he is doing the Giro.
Stage 3 of Valenciana is the TTT - Sky should win this by 45s+
Sky were one of the last in, some 4 minutes down on BMC. Seems no ****s were given.
Chaves wins the queen stage of the HS Tour.
1. 4 Jhoan Esteban CHAVES RUBIO (MTS) 5h53:55
2. 83 Alexander EVANS* (MBL) +42
3. 15 Ruben GUERREIRO (TFS) +1:09
4. 7 Cameron MEYER (MTS) +1:09
5. 1 Damien HOWSON (MTS) +1:09
6. 22 Nathan EARLE (ICA) +1:09
7. 127 Freddy OVETT (ACA) +1:09
8. 25 Krists NEILANDS (ICA) +1:09
9. 143 James WHELAN* (AUS) +1:09MS are 1-2-3 in the GC with Chaves leading Myer (32s) and then Howson (39s)
For some strange reason the stage was neutralised - The conditions were ok.
MS Conti team got sponsorship from Sun Holding’s based in Hong Kong - This family is the fourth richest family in HK and I suggest this is where MS WT will gain further sponsorship - Somehow the Conti team got an invite to the Tour of Dubai.
As expected, Chaves went on the early attack, giving MS multiple options for the finish - Good ride by L.Hamilton, though I am concerned with Power - It’s sad to see him struggling, considering he had a better pedigree then Haig.