Jayco is trying too hard in the TDU. They have strong riders in an even field BUT they are not dominant and their riders don’t have the finishing kick in reduced sprints. You could question their tactics. Schmid goes in the break to get bonus seconds which is OK, but then you drop back to the peleton because they were always getting you back. Want to see Plapp on Willunga because he can do big numbers on this climb.
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Narvaez wins on Willunga.
Schmid and Harper got away on the first assent, but were caught just before the 2nd time up.
Romo went early, too early, Plapp chased him down, but brought across Narvaez, Fisher-Black and Onley.
Plapp did too much work and then when it flattened towards then end he couldn’t hold the pace of the other 3.
GC standings: Narvaez should wrap this up tomorrow.
Jayco needed another Harper, Schmid type rider at the TDU. Then if you attack the first ascent of Willunga Hill with three riders you can do damage. The organisers do little to help Aussie riders in the course layout. They needed a short ITT for Vine and Plapp and you geta different result.
Narvaez wins the TDU without once putting his nose in the wind, although he was well suited by the parcours. Jayco did not get full rewards for their efforts in the TDU, however, think Plapp can win Cadel’s race by attacking the last time over Chalambery. The calendar is killing Jayco with the TDU and Alula Tour back to back. Jayco can’t bring Groenewgen for the TDU who could have won a stage.
The Jayco team for the Alula Tour is Hatherly, Groenewegen, walscheid, mezgec, Reinders, Dunbar and Gamper. Groenewegen a chance to win a stage in a good sprint field, while, Dunbar could get a top 5 in GC. Interested in how Hatherly goes as there is one stage which suits.
The Ceramica race in spain was a tactical disterclass by Jayco. Final climb ended 10kms from the finish, yet with Jayco having five riders they missed the descent attack and contetsing the final, while Bling was ordinary in the sprint.
Jayco did even worse in the second one day race in spain. the climbers have yet to hit form.
Haig a chance to return to jayco while in the longer term Vine may join if he does not get a TDF slot at UAE.
A pretty good debut from Paul Double.
I tend to not read a lot into these very early season races. They aren’t much more than higher intensity training rides.
There are a number of pro cyclists who are excellent runners. Actually, for many years pro cyclists were not allowed to run, however, in recent times running has been in the program for a number of cyclists. Apparently it builds up bone density which can be an issue for cyclists.
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Merlier wins stage one of the Alula Tour.
Molano 2nd, Zijlaard 3rd.
The Women’s Surf Classic is today
Wollaston wins from Dygert and Baker.
Looks like it was a bunch finish,
Wollaston is fast and still has improvement in her performance. Reckon she can get to the Balsamo level in sprinting. Impressive debut by Hatherly to come third behind Pidcock in the hilly stage at the Alula Tour. Think jayco have found themselves a rider.
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Plapp out of Cadel’s race - that fracture in his wrist prior to the RoadNats requires surgery.
Not that it has affected Plapps legs. HE was my favorite for Cadels race. I woner if he is still riding the UAE tour.Merlier just beats Groenewegen in a high class sprint finale. Dunbar loses 1min in the crosswinds. Would like Groenewegen to ride the Giro and the TDF.
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I take this with a pinch of salt as sprinters claim to have the most mechanicals in the peleton. Most important thing is Groenewegen was fast as it’s no disgrace to lose to Merlier. Anyway just about to watch stage 4 of the Alula Tour. Every chance Herald Sun Tour is back on in 2026.
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Pidcock wins the queen stage of the Alula Tour, Hatherley 2nd, Keppinger 3rd.
That should be enough to wrap it up for Pidcock.
Gigante back on the bike, she was doing a beachie this morning at a fair old pace.
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Jayco is struggling to field a team for Cadels race. HEPBURN, Plapp and now Harper out. I am sure Hepburn has gone back to Europe to Valenciana which has a 34km TTT. Jayco is riding 6 in Cadels race including conti rider Holmes. Think next year they need more overseas riders in Oz.
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Great win from Schmid in Cadel’s race to give Jayco it’s first win there.
That was set up by Harper who got away with a couple of laps to go and strung out the best riders, and Schmid took advantage on the last climb and got away and never really looked likely to be caught.
It was great to see Schmid win with a tactically savvy rider. Even moreso when they misused Schmid in the TDU.
Jayco stuffed it up in stage five of the Alula Tour. Once Hatherly was dropped in the cross winds, Jayco had to send one or two riders back from the front group. And then to top it off Groenewegen waited too long to launch his sprint. You always go earlier in a tailwind sprint. Anyway off to Valenciana in three days to see the debut of O’CONNOR.
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Team for Valenciana is O’Connor, Donaldson, Hepburn, Krinjse, Zana, Juul-Jensen and Sutterlin. It’s an interesting parcour with stage one a 34.5km hilly TTT, stage two and three have over 3000m of climbing, while the last two stages should be sprints. Beware the hilly TTT ! Many times favorite teams have misplaced their pacing strategy and blown up.
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