Matthews wins GP Quebec, his 3rd win there.
Lotto particularly tactically inept here.
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That was a super ride by Matthews and it was no surprise he won, once, DeLie stupidly followed Pogacarâs attack. The following are the four races Matthews should have won in 2024.
- MSR ; He had to close the door on Philipsen
- Brabantze Pijl ; This was the fault of a weak team.
- Amstel Gold. Blingâs fault for not following Pidcockâs attacj.
- TDF uphill stage won by Grmay. Managementâs fault for making Groenenwegen go for that stage.
Keep your eye out for 17 year old NZ Reef Roberts. heâs one jayco should try to get into their system.
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In a surprising move Jayco have decided not to renew Jan Maas, and even more surprising he canât find a team. Maas has been selected by the Dutch to ride in the last two world championships and in one european championship. I suppose Jayco has got in Gamper and sutterlin who could fill this role.
So Jayco must release eight riders
Yates to Jumbo visma.
Craddock is retired.
Maas is released.
Grondahl-Jansen is released.
I suspect Porter and Quick are gone.
I hear Hamilton is retiring.
I suspect the last spot is out Scotson and PENA.
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Grace Brown wins the ITT title at the UCI Road Race Championship!
Nice way to go out.
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Bridie OâDonnell on ABC raving about Graceâs ITT win.
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Evenepoel wins the mens ITT race. Ganna 2nd, Affini 3rd.
Vine was on track to make the podium, but crashed, as he does far too frequently, but still managed to finish 5th.
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It will be a nice way to finish if she can produce a decent result in the womenâs RR in which she has failed miserably as team leader in the last four championships.
What could have been in the mens ITT. Plapp crashes out of the Olympics ITT when in a medal position, and likewise, Vine in the Worldâs ITT. Actually, Vineâs crash is extremely frustrating when you know that Plapp is better in this discipline. Itâs also frustrating because Australia was a good chance of a medal in the mixed ITT which is less likely with Vineâs crash. Watch for Will Holmes in the junior boys ITT, however, I donât have a line of sight on the junior women.
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Scotson off to AG2R. I checked the route for the Nationals. They have the Oliver Hills climb, but it is short, and more likely to be a bunch finish. Of course with Ewan going AWOL, Jayco will need a nuclear performance from a Plapp to win the title. There is a chance that Bling will be at the Nationalâs as he wants the Aussie jersey.
I have noticed that in the last two one day races that Jayco has been sprinting with Walscheid and Groenewegen. I am guessing this is to obtain UCI points and safeguarding Groenewegenâs form after injury. In saying that, Groenewegen has looked good in his two races back after injury. Expect, OâConnor to ride the TDF in 2025, while Plapp will ride two GTâs in 2025 ( not the TDF ). Plapp is keen to target the TDU and the UAE Tour.
Finally, Will Holmes finishes fourth in the junior ITT and is progressing well. Bates comes sixth in the junior ITT and is ready to join the Liv Alula conti team.
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Walscheid and Gronewegen one two in Omloop Van Het Haudland. As I posted earlier they are using two sprinters in the finals of these one day races.
Australia wins the mixed ITT relay by 0.85second. I suggest the National Championships should have a Mixed ITT, instead of a criterium.
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The men gave the women a good start . Redemption for Vine after his ITT crash.
Two world championships for Australia, but it has had so little media attention in Australia.
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They will never get rid of the criterium. Itâs one of the most popular races to watch at the RoadNats.
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I noticed that Jayco tweeted a picture of Matthews, Roseman-Gannon and OâCOnnor on the podium. Looking at the Worldâs course, I think OâConnor can get a good result.
In a surprise Jayco menâs team announce another signing Jeltje Krinjsen. A 23 yr old Dutch rider who was riding for a club until he joined Parkhotel Valkenburg CT team. Is currently riding as a stagiare for Q 36.5 and recently won a stage of Denmark and the Druikenjoers Classic. Seems to be a good get. Of course means there may a surprise move or retirement or two or three.
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Lotte Kopecky wins the womenâs RR in a tactically baffling race, while Roseman-Gannon rides out of her skin to finish 6th. Yet again Brown is awful as the Aussie team leader. How does she avoid scrutiny? Bradbury beaten in a photo finish for the under 23 title. Gigante rode an excellent race and Australia had three in the top 20.
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Pog with a 100km solo wins the men RR. I predicted that OâConnor could ride a good race and he finished 2nd.
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Nothing new in this article as I have previously posted that road cycling is an inherently dangerous sport. The UCI and the riderâs association are taking steps to implement safer conditions, which will always be a work in progress. Road cycling is not quite the open free for all which is protrayed by some, as many stages are shortened, neutralised or even cancelled because of adverse weather conditions. Finally, we have to accept riders are bit crazy. The crazy sprint finishes where riders to ride through the tiniest of gaps and flying down descents at over 100km hr. Finally, the Miriam sitiuation was an UNMITIGATED disaster. Forget about race radios, GPS trackers, and think how a team has a car following a race, so, how could the directors, forget about a rider for over 1hr, especially as it was on a circuit.
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The Herald Sun tour is on the UCI calendar for 5 to 9 February. Itâs obviously not part of the new pro series, and in the past it has attracted three WT teams.
This will create a dilemma for jayco Alula. You have the TDU 21-26 January, cadelâs race on 2 Feb and more importantly the Alula Tour is Jan 28 to Feb1. Obviously you canât do the TDU and the Alula Tour. It is possible to do the Alula Tour and the HS Tour.
It will be all in for Plapp at the TDU, while groenewegenâs hopes of riding the TDU are gone because he will be needed for the Alula tour. I have no idea who will lead the charge for GC at the Alula Tour, while who knows about the HS Tour.
Gotta say the veterans of the team are currently going through the motions. Hepburn and Durbridge have been awful, while Craddock who is retiring has been likewise. S.yates wants to win one last race for the team before he departs. I suggest the Japan Cup will be the race.