A lot depends on Porte's form. This is his first race since his horrific crash in the TDF (excluding the Nationals, where he phoned it in). Does he have the form he had the last few years, when he dominated on Willunga Hill? To be determined.
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A lot depends on Porte's form. This is his first race since his horrific crash in the TDF (excluding the Nationals, where he phoned it in). Does he have the form he had the last few years, when he dominated on Willunga Hill? To be determined.
That's why you make it 1-3km.
I hope he stays & they build a good team around him. Exciting times ahead for him in any event.Today reinforced by long held opinion that the best finish for Ewan is the last 500 metres with a gradient of 3 or 4% - Ewan will struggle to get up Uraidla, and remember, Impey is MS's GC rider, hence why he sprinted into 2nd place to grab six bonus seconds.
The bigger question is whether Ewan will be at OS in 2019 - The consensus within the industry is he is 100% gone, though my understanding is there is some chance he will stay at MS.
They can't/won't, and that's why he'd be thinking about leaving...I hope he stays & they build a good team around him. Exciting times ahead for him in any event.
And you waste a day to watch the TDU - Along with teams having to bring their TT Bikes - A TT/Prologue is not required at the TDU.
All of the riders who want the time bonuses are Australian or South African - and well adjusted to the heat (or as well adjusted as anyone can be to 40 degrees). None of them are coming out of the European winter.No way the stage tomorrow is a sprint finish. These riders are cooked. All the Europeans coming from winter into summer. The race will break apart on the climb tomorrow.
His missus dad owns Aqua Blue Sport. I can't see a full WT team devoting a full lead out to him. Gaviria is miles better and others will come along, Ewan is very over-hyped in Oz.
If Ewan can win in Stirling, he can get over the Norton Summit Rd climb.All the sprinters minus Sagan will be dropped.
Realistically, Ewan should seek another team in 2019, but I am less confident this will happen, than I was 6 months ago - Ewan's closest confidants have advised him to leave MS, while at the same time, Ewan is happy enough at MS, while of course all teams think they can support GC and sprinter ambitions - Actually, I am concerned that Ewan is riding Tirreno-Adriatico again - He's raced one day in France in his career so far - he should be racing PN and Dauphine - Impey is in good form and he will receive full team support in Stage 4.
He is racing TA because its the best race to prepare for MSR. He can win MSR eventually. He is suited to one day races and stages with small incline finishes. He is not a pure bunch sprinter and never will be so riding those French races when he can win MSR is counter productive.
People think because he has won countless flat stages at the tour down under against **** all competition that he is the next McEwen and that he will win a lot of stages at the tour de france. Its false. He isnt and wont get anywhere near the likes of McEwen, Cavendish etc.
He is better focusing on the classics. He should win the green jersey at the tour de france one year but he will never be a prolific stage winner in the race.
He should have got up the climb, but MS psyched themselves out that he wouldn't, and put him on domestique duties instead.PN is on as the same time as TA so good preparation for MSR - Ewan needs experience riding in French races before the TDF - I posted yesterday that Ewan wouldn't get up the climb today - My guess is Trentin will be the number one rider for MSR.
PN is on as the same time as TA so good preparation for MSR - Ewan needs experience riding in French races before the TDF - I posted yesterday that Ewan wouldn't get up the climb today - My guess is Trentin will be the number one rider for MSR.
Richie is a freakin beast.
MSR is nearly 300km. PN doesnt have any stages over 300km. TA usually have a few and one at least 230-240km long over undulating terrain. TA has always been the best lead up to MSR because it gets the riders in better condition for the race.
Ewan doesnt need experience in French races. He isnt going there to win stages. He is going to the TDF to learn. He is going to get his experience then.
MS think Ewan can win MSR one year and that is what they are primarily wanting him to focus on whilst giving him experience in the TDF