2021 Tour Down Under

[Over The Post]

It was pretty much a given, anyway.

Tour Down Under cancelled because of coronavirus pandemic

Organisers cancel the event that was to be held in South Australia in January, blaming the uncertainty around international border conditions and quarantine requirements.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Vader]

It was pretty much a given, anyway.

Tour Down Under cancelled because of coronavirus pandemic

Organisers cancel the event that was to be held in South Australia in January, blaming the uncertainty around international border conditions and quarantine requirements.

www.abc.net.au

Cycling News reporting that at least 10 of the 18 World Tour teams said that they wouldn't be coming, due to the quarantine requirements. That's understandable, given that the 2020 season has run much later than usual, and quarantine meaning that they'd have to be here earlier than usual.

It does beg the question, what will happen with other international sporting events held during the Australian summer - e.g. the F1 GP and the Australian Open (tennis). How many of those teams/players are going to be willing to serve 2 weeks in quarantine, in order to compete? Is it possible for them to compete in a quarantine bubble? That's obviously not possible for cycling, but it may be possible for tennis and F1.

 

[Orange Agent]

Nationals would also have a question mark over it now. Comes down to who can get a flight out of Europe otherwise it will just be locally based riders. Masters Nationals is being held on the GC in about a month yet due to border restrictions Sydney and Vic riders cant even get there and thats on top of anybody from a Vic club not being able to race since March. So even if 8 WT teams got enough riders out here, the domestic teams out here have not raced all year, so UNI-SA and any other fill a gap team has done nothing but race on Zwift for most of the year. Other sports are all suffering the same thing, if Internationals dont bother coming, the locals are mostly underdone and out of form due to lack of competition.

 

[eth-dog]

Nationals would also have a question mark over it now. Comes down to who can get a flight out of Europe otherwise it will just be locally based riders. Masters Nationals is being held on the GC in about a month yet due to border restrictions Sydney and Vic riders cant even get there and thats on top of anybody from a Vic club not being able to race since March. So even if 8 WT teams got enough riders out here, the domestic teams out here have not raced all year, so UNI-SA and any other fill a gap team has done nothing but race on Zwift for most of the year. Other sports are all suffering the same thing, if Internationals dont bother coming, the locals are mostly underdone and out of form due to lack of competition.

I don't see how Nationals go ahead honestly.

 

[Vader]

I don't see how Nationals go ahead honestly.

Depends on what happens with the SA cluster. If that's brought quickly under control, then Australia will once again be largely COVID free. If it spreads, noting that NSW & ACT aren't banning travelers from SA, then Nationals would be in trouble.

 

[yaco55]

Cycling Australia has organised Nationals for early February - These championships should only be for the aged categories and paracyclists as nearly all the elite men and women will stay in Europe,and even if they came to Australia, February is an unsuitable date - More CA incompetence.

 

[yaco55]

So Porte who was staying in Europe for the off-season is suddenly quarantining in Perth. He must have got a good pay day for the revamped TDU.

 

[Orange Agent]

So Porte who was staying in Europe for the off-season is suddenly quarantining in Perth. He must have got a good pay day for the revamped TDU.

Who would want to be in lockdown in Europe when you could out here riding wherever you want.

 

[yaco55]

Who would want to be in lockdown in Europe when you could out here riding wherever you want.

You are so naive - The reason why most Aussies/Nzers stayed in Europe for the winter was to avoid exorbitant plane fares, 14 days quarantine and it's costs - They can stay in Europe to train as normal as long as they follow COVID protocols - Teams are currently having training camps while the cyclo-cross season is going ahead - Porte was staying in Europe this winter, until he got a last minute offer from the TDU organisers, which was too good to refuse, hence why he is currently halfway through his 14 day quarantine.

 

[Vader]

You are so naive - The reason why most Aussies/Nzers stayed in Europe for the winter was to avoid exorbitant plane fares, 14 days quarantine and it's costs - They can stay in Europe to train as normal as long as they follow COVID protocols - Teams are currently having training camps while the cyclo-cross season is going ahead - Porte was staying in Europe this winter, until he got a last minute offer from the TDU organisers, which was too good to refuse, hence why he is currently halfway through his 14 day quarantine.

Why is he coming, and why did they give him a Godfather offer, given that the TDU has been cancelled?

 

[Orange Agent]

You are so naive - The reason why most Aussies/Nzers stayed in Europe for the winter was to avoid exorbitant plane fares, 14 days quarantine and it's costs - They can stay in Europe to train as normal as long as they follow COVID protocols - Teams are currently having training camps while the cyclo-cross season is going ahead - Porte was staying in Europe this winter, until he got a last minute offer from the TDU organisers, which was too good to refuse, hence why he is currently halfway through his 14 day quarantine.

I think he actually enjoys coming out here, he has always done nationals and always has training partners to keep him company in Tassie over summer. Has always been interested in the domestic racing scene and riding with the young Aussies in Europe.

 

[yaco55]

Why is he coming, and why did they give him a Godfather offer, given that the TDU has been cancelled?

They ae running a rebooted TDU with a four day event made up of NRS teams and one combined team that may have some WT pros.

 

[yaco55]

I think he actually enjoys coming out here, he has always done nationals and always has training partners to keep him company in Tassie over summer. Has always been interested in the domestic racing scene and riding with the young Aussies in Europe.

Porte loves coming home for the summer BUT the fact is he decided to stay in Europe ( like most Aussies/NZers in the peleton ) for the winter, until he got a an offer to good to refuse from the TDU - Otherwise Porte would be up for 35K in airfares and quarantine.

 

[yaco55]

Porte was interviewed on a podcast this week - At the time he was 10 days into quarantine - Sounded like he was doing it tough with two children under the age of 3 and he stated that he can not train while in quarantine - This is a bad time for a cyclist because December is a crucial month for pre-season preparation - Finally, he advised that O'Grady organiser of the TDU, extended an invitation in November.

 

[Vader]

Porte was interviewed on a podcast this week - At the time he was 10 days into quarantine - Sounded like he was doing it tough with two children under the age of 3 and he stated that he can not train while in quarantine - This is a bad time for a cyclist because December is a crucial month for pre-season preparation - Finally, he advised that O'Grady organiser of the TDU, extended an invitation in November.

He was interviewed (phone interview) with the ABC, during the tea break in the cricket this evening. He & his family are only a few hours from the end of their quarantine.

 

[Over The Post]

Not the best time for a power cut, right in the middle of qualifying for a spot on the Alpecin-Fenix squad:

He was about to make it big in the world of virtual cycling — then the power went out

A Canberra cyclist who is competing virtually for a professional team in Europe loses power at the crucial moment, before being given one final chance to make his dreams of a career in cycling come true.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Orange Agent]

Richie proving he is an absolute legend today.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Richie proving he is an absolute legend today.

Is it on TV?

 

[Orange Agent]

Is it on TV?

Not sure. I watched it on 7+, the coverage is pretty good for a race of this level.

 

[yaco55]

Gigante is the best junior female to come through the Aussie ranks - As it stands today, she could top 10 or even top 5 in the biggest riders on the women's calendar. Plapp will be snapped up by the WT peleton in 2021 after he competes in the Olympics. He did finish 2nd to Remco in the junior world's ITT in 2018 201