Australian Cyclists Discussion Thread

[Cruiser23]

Thought we could provide a bit of innovation to get people informed, knowledgeable, good discussions about the Australian riders in the Pro Tour/Continental Tour and potential Pro Tour stars/riders. Basically everything and anything to do with Australian cyclists.

After a successful Worlds, rides especially by Rogers, Porte, Luke Durbridge, Michael Matthews, Rohan Dennis, 'Alby' Davis and even Cadel, thought it would be good to keep a track of the progression and stay up to date with what races they are/may be involved in and the success they might have.

We are one of the Top 5 countries with regards to men road cyclists right now. Can riders like Matt Goss, Jack Bobridge, Richie Porte, Leigh Howard, Welsey Sulzberger, Cameron Meyer, Travis Meyer, Henrich Haussler produce quality performances to keep us near the top like what Rogers, Evans, McEwen, O'Grady etc have been doing for the past decade?

Discussion/thoughts might include...

Transition looking bright?
The next big thing?
Opinions on riders...
Team moves, positive or negative?

Think this may provide some good helpful discussion, we'll see anyway.

Personally, looking forward to seeing what Richie Porte, Leigh Howard, Matthew Goss and Michael Matthews can achieve in their careers.

 

[Cruiser23]

We all saw the great performance by Richie Porte at the Giro, how far can he go? Most, including myself were expecting him to crack but he didn't really. Finishing top 10 (7th) and winning the Young Riders Jersey over the likes of Kiserlovski and Mollema is a fair effort for his first Grand Tour.

Wonder whether this result will be a burden because personally not sure he has the pure climbing ability to finish on the podium/win especially with the way the Tour organisers have been assembling the Tours. For me he'll carve out a better career pursuing the TT's, stage races and classics. Will be hard to fight the temptation though of a GT, with the Australian public/media fixated on this being the ultimate (personally think it's become slight overrated).

Hard to criticise Cadel and the way he's gone about his career, going through his results, they are super impressive and super consistent, but i wonder whether focusing on the short races, classic over the past couple of years would have seen a few more 1st place results rather than getting devastated year after year missing out on the elusive GT which was always going to be a massive reach for him with his team(s) and the way he rode. I guess being so close would give you some confidence to continuing aiming for the GT, it's just the results he shown over the past two years in the shorter form of racing has been very impressive when he has decided to give them a crack. I really do hope he goes down that path for however long he has left and forgets about the GT's because there still may be a couple more wins in him yet with the form and race sense he's shown lately.

 

[Sasquatch]

I'm not sold on Porte being Australia's next big grand tour hope. You have to remember that he did benefit from a huge break and if he wasn't in that break, he wouldn't have been in the top 20.

I am convinced that Porte can target and win the week long stage races such as Tour of California, Paris-Nice, Tour of Switzerland, Eneco Tour etc.

Give him another year in Grand Tours to evaluate how he will perform in them.

Robbie McEwen seems to be going stronger as age goes on. He's my tip for Paris-Tours tomorrow. He's one of the few there that wasn't in Geelong so won't be jetlagged and he's in good form. Will be interesting to see how he goes tomorrow night.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

I just found out that Matt Keenan is the brother of my next door neighbor.

 

[Sasquatch]

I just found out that Matt Keenan is the brother of my next door neighbor.

Nice one.

 

[Cruiser23]

I'm not sold on Porte being Australia's next big grand tour hope. You have to remember that he did benefit from a huge break and if he wasn't in that break, he wouldn't have been in the top 20.

I am convinced that Porte can target and win the week long stage races such as Tour of California, Paris-Nice, Tour of Switzerland, Eneco Tour etc.

Give him another year in Grand Tours to evaluate how he will perform in them.

It was an overinflated performance and i do agree, stage races is what Porte should concentrate on. The worry is the expectation there will be now he's produced this performance, media already jumping on the 'next big thing'.

Robbie McEwen seems to be going stronger as age goes on. He's my tip for Paris-Tours tomorrow. He's one of the few there that wasn't in Geelong so won't be jetlagged and he's in good form. Will be interesting to see how he goes tomorrow night.

He's one persistent rider, what is he 36/37? Unlucky the course just didn't suit him in Geelong, he was is great form in the lead up to the World as you said. Produced some great results in the Eneco Tour, will be a good asset for the Australian Pegasus Team. May not have the great speed he had a few years back but he's smart and will always give himself a chance.

 

[Cruiser23]

As Sas said, Paris-Tour on tomorrow, got a few Australians racing.

Robbie McEwen (Katusha)
Adam Hansen (HTC Columbia)
Travis Meyer (Garmin/Australian Road Race Champion)
Mitchell Docker (Skil-Shimano)

Looking at the course, it's long, 233km but doesn't seem like one where Robbie will be in too much difficulty to be there at the end. Good form, didn't race in the World, he's at some healthy odds too Sas, i'm sure you'll be having a flutter, $29 right now if i'm not mistaken.

There is also the Giro del'Emilia too, which a tough one race held in Italy. The likes of Gesink, Nibali, Ricco, Andy Schleck, Visconti, P.Velits, Van den Broeck will be racing. Only two Australians competing.

Richie Porte (Saxo Bank)
Matthew Lloyd (Lotto)

You'd think they'd both be working for their leaders in Schleck and Van den Broeck respectively. Should be a good race non the less.

 

[Sasquatch]

As Sas said, Paris-Tour on tomorrow, got a few Australians racing.

Robbie McEwen (Katusha)
Adam Hansen (HTC Columbia)
Travis Meyer (Garmin/Australian Road Race Champion)
Mitchell Docker (Skil-Shimano)

Looking at the course, it's long, 233km but doesn't seem like one where Robbie will be in too much difficulty to be there at the end. Good form, didn't race in the World, he's at some healthy odds too Sas, i'm sure you'll be having a flutter, $29 right now if i'm not mistaken.

There is also the Giro del'Emilia too, which a tough one race held in Italy. The likes of Gesink, Nibali, Ricco, Andy Schleck, Visconti, P.Velits, Van den Broeck will be racing. Only two Australians competing.

Richie Porte (Saxo Bank)
Matthew Lloyd (Lotto)

You'd think they'd both be working for their leaders in Schleck and Van den Broeck respectively. Should be a good race non the less.

I'm all over McEwen tomorrow. H2H, Win, Place.

 

[Cruiser23]

I'm all over McEwen tomorrow. H2H, Win, Place.

Might join you. Been looking at the course, what makes this a classics men course?

 

[Sasquatch]

Might join you. Been looking at the course, what makes this a classics men course?

There's a few slight inclines - about 3 going up 30 odd metres in the last 2km.

Last year, three men got away. Gilbert, Boonen and someone else but they only hung on by a second over the peloton.

Cross winds also play a factor.

However, that last one day race Robbie was in where he attacked on a 9% berg is what sold me. Katusha could control this for a sprint, or Robbie can easily go with a move.

This race is one race that can either go to a bunch gallop if a strong team control the race stopping attacks, or someone will hold on for a couple metres after attacking solo.

 

[Cruiser23]

There's a few slight inclines - about 3 going up 30 odd metres in the last 2km.

Last year, three men got away. Gilbert, Boonen and someone else but they only hung on by a second over the peloton.

Cross winds also play a factor.

However, that last one day race Robbie was in where he attacked on a 9% berg is what sold me. Katusha could control this for a sprint, or Robbie can easily go with a move.

This race is one race that can either go to a bunch gallop if a strong team control the race stopping attacks, or someone will hold on for a couple metres after attacking solo.

He and Boonen basically the only riders amongst the favourites that didn't ride in the Worlds. Reckon McEwen will be determined to prove a point here after believing he was robbed of a spot in the Worlds Team.

 

[Sasquatch]

He and Boonen basically the only riders amongst the favourites that didn't ride in the Worlds. Reckon McEwen will be determined to prove a point here after believing he was robbed of a spot in the Worlds Team.

Yeah but Boonen won't do much. Boonen has only had one race back from a long injury layoff.

 

[Cruiser23]

Travis Meyer been in the breakaway at the Paris-Tour, going to get dragged in very soon though. 30km to go in the race.

 

[Sasquatch]

Yeah. We haven't seen that Australian jersey often in races this year which has been a shame.

 

[Cruiser23]

Well Robbie McEwen got boxed in today with 50m to go and just sat up. Shame because he was in a fairly good position and looked to have some speed but Hondo, after making his run basically stopped. Because Robbie was next to barrier, he didn't have anywhere to go. He was very disappointed, shaking his head just as he crossed the finishing line. Make no mistake, he has still got it.

 

[Dees]

I was very impressed by Porte's ride at San Sebastian as well. Don't think he'll ever become a full on GT contender (but hopefully he can). But he is every chance of winning the biggest one week races.

Who is going to be the best of the next generation?

 

[chargers 09]

Allan Davis won the Commonwealth gold in the road race, anyone see it? Impressive ride, much competition?

 

[Cruiser23]

Allan Davis won the Commonwealth gold in the road race, anyone see it? Impressive ride, much competition?

Didn't catch any of it but Davis has been in very good form lately without a win (until now). Not much competition though, Cavendish was in it. There was also David Millar and Hayden Roulsten the Kiwi plus the other Aussie Chris Sutton who rides for Sky, not much after that.

Supposedly it was fairly flat and ridden aggressively. The Aussies and Kiwi attack Cavendish who didn't have any team mates to help him out.

Davis' first win for the season after a great performances finishing 3rd in Geelong.

 

[Cruiser23]

I was very impressed by Porte's ride at San Sebastian as well. Don't think he'll ever become a full on GT contender (but hopefully he can). But he is every chance of winning the biggest one week races.

Who is going to be the best of the next generation?

With regards to Australians...

Hard to say, there is a fair bit of talent around at the moment and some still yet to be showcased. Obviously, with Australia being flat to production of climbers are very rare. The sprinters and TT are the strong point so we ay not see someone pushing Cadels achievements for a while.

Richie Porte obviouly has a big future ahead, Fabian has given him glowing praise in the press lately. Very good TT but has run into the Cancellara era, and Tony Martin has shown some great stuff against the clock. He's very small in stature so he has the ability to climb, stage races are his go unless he is hell bent on winning a GT. That might be very very hard though as the GT are climbers races now and with Andy Schleck being a natural, plus 6 months younger, for me he should stick to what he knowns best.

Leigh Howard is a Champion on the track, and at just 20 has already won 3 races on the road. Rides for HTC-Columbia so hasn't had a great deal of opportunities on the big stage. Think we've got something to look forward to though with him as a sprinter.

Matt Goss just 23 was a star on the track and has start to put some very good performances in. He's finished on the podium in 2 stages at the Giro and once at the Vuelta. He also won the GP Quest-France. Has a big future in the sprinters/classics.

Jack Bobridge just 21, again a star on the track and produced a very good win in the Eneco Tour, he's a TT specialist, not sure what he can produce down the track though.

Cameron Meyer again just 22 and a super star on the track. Is the Australian TT Champion so expect so good performances down the track against the clock.

Michael Matthews is now the U23 World Road Race Champion, just turned 20 and has only been riding for a couple of years. He can pack a sprint but not totally sure what he can achieve. Seems like a classics/sprinter/stage race specialist from his build, not a GT rider, he's 180cm and 75kg.

There are a few junior riders that i have heard shows plenty of promise but don't know too much about them yet and obviously haven't hit the professional scene yet.

 

[Selective Retention]

The lead group (Millar, Roulsten, Sutton, Davis, the Northern Irish bloke) dropped Cav and it looked like an easy win for Davis from there. Cav rejoined then the group split again minus Davis and Cav. Davis waited because of Sutton in the lead group before attacking and breaking Cav with a few km to go, riding the gap and rejoining the others.

Millar couldn't win the sprint so attacked repeatedly, Sutton covered him, then Davis stalked them and claimed the sprint. The extra team mate helped at the end.

 

[Sasquatch]

With regards to Australians...

Hard to say, there is a fair bit of talent around at the moment and some still yet to be showcased. Obviously, with Australia being flat to production of climbers are very rare. The sprinters and TT are the strong point so we ay not see someone pushing Cadels achievements for a while.

Richie Porte obviouly has a big future ahead, Fabian has given him glowing praise in the press lately. Very good TT but has run into the Cancellara era, and Tony Martin has shown some great stuff against the clock. He's very small in stature so he has the ability to climb, stage races are his go unless he is hell bent on winning a GT. That might be very very hard though as the GT are climbers races now and with Andy Schleck being a natural, plus 6 months younger, for me he should stick to what he knowns best.

Leigh Howard is a Champion on the track, and at just 20 has already won 3 races on the road. Rides for HTC-Columbia so hasn't had a great deal of opportunities on the big stage. Think we've got something to look forward to though with him as a sprinter.

Matt Goss just 23 was a star on the track and has start to put some very good performances in. He's finished on the podium in 2 stages at the Giro and once at the Vuelta. He also won the GP Quest-France. Has a big future in the sprinters/classics.

Jack Bobridge just 21, again a star on the track and produced a very good win in the Eneco Tour, he's a TT specialist, not sure what he can produce down the track though.

Cameron Meyer again just 22 and a super star on the track. Is the Australian TT Champion so expect so good performances down the track against the clock.

Michael Matthews is now the U23 World Road Race Champion, just turned 20 and has only been riding for a couple of years. He can pack a sprint but not totally sure what he can achieve. Seems like a classics/sprinter/stage race specialist from his build, not a GT rider, he's 180cm and 75kg.

There are a few junior riders that i have heard shows plenty of promise but don't know too much about them yet and obviously haven't hit the professional scene yet.

Leigh Howard is Australia's next green jersey winner at the Tour de France.

Cameron Meyer is our next best chance of a GT when he develops.

 

[Dees]

With regards to Australians...

Hard to say, there is a fair bit of talent around at the moment and some still yet to be showcased. Obviously, with Australia being flat to production of climbers are very rare. The sprinters and TT are the strong point so we ay not see someone pushing Cadels achievements for a while.

Richie Porte obviouly has a big future ahead, Fabian has given him glowing praise in the press lately. Very good TT but has run into the Cancellara era, and Tony Martin has shown some great stuff against the clock. He's very small in stature so he has the ability to climb, stage races are his go unless he is hell bent on winning a GT. That might be very very hard though as the GT are climbers races now and with Andy Schleck being a natural, plus 6 months younger, for me he should stick to what he knowns best.

Leigh Howard is a Champion on the track, and at just 20 has already won 3 races on the road. Rides for HTC-Columbia so hasn't had a great deal of opportunities on the big stage. Think we've got something to look forward to though with him as a sprinter.

Matt Goss just 23 was a star on the track and has start to put some very good performances in. He's finished on the podium in 2 stages at the Giro and once at the Vuelta. He also won the GP Quest-France. Has a big future in the sprinters/classics.

Jack Bobridge just 21, again a star on the track and produced a very good win in the Eneco Tour, he's a TT specialist, not sure what he can produce down the track though.

Cameron Meyer again just 22 and a super star on the track. Is the Australian TT Champion so expect so good performances down the track against the clock.

Michael Matthews is now the U23 World Road Race Champion, just turned 20 and has only been riding for a couple of years. He can pack a sprint but not totally sure what he can achieve. Seems like a classics/sprinter/stage race specialist from his build, not a GT rider, he's 180cm and 75kg.

There are a few junior riders that i have heard shows plenty of promise but don't know too much about them yet and obviously haven't hit the professional scene yet.

Yeah Matthews looks pretty good, came 8th in Avenir as well, which is an amazing effort for a so called sprinter.

Be interesting to keep tabs on Hepburn and Parker as well. Haven't seen much of them on the road yet. But both have been quicker than Meyer, Bobridge in the pursuit at the same age.

 

[Cruiser23]

Leigh Howard is Australia's next green jersey winner at the Tour de France.

Cameron Meyer is our next best chance of a GT when he develops.

Agree on Howard, excited about his future.

Cameron Meyer? Interesting. Heard something Sas? Haven't seen a great deal of his climbing ability TBH, potential?

What do you see out of Bobridge?

 

[Sasquatch]

Agree on Howard, excited about his future.

Cameron Meyer? Interesting. Heard something Sas? Haven't seen a great deal of his climbing ability TBH, potential?

What do you see out of Bobridge?

Cam Meyer is more exceptional than what people think. He can climb well. Just need the development which will take a few years.

Bobridge not sure of. Time Trialer and workhorse, that's about it.

 

[Cruiser23]

Well Rogers has final worked out he wasn't/can't be a GT contender.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/michael-rogers-ive-found-my-niche

Michael Rogers may have brought down the curtain on his time with HTC-Columbia but the Australian is already looking towards having another successful season in 2011.

Rogers won both the Amgen Tour of California and the Vuelta a Andalucia this season, as well as finishing second overall in the Criterium International and third in the Tour de Romandie, marking him as one of the most successful riders in week-long stage races. Although he would not be drawn on his professional status and possible future team, he pinpointed where his future targets will lie.

Link

Again, has it taken him too long to realise this? From what i saw/known he was a super TTer (3 World Championships in a row) that, has been unlucky with injury but he seemed to be pursuing a goal of a GT title that really wasn't in his reach. Did he somewhat misuse a few years trying to become something he wasn't? Worried Porte may try the same thing, focus on climbing and forget what he was best at. The thing that is in Porte advanatge though is he's the right size for a GT, small and light, Rogers is 185cm and over 75kg. In this day and age, where the TT is being almost cut out of GT, he's got no shot. Think this has a lot to do with media pressure and being the first Aussie to win a GT.

I think this is a good thing for him. Evans should be doing the same thing.