AUSTRALIAN NT - Season 23

[Vos]

Race 2 

Selections :
Norm Bush   HTCHungria   31
Garret Woods   LOSRAYOSDELARRY   25 (fr?)
Garret Mitchum   Manicomicos_Cycling_Team   24 (leader?)
Stu Vaughn   JGMTeam   23
Dudley Iverson   LottoStelvio   32
Des Brown   JackyTeam   27
Henry Footman   BLOEMENAANDEMITTE   27
Barry Carpenter   LottoGranadier   25

At the moment Martin Wilson from ZG Age 28 is my final selection, on the basis of having been raced (others at 26yo with <20 exp isn't encouraging selection).

Prospects: Last season Garret Woods managed 11th, with Norm Bush 16th.  This season it's a significantly different climbs race, but with two Garrets we'll be seeking at least a top ten result.

Results:

While we're waiting for me to select the final five for tomorrow's NT race (tomorrow for Aussies anyway), here's our first look at the U21s.

U21 Cyclists

see attachment

No Zack Ronald or Graham Reed for Coobled-Hills as 19 yo...? Am i reading my team completely wrong ? 
(Now also Joe Leipheimer - pulled this morning). These guys are much better, IMHO, than Dardar

Zack Ronald, Graham Reed, and Joe Leipheimer ; they are all British, and not Australian. I guess your scout is lost a bit. 

Well, apparently his agent lied in some Customs paperwork, and he was not allowed into Australia as a consequence. So he is now in the UK, playing tennis or something.

Now: Vos, as always, you are right. Suprinsingly, after 3 seasons of mediocre finds in Australia, the minute I sent my International scout in UK, he finds 3 riders which are better (starting skills, at least) than everything I scouted in the last 3 seasons in Australia

Those people with tennis rackets, I think our immigration officials are highlighting them as red flags.  It could be at the stage where we warn people not to attempt to bring their tennis rackets into Australia.

A picture of ; 

the international scout of TeaMetal

[Aurora Australis]

Race 2 

Results:
11th   Garret Mitchum      1: 06"   110 points
16th   Henry Footman      1: 19"   60 points

I'm not sure whether to be happy with the results or not, however the good news is that we're currently 40 points away from 1st.

[Aurora Australis]

Race 3 

Selections :
Jasper Blair   Manicomicos_Cycling_Team   33
Tim Malone   Pantani28   33
Ian Hamsten   Pantani28   30
Leroy Ablett   ChronoTony   30 (fr?)
Jasper Caan   SaulSalinasTeam   26 (leader)
Adrian Janson   Sacido   23
Horace Stamer   Sacido   23

Two more selections.  27yo Reggie Milne would have been an automatic selection if his experience wasn't 23, however he may still get selected based on him changing teams.  Final selection is either another Sacido 23yo, or a complete XP u23 cyclist, or both if either Reggie isn't selected &/or 33yo Tim Malone is deselected.

Prospects: I haven't seen past results, however I believe Caan is good for a high result if all goes right & he doesn't get dropped.  He has the incentive in that 23yo Stamer will be knocking towards potential leader position next season if Caan isn't up for it.

Results:
4th   Jasper Caan      0: 00"   200 points
13th   Leroy Ablett      0: 00"   90 points
15th   Ian Hamsten      0: 21"   70 points
16th   Jasper Blair      0: 21"   60 points

420 points is good, and we would have happily taken that before the race.  Only problem is that it was 2nd to the flying Dutch, who with 150 more points this race have to be slight favourites for the NT title at this point in time.

[Aurora Australis]

With us at the top of the NT standards after the sprint race, let's have a look at the u21s with a heavy focus on the u20s.

* Bob Pernom looks like a top sprinter, but is likely to be cobbles trained and will make an excellent cobbler with sprint backup, as will Daniel Rooney.  With them competing to become cobbles NT leader for near ten seasons (talent likely to decide), they will help to stave off the immediate collapse of the Aussie NT cobbler team.  A couple of potential NT cobble domestiques exist, but we still have free spots needing to be filled (or a leader's position particularly if neither current potentials are high talent).
* Out of rotation TTer Wilt Hardy makes a decent prospect if there's any TT teams starting this season.
* There's a few hill-cobbler workmen, whether any can become leaders remains to be seen.
* Hiller Abraham Mayne will be looking for high talent if he wants to be near the front, but as a hiller with sprint finish he could be the next top star.
* The climbers are weaker this season, but that's not a concern as they're seeking more versatile roles (Tourer & CH), and last season's climbers are keeping the pure climb stocks strong.

U21 Cyclists - U20 focus

see attachment

[Aurora Australis]

Race 4 

Selections :
Bud Mount   ChronoTony   31
Walt Judd   Matterhorn   31
Christian Pocock   Aurora_Australis   30
Kirk Clinton   Aurora_Australis   30 *
Nobby Licuria   Aurora_Australis   30
Tod Henderson   Aurora_Australis   30

Jonny Alfier & Markus Benett are 7th & 8th selections. Paul Williams missing out by the slimmest of decisions (technically had 0.07AV higher & were at 94exp & would have been nice to see him in one NT race).  Jason Duffy & Paul Williams are the two final options for 9th selection as of Sunday. Paul Williams is technically 0.07AV higher (possibly up to 0.12 higher)  & would have been nice to see him in one NT race; however Jason Duffy has a known around 0.05 to 0.20 AV hidden in his AV rating.  Decision has changed to Duffy Paul, so he can have a NT race to his name before retirement.

Prospects: It's Australia and it's TT racing.  There are however a number of cyclists from other NT teams to look out for, including the Germans & Dutch, for us the Dutch is more of an issue due to their cobble strength, so we need at 700 points more than them this race.  That's going to be a tall order.

Results:
2nd   Nobby Licuria      0: 04"   250 points
4th   Kirk Clinton      0: 07"   200 points
5th   Bud Mount      0: 08"   180 points
7th   Tod Henderson      0: 11"   150 points
12th   Walt Judd      0: 16"   100 points   
13th   Christian Pocock      0: 16"   90 points
16th   Jason Duffy      0: 18"   60 points
17th   Jonny Alfier      0: 18"   40 points
18th   Markus Benett      0: 18"   30 points

Unfortunately no win for Nobby, however a 2nd & all 9 cyclists in the top 20, plus the Dutch had a poor day.  No championship yet, but we're now ahead.

[Aurora Australis]

Here are the cyclists battling for the final three spots.  Jonny Alfier is all bar guaranteed spot 7 due to his weather bonus, so it'll be two spots left.  Also of note, Bob Iverson* aged 25 from catapunchimpon, just misses out on this list.

FLAT-TTers            
#   AV   Name   Age   Team
1   96.43   Markus Benett   30   QuintoYtapa (note after taking into account 100 stat)
2   96.29   Jonny Alfier   26   Aurora_Australis *
3   96.29   Paul Williams   31   Gloucester
4   96.22   Jason Duffy   31   Shiro_Lions
5   95.75   Patrick Cann   29   Periquitos *
6   95.71   Lenny Taylor   25   Aurora_Australis
7   95.61   Eric Armstrong   26   Aurora_Australis
8   95.53   Colin Friend   31   woodwatch
9   95.35   Billy Janson   25   Aurora_Australis
10   95.27   Julian Frances   33   Bergtoppers
11   95.26   Gilbert Johnston   25   catapunchimpon *
12   95.09   Alex Trautemberg   25   Aurora_Australis *
Note: Exact calculations not yet made.

* weather bonus

[Aurora Australis]

For any new teams, there's a good 23yo climber on the free transfer list, Cody Embley.  Has been in a NT race for Australia.

https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/vision.php?ciclistaid=153605

[Aurora Australis]

Race 5 

Selections :
Marc Ashley   TeaMetal   30
Marc Huling   Turrones   30 (fr)
Andrew Iverson   TeaMetal   29
Brooklyn Abolins   Spitz   29
Nick Thompson   TeaMetal   29 (leader)
Dylan Lucas   JGMTeam   28
Mannie Hines   Villavante   27
Neil Spiker   CaptainOrange   27
Ken Holland   Mustangs   20 (XP)

Prospects: After the Dutch unexpectantly scored few points in the TT, we're back to favourites for the championship, however we're still needing decent points.  Nick Thompson should be good enough to do this, if the tactics are correct.

Results:
4th   Nick Thompson      0: 11"   200 points
16th   Mannie Hines      0: 40"   60 points
Not sure about tactics, but Nick & team was certainly there to score more points for Australia.

[horace_vr]

It's great to see that my experiment, started 10 seasons ago, is finally paying off 
Congrats to AA for the season results!

[Aurora Australis]

It's great to see that my experiment, started 10 seasons ago, is finally paying off 
Congrats to AA for the season results!

It's great that there are cyclists to get the results with, Nick Thompson was our undisputed leader for the race, I'd been unsure about my tactics because most seasons it would have been more aggressive, but the cobble-hillers were there to help deliver another championship to Australia (baring a complete fail next race).

Just a note, only one race so far has Australia's top cyclist been outside the top 5.

[Aurora Australis]

Race 6 

Selections :
Jasper Blair   Manicomicos_Cycling_Team   33
Ian Hamsten   Pantani28   30
Leroy Ablett   ChronoTony   30
Jasper Caan   SaulSalinasTeam   26 (leader)
Adrian Janson   Sacido   23
Horace Stamer   Sacido   23
Rob Blixter   Sacido   23 (semi xp)
Maurice Hunter   Aurora_Australis   21 (xp)
Bob Pernom   PDM_cycling_team   19 (xp)

Bob Pernom was going to have his NT initiation next week with 20 yo Rick Cann to be selected for this race, however I suspect that Teamclaes is inactive, so Bob races today instead.

Note next week, 19 yo cobbler Daniel Rooney will have his NT initiation, possibly Kenneth Jackson &/or Elgin Henderson (TeaMetal) as well, or Alex Ablett (Red_Light_Skippers).

Prospects: This is effectively the end of our season.  Race 3 was worth 420 points, we'll soon see if Jasper Caan can make a podium.

Results:
3rd   Jasper Caan      0: 00"   225   points
An Aussie on the podium in a sprint race is always a good result.

[Vos]

You are doing great, Aurora Australis ! 
Good luck in the final flat-cobble race !

[Aurora Australis]

Thanks.  Particularly good to have done a good job in what now is going to be my final season.
__

I wish to inform everybody that I won't be seeking the NT position next season.  I have a business opportunity I wish to pursue & won't be active here.  At some point in time likely next season, most or all of my cyclists will be available to purchase.

[Vos]

I'm sad to read that you won't be active here.
But I'm happy to read that you have a business opportunity you wish to pursue.
A big thanks for the many years of CFF fun, though I still hope you keep playing the game or come back to the game in due course.
If not, I will for sure miss you in CFF. But much more important = I wish you the best of luck with your business opportunity.   

[Aurora Australis]

Race 7 

Selections :
Dave Taylor      29   Bikeos (leaader)
Donald Odom      29   CajaRuralZamora
Keith Hunter      33   aljarafecycling
Daniel Rooney      19   WinterIsComing (xp)
Alex Ablett      22   Red_Light_Skippers (xp)
Bob Pernom      19   PDM_cycling_team (xp)
Andrew Morse      19   Plopsala (xp)
Ben Brubaker      20   TeaMetal (xp)
Derek Jons      21   RHyNeStOnEs (XP)

Prospects: No expectations in what's expected to be my final race with a team leader that's a good distance away from the best.  Only two domestiques were used, and gambled with an aggressive tactic hoping to see a few left behind.

Results:
31st   Donald Odom      29   0: 45"
Ultimately, the domestiques left the team leader behind on the flat, along with a number of other team leaders (including the Dutch it appears - so that was as good as a win & a half given they would have expected 700-800+ points from the race).