Australia s28

[Vos]

A new NT season starts ! 

There were no NT candidates, so I'm automatically the Australian NT manager and I will try to make the best out of this season 28.
The season goal is another world championship ; so far Australia was 14 times ( out of the 26 NT seasons ) the world champion.
Also nice ; after previous season with 3 race victories, Australia is the new leader in the ranking of most NT race victories ( see medal table ).

It is clear that this NT season is for flat-sprinters, and we have 2 high ranked top-sprinters ; Horace Stamer and Jasper Caan.
But previous season showed what we all knew ; NT sprint races are always erratic, unpredictable and a tactical gamble.
Teamcaptain Jasper Caan had a very bad, unlucky sprint race and finished just as 24º, what is zero points.
And he was one of the top favorites with on his palmares 2 NT sprint victories ( in s24 and in s26 ).
Hopefully this season two top results in both sprint races, because if it goes as in previous s27, then probably not another WC title.

But in theory this NT season looks very good for Australia if both sprint races go very well,
ánd if so, then Jasper Caan is one of the top contenders to compete for the individual WC jersey.
What is a season goal too, despite his dissapointing 24º place in previous season.

season 28 schedule =

1.   Baar  HHHHH  118 km
2.   Sestrière  FMDMM  190 km
3.   Lleida  FFFFF  186 km
4.   Milano  TT-FFFFF  29 km
5.   Montaicino  FFF^FC^ 222 km
6.   Revel  FFFFF  239,5 km
7.   Roubaix  FCFCC  259 km

[Vos]

RACE 1 : SWISS HILLS

25ºC

Baar, Switzerland,
This is the exact same track as the NT race 1 of previous season, with as very surprising Australian victor ; James Bush.
According to my estimation back then, he should have been a top10 contender if the tactics were right, and not a top contender.
I think my estimation was right, and this race was won by a formidable ( or very lucky ) tactical race of Australia.
James Bush is now one year older and already 32yo, so I assume he cannot repeat this very surprising victory.
But if the tactics go right, he still should be able to finish top 10 despite his stats declined a bit ánd despite a stronger competition.

Already selected are the same top 8 hills specialists as in previous season, and the last one will be selected later.
edit ; as last one is selected an xp cyclist, the nr 1 cobblehills in the u23 DreamTeam.

Australia NT selection :

James Bush ( 32 ) Kelme4ever
Paddy Friend ( 31 ) JGMTeam
Rob Mitchell ( 30 ) Villavante
Derek Jons ( 26 ) RHyNeStOnEs
Nate Gailes ( 32 ) Elgrand
Callum Carpenter ( 28 ) TeaMetal
Danny Gill ( 32 ) LanihuliCycling
Natham Middleton ( 26 ) Hero_cycling
Colin Ronnald ( 22 ) QuintoYtapa

[Vos]

7º  James Bush ( 32, Kelme4ever )   0:13"
A good result.

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Australia u24 ( 154 cyclists ) :


CFF u23 Dream Team =
cobblehills
1. Colin Ronnald  ( 22, QuintoYtapa )
2. Emerson Brown  ( 22, Agua_Verde )
4. Bruce Hunter  ( 22, QuintoYtapa )
10 Tony Glass  ( 22, QuintoYtapa )

Just 4 Australians in the u23 DT, but certainly this is an excellent and very promising cobblehills generation.
Most likely the future ( for many NT seasons ) cobblehills teamcaptain is in the u23 DT right now.

The other youth lists will be published later this week.
And hopefully soon we have enough 19yo's so I can post the u20 lists too. Please send your scout to Australia and good luck ! 

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Australia u22 ( 108 cyclists ) :

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RACE 2 : ITALIAN ALPS

23ºC

Savigliano, Italy,
In previous season there was a splendid victory of Vaughn in a MDFMM race of 155 km.
So, the expectations are high for this 35 km longer mountain race and I expect at least a top result if the tactics go very well.

Australia NT selection :

Stu Vaughn ( 28 ) JGMTeam
Garret Mitchum ( 29 ) barrio
Rick Cann ( 25 ) Wizards
Garret Woods ( 30 ) FlyEaglesFly
Ken Holland ( 25 )ForzaItaly
Barry Carpenter ( 30 ) ChampsElysees
Rick Pierre ( 25 ) Kalenjicycling
Allan Sheehan ( 25 ) Stuttgarter
Barret Ryan ( 31 ) Statoil

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Australia u21 ( 17x 19yo's and 53x 20yo's ) :

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Australia u20 ( 31 cyclists ) :

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NT race 2 ;
1º  Stu Vaughn ( 28, JGMTeam )  -->  VICTORY ! 

Magnificient solo victory with even a gap of 0:23" to the nr 2, his Dutch JGMTeam mate Abel Vermeer.
The American Beckham ( 32, SPORTLIFE ) finished solo as 3rd on 0:27"
Australia moved up to the 2nd place in the season ranking, 200 points behind leader Switzerland.
Next week a hot sprint race in Spain.

[Vos]

RACE 3 : SPRINT in SPAIN

35ºC

Ejea de los Caballeros, Spain,
Sprint races are always a bit of a tactical lottery, what was shown by the desastrous sprint race of previous season = 24º and 0 points.
Hopefully this season the tactics go well with Jasper Caan who is again one of the top favorites as 2-times-NT-race-victor.

All 5 golden flat sprinters are selected, added with the best silver flat sprinter.
Three places left for xp cyclists ; 
the both very promising nrs 1 and 2 in the u23 DT cobblehills & flatcobble specialist Pernom who tries to help in the first few kilometers.

Australia NT selection :

Jasper Caan ( 31 ) SaulSalinasTeam
Horace Stamer* ( 28 ) TeamEuroscalt
Adrian Janson ( 28 ) Villavante
Rob Blixter ( 28 ) TeamEuroscalt
Reggie Milne ( 32 ) CaptainOrange
Luke Morse ( 28 ) FaustoScoppi   
- - - - - - - - - -
Bob Pernom ( 24 ) PDM_cycling_team
Colin Ronnald ( 22 ) QuintoYtapa   
Emerson Brown ( 22 ) Agua_Verde

[Vos]

3º  Jasper Caan ( 31, SaulSalinasTeam )  0:00"   
20º  Horace Stamer ( 28, TeamEuroscalt )  0:24"   

Unfortunately no victory, but a podiumplace is also a good result and Jasper Caan might be still in the NT jersey battle.
Former leader Switzerland scored zero points, and is overtaken by Australia ( 235 points in this race ).
But Australia is still 2nd, because new leader the Netherlands did great in this race ( 500 points ).

Next week a hot time trial in Milano, and the best 5 Australians are already selected.

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Australia u20 ( 33 cyclists ) :


This is by far the worst u20 generation that I have ever experienced as NT manager.
There are just a few potential very good 19yo's, probably just max. 4 or so, if they have a high TR and are trained well in their team.
Hopefully more excellent 19yo Australian enter the game in this last week of pulling, good luck everyone ! 

[Vos]

RACE 4 :  TT  MONZA - MILANO

31ºC

Milan, Italy,
In previous season there was a great victory of Jonny Alfier, and 6 Australians scored points. An awesome total of 940 points !
But a nation with some top TT specialists did not had a NT selection back then, so I expect many less points this season.
And it is a different flat time trial because it is many less kilometers now, just 29km, versus the 52km of season 27.
Jonny Alfier has an amazingly high stamina, so the more kilometers the better, and I assume he cannot win this short time trial.
But he should be able to get a top result, because in contrast to previous s27, now he has an active weather icon*.
Although who knows, maybe someone else will be the best Australian, the selected top 4 are extreme close in race GV.

All 6 Australians who scored points in previous s27 are selected.
Added with Bob Iverson who likes short time trials ánd he has an active weather icon*. It is only the 2nd time he is an international.

Also added with the high ranked young Sammy Alfier, who finished as 28th in previous season, 3 seconds outside the points.
It is very doubtfull if he can finish top20 this time, I guess he needs a very lucky race to achieve this due to his low xp.
The same for the still to select final TT specialist, no matter who that will be, also he needs a very lucky race to finish top20.
edit ; today the last cyclist is selected, it was a choice between two TT specialists of my own team.
Also added are the new team names of Janson and Trautemberg, both made a transfer this week.

Australia NT selection :

Jonny Alfier* ( 31 ) Innioraths
Gilbert Johnston ( 30 ) TTeam
Billy Janson ( 30 ) LottoGranadier
Lenny Taylor ( 30 ) RHyNeStOnEs
Alex Trautemberg ( 30 ) TeamEuroscalt
Bob Iverson* ( 30 ) Catalonia_Team
Eric Armstrong ( 31 ) TTeam
Sammy Alfier ( 25 ) Facha_Bartolo
Maurice Hunter ( 26 ) SPORTLIFE

[Vos]

1    Fabien Gallas      29   0: 00"   300      Thorboassonarvesen
2    Jonny Alfier      31   0: 02"   250      Innioraths
3    Gregor Arzdorf      29   0: 03"   225      JGMTeam
4    Lenny Taylor      30   0: 05"   200      RHyNeStOnEs
5    Bob Iverson      30   0: 05"   180      Catalonia_Team  --> with mechanical breakdown in s3
6    Alex Trautemberg      30   0: 07"   160      TeamEuroscalt
7    Manuel Enrique Porras      29   0: 07"   150      TeamSerfin
8    Billy Janson      30   0: 08"   140      LottoGranadier
9    Stefan Lievens      27   0: 08"   130      ChampsElysees
10    Mirko DiLuca      30   0: 08"   120      catapunchimpon
11    Gilbert Johnston      30   0: 08"   110      TTeam
12    Ben Gerster      29   0: 09"   100      Facha_Bartolo
13    Harz Muff      29   0: 10"   90      Quickstepbronx
14    Stu Harris      28   0: 11"   80      Wizards
15    Abel Velkeneers      25   0: 11"   70      RajenKujen
16    Anders Vikan      29   0: 11"   60      CobbleCrushers
17    Angel Gabriel Aguinaga      31   0: 12"   40      woodwatch
18    Claudio Russo      25   0: 13"   30      Sonfuga
19    Sammy Alfier      25   0: 13"   20      Facha_Bartolo
20    Diren Tirapelle      29   0: 14"   10      ProdopingPong

Armstrong ( 29th on 0:16" ) had a mechanical breakdown in s4, and Hunter ( 44th on 0:22" ) was simply not good enough.
But we did not had other TT specialists who might have scored points in a very lucky race.
And of course, I'm very satisfied with these excellent TT result ánd the total of 1.060 points, what is even 120 points more as in s27.
And just like in previous season, Australia profits of the fact that again Portugal did not had an TT selection.
Portugal has the nrs 3, 6 and 12 in the golden flat TT ranking.

Australia is the new leader in the season ranking with a nice gap of 745 points towards nr 2 the Netherlands.
Next week we go to Italy for a cobblehills race with a lot of flat kilometers.

[Vos]

For the last time the u20 lists because the recruiting is pretty much ended this season, now the Giro already started.
It is still possible to pull a good 19yo talent in the next 2 or max. 3 days, but his is very rare and you need a lot of luck.



Australia u20 ( 42 cyclists ) :