AUSTRALIAN NT - Season 13 - Ending of an era

[Franky]

I'm not in the mood this time...

[Aurora Australis]

Race 7 

Selections :
Angus Friend   30   El_Viejo_Acordeón
Keith Hunter   23   catapunchimpon
Kent McClure   31   Yvo_Meppelink_ProCycling
John Battle   31   Antequera
Peter Boit   23   Vitimper

Four more to be selected, Liam Armstrong of Orange likely to get exp spot if there's one free (would have been given it last race, but was late enquiring about one thing).

Prospects: This is my last race here.  Unfortunately Angus appears to have had a hard season, and his cobbling average has dropped, so I'm not sure a win is achievable, but we'll go on the belief it is.

Results:
1st   Angus Friend      30   0: 00"   300      El_Viejo_Acordeón
8th   Keith Hunter      23   0: 28"   140      catapunchimpon

Not sure how far Angus has dropped on the gold cobbles rankings, but it much be on the limit.  8th for Hunter as a domestique promises good tidings for the future.
Btw: Wouldn't it be nice if we could set different NT managers for different races, NT cobbles seems to love me more than a certain other race type.

[Vos]

After one week still no Australian NT candidate.
Because there is a big chance I will be the next NT manager automatically, I decided to register as candidate.
If there will be another good candidate who is motivated to do this honorable and fun job, most likely I will withdraw as candidate.
Hopefully also next season the old TT specialists of AA can ride the NT time trial. I estimate they still can score many points next season.

Good luck in NT race 7, Aurora Australis !

[Franky]

I hope Zatarra, Tourmalet or Antequera wants to be NT one day...they are good managers too, so we have a bunch of experienced managers...

[Aurora Australis]

Hopefully also next season the old TT specialists of AA can ride the NT time trial. I estimate they still can score many points next season.

They'll score plenty of points.  There's a remote possibility of a final victory, although I suspect race 4 will be a bridge too far for that..., of course there could be a super weather event for Kirk Workman.

Btw: Keith Hunter looks good to possibly take on captain responsibilities in the cobbles next season, so that will be something.

[Vos]

Great victory of Angus Friend, very well done Aurora Australis ! 

Btw: Keith Hunter looks good to possibly take on captain responsibilities in the cobbles next season, so that will be something.

Indeed, Keith Hunter is very high ranked and just 23yo.
And already very valuable in this NT race, it seems to me that in your great tactics the key to victory was Hunter, who finished as 8º himself. 

[Vos]

I hope Zatarra, Tourmalet or Antequera wants to be NT one day...they are good managers too, so we have a bunch of experienced managers...

Indeed for sure !
And we have more good managers Down Under, such as Horace ( TeaMetal ), Telamon ( Frenkie ), and probably I forget someone now.

If someone has some hesitation because it is a responsible job. No worries, you can do it only wrong if you don't have a NT selection.
And I assume (and even know) that if you want feedback about selection-choice, teamcaptain-choice and tactical choices ;
all Australian managers are willing to help you.

And keep in mind ; mistakes or even big tactical failures are part of the game, and for sure the case in the NT races.
Every NT manager makes mistakes and even experiences big failures sometimes.
A perfect CFF manager does not excist, you are an excellent manager if you make less mistakes than the rival managers.

Are you up for the challenge next season 14 ?
There is nothing to lose, you can only win experience for yourself and win respect of other Australian managers.
Also very nice ; next season you can still profit of the amazing TT team of Aurora Australis. More fun to compete with many extra points.
And it seems to me the future of Australia is not bad at all. It is also fun to ride with the few amazing young Australian top talents.

If there will be no other candidates, no problem for me to do this honorable and fun job next season.
But next season can be a great opportunity for someone else to experience being an Australian NT manager (you cannot do it wrong).

[Aurora Australis]

23 year old Jasper is now our best sprinter, with 23 yo primary domestiques; they should score well.
24 year old Jason Furey is now our best climber, with two 26 yo domestiques in top five (I still think climbing stocks is a little marginal).
24 year old Gerald Shields is our best hiller, with his 24 yo teammate 3rd domestique, and another 23 yo domestique; they aren't yet the best (not sure on their ranking on the gold list), but the ranks of top hillers in CFF will start thinning.
23 year old Keith Hunter got 8th last NT race as a domestique, he's going to slip right into the top tier of CFF.

Of course the TT is still ruled by the old guys in my team, but they're still hanging up at the top of CFF rankings, and Kirk Workman is there if weather is favourable.  There's actually an opportunity for somebody to come in as NT manager & get solid results, so it's worth considering for those who haven't done it.

[Franky]

Yep, we are not so bad, we have a few guys that can give us points or even winning races, but I still think it is because we have a few managers very dedicated to the country, promoting aussies, and training them, over their chances to promoting to First Division, or even fighting to win important things... and this is so good, but also risky for our future.

[Aurora Australis]

The calculations will be different with a new NT manager next season, but in saying goodbye as we head into a generation renewal, I'm providing one final cyclist comparison.  This one is the best single cyclist in each basic category, the best 23-26 year old if not the best overall already, and a selection of top 19-22 year olds to show a progression.  Some youth sections look great, some will be seeking better in the next few seasons.  Anyway, click on attachment to view.

[Vos]

Great overview, AA ! 
Still no other Australian NT candidate, so I can use this overview very well in my selection policy of xp cyclists. Thanks !

[Kekipi]

The calculations will be different with a new NT manager next season, but in saying goodbye as we head into a generation renewal, I'm providing one final cyclist comparison.  This one is the best single cyclist in each basic category, the best 23-26 year old if not the best overall already, and a selection of top 19-22 year olds to show a progression.  Some youth sections look great, some will be seeking better in the next few seasons.  Anyway, click on attachment to view.

I.like.this.a.lot.

Will do something similar for USA, so thanks and credit to you for the idea.

[Franky]

So, as Jasper ended his important training phase, I'm going to start training him hills for a while, so...I will be promoting hillers. I know that is not what we need the most but... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If you promote a good aussie hiller, I'll be glad to buy him