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AUSTRALIAN NT - Season 13
(https://scontent.fbne3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/317172_2026134538382_1307919894_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=2&_nc_sid=cdbe9c&_nc_ohc=wPRJtk1JLK8AX9MKpbQ&_nc_ht=scontent.fbne3-1.fna&oh=c2d39423cb6737d50eeab2949ef5f5e5&oe=5FC342FD)
Somewhere on the road in Queensland
Welcome to season 13. It's an ending of an era, with all of our favourite cyclists entering the twilight of their careers. A few may make a farewell tour in season 14, but for so many their NT careers will end here. Others will see opportunities & a new beginning. So welcome to season 13, the ending of an era, heralding the arrival of the new.
Current Australian cyclist rankings below.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50553742896_344ea4bd78_h.jpg)
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Indeed, I'm curious how the game will develop in this (and next) season now the enormous first generation will decrease on skills.
You were right about the individual world championship. Leonov (Ukraine) is the lucky one (out of the 7) who is awarded with the WC jersey.
This NT season the WC jersey will go to a hills specialist, so Australia will not win that price.
But very good to see that the both just 24yo Australian hills specialists of Quickstepbronx are listed high in the golden hills ranking. 8)
Thanks for the much appreciated lists. Have fun and good luck this season 13, AA ! :)
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Is anyone looking for 19yo aussies?? Where do we put my scout? ;D
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Also will have my scouts & promoters returning from break if anybody's training 19 year old Aussies this season.
Race 1
(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/etapas/calta.jpg)
Selections :
Austin Burton 31 Facha_Bartolo
John Jones 31 CC_Porco_Jones
Royce Henderson 31 Handest
Vinnie Coleman 30 galegospolabici
Dudley Judd 25 Telleriarte
Gerard Shields 24 Quickstepbronx (leader)
Zack Walkins 24 Quickstepbronx
Herbie Fredickson 23 MarquinaTeam
Marcus Glass 21 La_Vie_Claire
Results:
9th Gerard Shields 24 130 points Quickstepbronx
Well it beats last season's fail.
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Is anyone looking for 19yo aussies?? Where do we put my scout? ;D
I am looking for 19yo hill-cobblers, and I have a budget to spend if the circumstances are right :D
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Is anyone looking for 19yo aussies?? Where do we put my scout? ;D
I am looking for 19yo hill-cobblers, and I have a budget to spend if the circumstances are right :D
Noted!!
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so, you wanted a cob-hiller, I got it!
Bob Janson Age : 19 Wage : 828
Stamina : 60 Sprint : 14 Climbing : 23
Flat : 33 Cobblestone : 66 Technique : 68
Downhill : 43 Hills : 53 Aggressiveness : 55
Time Trial : 0 Teamwork : 8 Experience : 0
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Hi Phil :)
Phil Finn Age : 19 Wage : 807
Stamina : 58 Sprint : 17 Climbing : 23
Flat : 53 Cobblestone : 3 Technique : 63
Downhill : 25 Hills : 1 Aggressiveness : 39
Time Trial : 66 Teamwork : 53 Experience : 0
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so, you wanted a cob-hiller, I got it!
Bob Janson Age : 19 Wage : 828
Stamina : 60 Sprint : 14 Climbing : 23
Flat : 33 Cobblestone : 66 Technique : 68
Downhill : 43 Hills : 53 Aggressiveness : 55
Time Trial : 0 Teamwork : 8 Experience : 0
Nice! I can definitely make room for him ;)
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so, you wanted a cob-hiller, I got it!
Bob Janson Age : 19 Wage : 828
Stamina : 60 Sprint : 14 Climbing : 23
Flat : 33 Cobblestone : 66 Technique : 68
Downhill : 43 Hills : 53 Aggressiveness : 55
Time Trial : 0 Teamwork : 8 Experience : 0
Nice! I can definitely make room for him ;)
(https://media4.giphy.com/media/3oEdv22bKDUluFKkxi/200.gif)
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It's likely that when my current group of 30-31 year old cyclists retire, that I'll be retiring from this game. As such this will be my final season as NT captain.
AUSTRALIAN u24 - Cyclists to note
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50568941268_48b104f3a1_h.jpg)
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It's likely that when my current group of 30-31 year old cyclists retire, that I'll be retiring from this game.
I hope you are only speaking about the Time Trial game, or NT managing... #NailBitting
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It's likely that when my current group of 30-31 year old cyclists retire, that I'll be retiring from this game.
I hope you are only speaking about the Time Trial game, or NT managing... #NailBitting
I hope he is only speaking about the NT managing, not CFF... #FingerBitting :-\
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It's likely that when my current group of 30-31 year old cyclists retire, that I'll be retiring from this game.
Ai, sad to hear. :'( Hopefully it is not because of something negative in real life.
Personally I hope you continue this game, AA, ( or play again after a break ) you are a very appreciated person. 8)
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I know I'm appreciated Vos. Anyway, race 2.
Race 2
(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/etapas/zinal.jpg)
Selections :
Anthony Garza 31 SaulSalinasTeam (leader?)
Scott Springsteen 31 Borjiest
Colin Mount 26 Teka
Ryan Henderson 26 FrançaiseDesJeux
Jason Furey 24 PDM_cycling_team (leader?)
Results:
20th Anthony Garza 31 0: 53" 10 points SaulSalinasTeam
21st Jason Furey 24 0: 53" 0 points PDM_cycling_team
Have you watched the track relay in the Olympics, and they drop the baton...
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I know I'm appreciated Vos. Anyway, race 2.
Race 2
(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/etapas/zinal.jpg)
Selections :
Anthony Garza 31 SaulSalinasTeam (leader?)
Scott Springsteen 31 Borjiest
Colin Mount 26 Teka
Ryan Henderson 26 FrançaiseDesJeux
Jason Furey 24 PDM_cycling_team (leader?)
Results:
Well, it is a few seasons ago since I saw the Australian stats, and of course Furey improved a lot the past 2 seasons.
But back then I predicted that Furey would be the future Australian teamcaptain in pure climb races, it even seemed certain to me.
Another reason to make Furey the teamcaptain ;
Furey = nr 68 in the golden climb ranking ( listed as 16th pure climber )
Garza = nr 291 in the golden climb ranking ( not even listed as pure climber, but as flat climber )
Good luck !
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Additional info ; I'm sure that Furey had 100 climb at the start of this season, so his climb skill is tomorrow at least 99,93 or higher.
A high climb skill can be important in this specific NT mountain race.
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Additional info ; I'm sure that Furey had 100 climb at the start of this season, so his climb skill is tomorrow at least 99,93 or higher.
A high climb skill can be important in this specific NT mountain race.
Furey's experience is also low, 2AV from experience counts for a lot & why it's close. Btw: I appear to have had Furey pencilled as temp leader when I selected the first five several days ago, subject to seeing the actual stats Sunday.
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AUSTRALIAN u21 - Cyclists to note
Here's our first look at our youngest cyclists for the season. click on paperclip (attachment) to view.
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Hi, I'm Brooklyn Abolins manager.
Brooklyn Abolins is talent 4 ;). He will train as a hiller.
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Hi Toshette :), good that Abolins has a high talent rating.
He came in the game with 1 star on cobblehills. Very good to train hills now to the 90. After that switch to cobble training ( also to the 90 ), because he has much more potential as cobblehills specialist than as a hills specialist, in my opinion.
Have fun and good luck with your team ! :)
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Another cobblehiller with 1*
Oliver Odom Age : 19 Wage : 829
Stamina : 56 Sprint : 16 Climbing : 17
Flat : 21 Cobblestone : 64 Technique : 44
Downhill : 60 Hills : 60 Aggressiveness : 50
Time Trial : 19 Teamwork : 17 Experience : 0
Price : 1 000 000 Days left : 3 Stages raced : 0
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Hi Toshette :), good that Abolins has a high talent rating.
He came in the game with 1 star on cobblehills. Very good to train hills now to the 90. After that switch to cobble training ( also to the 90 ), because he has much more potential as cobblehills specialist than as a hills specialist, in my opinion.
Have fun and good luck with your team ! :)
I'm not going to train cobble 100%. My leader, Paul Vince doesn't need cobble :(
So I've two options for Abolins...
Brooklyn Abolins (1) Edad : 24 Sueldo : 847
Resistencia : 83 Sprint : 46 Montaña : 25
LLano : 61 Pavés : 96 Tecnica : 83
Descenso : 85 Colinas : 86 Agresividad : 66
Crono : 14 TraEqui : 41 Experiencia : 0
Brooklyn Abolins (2) Edad : 24 Sueldo : 847
Resistencia : 92 Sprint : 46 Montaña : 25
LLano : 61 Pavés : 65 Tecnica : 83
Descenso : 95 Colinas : 100 Agresividad : 66
Crono : 14 TraEqui : 41 Experiencia : 0
With 24, 25, 26 he will train flat 100%.
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My leader, Paul Vince doesn't need cobble :(
Thanks for training Vince. Go USA! :)
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I'm never an advocate for training <24 year olds at 70%, so given a choice between training that has to fit another cyclist or 70%, I'd recommend the fitting another cyclist option, unless it'd result in a sub-standard result in which case I'd sell when it'd become an issue.
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Jasper Blair Age : 23 Wage : 860
Stamina : 66 Sprint : 96 Climbing : 15
Flat : 94 Cobblestone : 8 Technique : 92
Downhill : 27 Hills : 71 Aggressiveness : 71
Time Trial : 62 Teamwork : 70 Experience : 41
(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/imagenes/sprintoro.jpg)
:o :o :o
23yo and gold in sprint hills, in a few days he will be also gold in sprint flat
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I'd been expecting gold before now Franky.
Race 3 (https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/imagenes/viento2.jpg) (https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/imagenes/nieve.jpg)
(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/etapas/bellin.jpg)
Selections :Derek Nelson 31 Yvo_Meppelink_ProCycling (leader)
Tony Carter 31 HorsCategorieProTeam
Ryan Pierre 26 CC_Porco_Jones
Jasper Blair 23 Manicomicos_Cycling_Team
Wilt Frances 23 Manicomicos_Cycling_Team
Leroy Ablett 20 lasposturas
Three more to be selected.
Results:
18th Derek Nelson 31 0: 21" 30 points Yvo_Meppelink_ProCycling
Poor split in the field section 2, but Nelson probably would have had no teammate in section 4 with more protectionist aggression, so no sure if this was a poor result.
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Don't worry, next season will be different in sprint for us... ;D
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Don't worry, Nelson always surprises in sprints :)
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Don't worry, Nelson always surprises in sprints :)
Also true ;D
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. . . . . . . . . . NEWS FLASH . . . . . . . . . . NEWS FLASH . . . . . . . . . NEWSFLASH . . . . . . . . . .
Bern, Switzerland,
The old Australian NT bus is replaced by 2 brandnew trains to travel to the NT races in Europe. See picture below.
This season is used to test them with a NT calendar of 5 races in Switzerland, 2 races in Belgium and 1 race in Italy.
With these trains the expectation is that the Australian cyclists will be even more laidback and relaxed at the start as they already were.
Remarkable is the fact that these trains are designed by an Australian international ; Jasper Blair.
He is also the one who gave these trains their official name ; bullet trains. :)
Upcoming Sunday the positive effect of this new Australian transportation can be noticable in the NT race in Bern.
(https://i.imgur.com/Wj3uOh4.jpg)
the new bullet trains of the Australian NT selection 8)
Do you want to experience a ride in these trains ?
Send your scout to Australia and train that young Australian talent very well. He might become good enough to enjoy the ride.
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
you crazy as fuck, dude!
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(https://i.imgur.com/vJSnT3J.png)
;D ;D
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Great picture and it looks amazing on his profile page ! 8) ;D
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Race 4 (https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/imagenes/viento2.jpg) (https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/imagenes/sol.jpg)
(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/etapas/berntt.jpg)
Selections :
Richard Levin 31 Aurora_Australis
Isaac Trump 31 Aurora_Australis
Paul Clickett 30 Aurora_Australis
Ben Mitchum 31 Aurora_Australis
Christian Pinkney 30 Aurora_Australis
Kirk Workman 25 Aurora_Australis
Three more to be selected.
Results:
3rd Ben Mitchum 31 0: 03" 225 Aurora_Australis
5th Isaac Trump 31 0: 05" 180 Aurora_Australis
7th Richard Levin 31 0: 05" 150 Aurora_Australis
9th Christian Pinkney 30 0: 07" 130 Aurora_Australis
12th Paul Clickett 30 0: 08" 100 Aurora_Australis
16th Owen Acree 31 0: 11" 60 Aurora_Australis
27th Kirk Workman 25 0: 15" 0 Aurora_Australis
31st Dean Shields 26 0: 17" 0 Aurora_Australis
Unfortunately not one final victory, but still a handy point's tally.
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Current rough score after taking into account weather.
# Score Name Age Team
1 98.30 Richard Levin 31 Aurora_Australis
2 98.19 Isaac Trump 31 Aurora_Australis
3 97.82 Paul Clickett 30 Aurora_Australis
4 97.70 Ben Mitchum 31 Aurora_Australis (1 weather)
5 97.44 Christian Pinkney 30 Aurora_Australis
6 96.33 Owen Acree 31 Aurora_Australis
7 96.20 Kirk Workman 25 Aurora_Australis (1 weather)
8 95.90 Cameron Carter 29 Antequera (2 weather)
9 95.83 Neil Bell 30 SPORTLIFE
10 95.70 Dean Shields 26 Aurora_Australis (1 weather)
11 95.52 David Wilson 29 Facha_Bartolo
12 95.50 Gilbert Byers 27 TeamSalpeter (1 weather)
13 95.45 Chris Montgomery 29 Frenkie (1 weather)
14 95.20 Charles Iverson 25 BlackHole (1 weather)
15 94.64 Steve Odom 25 Manicomicos_Cycling_Team
Workman's selected before Acree due to age. I'm not certain Acree's good enough for selection, which really removes anybody else of advancing age, and maybe even the next 25-26 yo below Workman. Carter's too old to play for the future, and the next age group has Shields for selection (2nd to Workman), who for NT is kinda a temporary bubble choice. So we might go for at least one underage TTer.
(btw, just for record, most of my TTers are at 99.9 TT, as I switched from TT this week.)
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Unfortunately this time no NT race victory.
But 3º, 5º, 7º, 9º, 12º and 16º is not a bad race result. All 6 point scoring cyclists are of your own team Aurora_Australis.
And Australia is now high ranked ; nr3 and 200 points behind the nr1 and 315 points ahead of the nr4.
Have fun and good luck in the next NT race, AA !
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Wilt "The Gun" Frances is also gold now!
(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/imagenes/sprintoro.jpg)(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/imagenes/viento3.jpg)(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/imagenes/nieve.jpg)
Wilt Frances Age : 23 Wage : 817
Stamina : 73 Sprint : 95 Climbing : 26
Flat : 90 Cobblestone : 44 Technique : 72
Downhill : 24 Hills : 78 Aggressiveness : 77
Time Trial : 9 Teamwork : 71 Experience : 27
I think he is going to be Jasper's best friend ;D
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Race 5
(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/etapas/flandes.jpg)
Selections :
Kirk Trump 31 $Tourmalet
Alex Byers 30 Fountain
Sam Rooney 23 Lemarche
Steve Morse 23 LanihuliCycling
Rest to be selected once I see the younger cyclists.
Results:
28th Alex Byers 30 0: 53" 0 points Fountain
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AUSTRALIAN u21 - Cyclists to note
Something more interesting to look at than the upcoming NT race's prospects. Click on paperclip (attachment) to view.
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Because I have a policy that underaged cyclists of note should typically get one NT race for experience where there's gaps in selections (providing a team's doing everything right for the cyclist), here's a list of under 23 cyclists who've been selected in a NT race so far this season & therefore are unlikely to be selected in the final two races if spaces are free.
Marcus Glass 21 La_Vie_Claire
Jason Duffy 21 Frenkie
Norm Bush 21 Orange
Leroy Ablett 20 lasposturas
Nobby Licuria 20 Aurora_Australis
Kirk Clinton 20 Aurora_Australis
Markus Benett 20 Aurora_Australis
Bud Mount 21 ChronoTony
Marc Huling 20 CobbleCrushers
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To bad Patrick Cann has an very low talent. Otherwise he would be an excellent candidate for the last 2 races :(
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Yeah, low talent is deadly, particularly with TT (you should see the list of multi-million dollar transfers I sent straight to fruit picking).
Race 6 (https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/imagenes/nieve.jpg)
(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/etapas/lieja.jpg)
Selections :
Austin Burton 31 Facha_Bartolo
Royce Henderson 31 Handest
Vinnie Coleman 30 galegospolabici
Gerard Shields 24 Quickstepbronx (leader)
Zack Walkins 24 Quickstepbronx
Herbie Fredickson 23 MarquinaTeam
Three more to be selected, John Jones won't be one of them (three top tens in NTs - one podium, last NT top ten was 6th in season 11).
Results:
18th Gerard Shields 24 0: 32" 30 points Quickstepbronx
Unexpected high result in previous NT race possibly contributed to overinflated hopes. Late change in tactics to a more aggressive one failed, with Shields missing the split & wasting energy.
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AUSTRALIAN u21 - Cyclists to note
Something more interesting to look at than the upcoming NT race's prospects. Click on paperclip (attachment) to view.
Thanks for posting this. For comparison purposes, it's good-to-know stuff.
As time and motivation permits, I'll post the numbers for USA's U21s.
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Thanks for the lists / great job, Aurora Australis. 8)
To all Australian managers : Who will be a NT manager candidate for next season ?
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I'm not in the mood this time...
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Race 7 (https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/imagenes/sol.jpg)
(https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/etapas/fri.jpg)
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).
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.
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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 !
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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...
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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.
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Great victory of Angus Friend, very well done Aurora Australis ! 8)
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. 8)
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Great overview, AA ! 8)
Still no other Australian NT candidate, so I can use this overview very well in my selection policy of xp cyclists. Thanks ! :)
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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.
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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 :)