Australia NT Season 14

[FIO]

Late, but welcome 

Gordon Pocock   Age : 19   Wage : 579
Stamina : 64   Sprint : 15   Climbing : 65
Flat : 40   Cobblestone : 11   Technique : 74
Downhill : 56   Hills : 2   Aggressiveness : 27
Time Trial : 11   Teamwork : 9   Experience : 0
Price : 1   Days left :   Stages raced : 0
https://www.cyclingforfun.org/cff/vision.php?ciclistaid=122303

[Vos]

RACE 5 : MEUDON

0ºC

Chatou, very near to Paris, France,
For many, many seasons Australia did not score points in cobblehills races.
With one exception ; this cobblehills race with 3 flat sections was once before.

Back in season 10 Byers surprised me by finishing as 10th, despite he had just a silver icon.
Maybe he was lucky or maybe he profited of bad tactics by rival countries due to the storm.
Also having a helper in s4 was crucial to get the surprising 10th place as silver cyclist.
That good helper is already retired at the age of just 31yo. And it must be recent, because he was in the list of this season.

But no worries, because for the first time ever Australia has a golden cobblehills specialist, the 24yo Rooney.
Just like Byers, he has a good flat as extra. Both cyclists are just as good, according to my estimated GV for this specific flat-cobblehills race.
Tactics are made, but I'm not sure yet who the teamcaptain will be. Perhaps I will change that before the race starts.

Most countries just below Australia ( current nr 1  ) did not score many points in this same race of season 10.
Of course, the upcoming results can be very different compared to already 4 seasons ago.
But back then the current nr 8 Belgium did amazing with a victory and 7 Belgians who scored points.
And Belgium is also good on the decisive flat cobblestones of NT races 6 and 7. Perhaps Belgium will be the most fierce rival this season.

Australia NT selection :

Sam Rooney ( 24 ) Lemarche
Alex Byers ( 31 ) Fountain
Kirk Trump ( 32 ) $Tourmalet
Keith Sheehan ( 31 ) Doorzetters
Nate Douglas ( 32 ) SentinelChickens
- - - - -
Marc Huling ( 21 ) CobbleCrushers
Keith Hunter ( 24 ) catapunchimpon
Nobby Licuria ( 21 ) Aurora_Australis
Martin Wilson ( 19 ) WinterIsComing   ( debut )

[Vos]

Unfortunately ; zero points.
This race was over in section 2, where teamcaptain Byers and free role Rooney unexpectedly dropped out of the big front peleton of 105 ( ! ).
In s3 both still in the 2nd group on just 0:28"
Despite full power in the final 2 decisive sections, their results far outside the top 20 made clear they were not good enough in this race ;
53º Byers on 0:39" is a big time gap of 15 seconds behind the nr 20. Free role Rooney finished as 90º on 0:55"

Great Britain won this race and scored the most total points of all countries.
The world champion of previous season is now the new leader in the season ranking. Australia is 2nd, just 25 points behind Great Britain.

[Aurora Australis]

Well we kept to the Aussie tradition here.
At least our guys made it to the finish, the flu struck down the poor Spaniards.

[Vos]

Zero points, but still there was Australian succes in this race ; Jackson ( GB ) won, and he is riding in the Australian team of Zatarra.
Perhaps the first time for this Australian manager that one of his cyclists won a NT race ; congratulations Zatarra ! 
I hope to win this prestigious milestone too somewhere in the future.

Also nice to mention ;
today Sam Lee ( 32, AUS ) won the Dauphiné, and he is riding for $Tourmalet ( AUS ).
It seems that Australian team will remain in 1A easily, the same for my team, Zatarra and Aurora_Australis.
But this season Australia has even 6 Australian teams in 1A ; hopefully Antequera and OphiukoCT can both win the fierce relegation battle.

[Franky]

I'm trying hard to promote to 1ª, but I have no Tourmans, I achieve podium in 28 of 58 races on this season (the one with most podiums, most wins, most 2nds, most 3rds..), and still 8th... 

I have plenty of millions, and I think it is almost impossible to promote for me...hahahah, and next season will be harder as my main riders core has now 32yo. I need to try a move on the market, but no one wants to sell haha.

Next season is perfect for Jasper in 1A!!

[Vos]

Indeed, Jasper needs to sprint at the highest level.
Although the season is far over halfway, there are still about half of the total season points in the game and that is a lot.
Everything is still possible, good luck Franky !

And if there is no promotion this season 14, well, although the sooner the better, no worries, Jasper is still young.
But when your team does not promote in next season 15, I can hear already the rumor that Jasper wants to ride for SPORTLIFE. 

[Vos]

RACE 6 : BRESKENS

24ºC

Breskens, the Netherlands,
Already all 6 golden flat-cobble-specialists are selected.
Later this week a race preview and the selection of the final 3 cyclists.

Australia NT selection :

Angus Friend ( 31 ) Mlb
Keith Hunter ( 24 ) catapunchimpon
Peter Boit ( 24 ) Vitimper
Eric Kelly ( 32 ) Antequera
John Battle ( 32 ) Antequera
Kent McClure ( 32 ) Yvo_Meppelink_ProCycling
X
X
X

[Franky]

Indeed, Jasper needs to sprint at the highest level.
Although the season is far over halfway, there are still about half of the total season points in the game and that is a lot.
Everything is still possible, good luck Franky !

And if there is no promotion this season 14, well, although the sooner the better, no worries, Jasper is still young.
But when your team does not promote in next season 15, I can hear already the rumor that Jasper wants to ride for SPORTLIFE. 

Jasper right now:

[Vos]

[Zatarra]

Zero points, but still there was Australian succes in this race ; Jackson ( GB ) won, and he is riding in the Australian team of Zatarra.
Perhaps the first time for this Australian manager that one of his cyclists won a NT race ; congratulations Zatarra ! 
I hope to win this prestigious milestone too somewhere in the future.

Also nice to mention ;
today Sam Lee ( 32, AUS ) won the Dauphiné, and he is riding for $Tourmalet ( AUS ).
It seems that Australian team will remain in 1A easily, the same for my team, Zatarra and Aurora_Australis.
But this season Australia has even 6 Australian teams in 1A ; hopefully Antequera and OphiukoCT can both win the fierce relegation battle.

That's true, Via! The first NT victory of my team. Even better, Jackson was heavily supported by Stamer who is also riding for my team. It explains why the tandem worked so well of course.

U don't know if its a easy staying in 1A. There's quite a lot of points to be divided among all the teams, but the amount of points my tour riders are currently gathering is unsatisfactory. Don't know what I'm doing wrong...

[Aurora Australis]

Just noticed that my first 21 year old TTer has reached silver TT.  No doubt the rest will be there soon.

[Vos]

Very nice, AA !    And impressive, because this is very, very soon.
And I see that 3 of your 21yo talents already scored 1A points, wow !

[Vos]

RACE 6 : BRESKENS

24ºC

Breskens, the Netherlands,
The start and finish is in the Netherlands, but almost the whole race is in Belgium.
No space for xp cyclists in this NT race 6, because Australia is in full battle mode to try to be the season 14 world champion.

Despite just 25 points behind right now, it will be difficult because main rival Great Britain has the best flat cobble specialist of the game.
Great Britain versus Australia ; according to the CFF golden ranking of just flat-cobble specialists :
GB = nrs 1, 8, 9, 35, 52, 53, 63, 73.
AUS = nrs 4, 6, 40, 65, 71, 93, 96.

There could be more WC battle rivals, for example current nr 4 the Netherlands maybe can score the most points on the cobbles.
Some other countries can do very well too on the cobbles, but already too far behind, for example Russia and Denmark.
The current nr 3 Portugal has the nrs 12 and 19 as best two cyclists, so they have to surprise to join the world championship battle.

The 23yo Whisman gained his golden icon this week and he makes his well deserved debut.
Hunter almost passed Friend in the golden ranking, it is extreme close in GV, and probably Hunter will pass Friend in the next few days.
But Friend is twice as experienced and he will be the teamcaptain in NT races 6 ánd 7. Also due to the individual WC battle.

Australia NT selection :

Angus Friend ( 31 ) Mlb
Keith Hunter ( 24 ) catapunchimpon
Peter Boit ( 24 ) Vitimper
Eric Kelly ( 32 ) Antequera
John Battle ( 32 ) Antequera
Kent McClure ( 32 ) Yvo_Meppelink_ProCycling
Vince Whisman ( 23 ) Luka_Warriors   ( debut )
Dylan Gilliam ( 32 ) Manicomicos_Cycling_Team
Jonny Glass ( 32 ) RemcoEvenpoelckx

[Vos]

1º Friend  --> great solo victory !   Even with a big gap of  0:17" ahead of the solo number 2.
And already the 5th NT race victory in the career of Friend.

Of course, I'm very happy with this victory that gives Friend a good fighting chance to become the individual world champion.
But not entirely satisfied about this NT race, because I hoped that more Australians could score points.

In particular Hunter ( 8º in previous season ), but obviously he had a very bad day with an unexpected drop in flat section 2.
Hunter even dropped from the front peleton(s1) into the 3rd group(s2), and that on a flat section and he has a very high flat-skill.
His race was over after his bizarre drop in s2. Too bad, because Australia really could use the extra points.

Great Britain scored the most points in this NT race ( 460 ), and now has a too big lead of 185 points towards Australia.
Normally GB will be again the world champion, just like in previous season.
Only if Australia has an amazing NT race 7, incl. a few points scoring cyclists, ánd GB has a very bad race, only then there is a little chance.

But with one race to go, it is already certain that the race victory of Friend secured the 2nd place in the final season ranking.
So, Australia improved compared to previous season, and 2nd is of course a good season result ( although 2nd is my worst result as NT manager ).
Still, a little bit dissapointing that Australia has not a good chance anymore to become the world champion of season 14.
Of course, I'm gonna try anyway. And maybe Friend can ease the dissapointment by winning the individual worldchampionship.
Only one time before an Australian won this ind. WC title ; TT specialist Levin ( season 7 ).