AUSTRALIAN NT - Season 19

[Aurora Australis]

Yes, 1200 points is a new record, the previous highest was 1090.  And the first time ever that all nine cyclists of any NT team finished in the top 20, and better yet, seven of those nine are aged 26-27.
Btw: the 1st & 2nd finish has been done before, in fact it was 1st, 2nd, & 3rd by Levin, Trump, Clickett.

Race 4 : 1200 Points   

Results:
1st   Kirk Workman      31   0: 00"   300 points
2nd   Bud Mount      27   0: 01"   250 points
6th   Nobby Licuria      26   0: 08"   160 points
7th   Tod Henderson      26   0: 08"   150 points
11th   Walt Judd      27   0: 13"   110 points
13th   Jason Duffy      27   0: 14"   90 points
14th   Kirk Clinton      26   0: 14"   80 points
17th   Peter Coleman      32   0: 14"   40 points
19th   Christian Pocock      26   0: 15"   20 points

From here we should be able to keep collecting points to retain the NT title.

[Aurora Australis]

Race 5   

Selections :
Marc Huling   26   Turrones (leader * most likely)
Nick Thompson   25   TeaMetal
Dylan Lucas   24   Zatarra (leader?)

Six more to be selected, will be:
Marc Ashley   26   TeaMetal
Liam Trautemberg   26   TeaMetal
Brooklyn Abolins   25   Elgrand
Oliver Odom   25   Frier_Accounting
Bob Janson   25   IntellinetCyclingFF
Ali Haber   24   Zatarra
Unless there are one or two <24 selections.
Neil Spiker   23   ChessPower replaces Bob as ninth selection.

Prospects:I don't believe we've ever scored points in a cob-hill race without flat (unless there were points in the first couple of seasons), and both potential captains would prefer some flat road, but we'll be seeking to end that on Sunday to hopefully limit the English clawback.

Results:
17th   Nick Thompson      0: 19"   40 points
20th   Dylan Lucas      0: 22"   10 points
23rd   Marc Huling      0: 26"   0 points

Missed out on proper points with Hulings tactics failing, but we don't appear to have been severely punished for it, besides missing out on the chance to put the title beyond doubt.

[horace_vr]

I think I'd better start pulling and training cobb-hillers again next season
There is still room for Nick T to grow, but I see the U21 prospects are not that bright

[Aurora Australis]

Here's a final look at the U21 cyclists of note, and yes TeaMetal, I'd call the entire U23 cobble & cobb-hill generation a wash.  19yo Callum Carpenter appears to be saving this season's hillers from complete embarrassment, even if he isn't going to be one of the strongest in his team.
The good news is Sacido's 19yo sprinters are looking fine, our climbers are healthy, and we even have a few 20yo TTers to scare other NTs with, in a season where I'm not the one promoting/training them (that'll be seasons 21 & 22 - I need more money first).

U21 Cyclists

see attachment

[Aurora Australis]

Before looking at the next race, here's a quick update on our hillers, noting the 23 year olds (PS some flat-hillers & <23 year olds may be missing from this list, a strict pure hills filter was used).

[Aurora Australis]

Race 6     

Selections :
Keith Hunter   29   RealMurciaCycling (leader)
Peter Boit   29   Combuijs
Dave Taylor   25   Bikeos
Vince Whisman   28   Luka_Warriors
Sean Jameson   29   Ciclastur
Donald Odom   25   CajaRuralZamora
Clyde Mayne   25   Galletto

Two more to be selected, likely to be non-cobble XP cyclists (likely two who haven't races NTs), unless 19yo cobbler Todd Cahill is selected.

Prospects:Keith Hunter hasn't improved since turning 24, and appears to have even gone backwards slightly, leaving him around 1.5av lower than the great Angus Friend was (despite having been 0.5av better at age 24 than Friend had been); however Vos was still able to see him secure a podium last season (8th the season before), so a podium is our goal.

Results:
3rd   Keith Hunter      0: 03"   225 points
Fortunate to get 3rd, three teams in the top ten had their tactics correct, Hunter was the last of these.  England's captain had 4 teammates at 0sec after the fourth section with him at 20secs, which means we've extended our lead in the championship.

Btw: A reminder that the NT manager's position is open to all of the great Aussie managers.

[Aurora Australis]

Current <u23 cyclists without NT races under consideration for NT XP selections.

Barry Carpenter Age 21 Climb LottoGranadier
Garret Mitchum Age 20 Climb Manicomicos_Cycling_Team
Eric Armstrong Age 22 TT Aurora_Australis
Lenny Taylor Age 21 TT Aurora_Australis
Billy Janson Age 21 TT Aurora_Australis

A couple of PDM_cycling_team 20yo TTers and several hillers are also under monitoring; note I generally wait until at least 20 years before monitoring cyclists for XP selection, unless in the same category as the race; also note others not on this list have already have NT races.

[Vos]

Excellent 3rd place of Keith Hunter, well done AA ! 
Now he is still in the battle for the individual world championship. Good luck in NT race 7, AA !
Hopefully Keith Hunter crashes right after the finishline, and he is too injured to ride the CFF Cup final one hour later.

[Aurora Australis]

Keith Hunter won't win the individual title, he was lucky to get 3rd last race, 4th to 10th all had failed tactics (either no teammates or 20sec behind after section 4 - England's captain was 20 secs behind with 3-4 teammates at 0sec - btw I'd expect Daniil Plitus to win race 7).

[Aurora Australis]

Race 7       

Selections :
Keith Hunter   29   RealMurciaCycling (leader)
Peter Boit   29   Combuijs
Dave Taylor   25   Bikeos
Vince Whisman   28   Luka_Warriors
Sean Jameson   29   Ciclastur (wiind)
Donald Odom   25   CajaRuralZamora
Clyde Mayne   25   Galletto

Two more to be selected, likely to be non-cobble XP cyclists (likely two who haven't raced NTs), unless 19yo cobbler Todd Cahill is selected.

Prospects: Identical top 7 lineup with last race.  A similar result for Keith Hunter would be nice, but I'd expect more teams to have good tactics this race so I won't bet on it.  Still, with 570 points to the Brits, and 690 points to the more dangerous Dutch, we already have 1.9 hands on the trophy and any reasonable result will ensure no possible late surprises.

Results:
4th   Keith Hunter      0: 06"   200 points
It seems Keith put his efforts into the NT, because he finished in a higher position than the cyclist who defeated him in the CFF Cup final.  So it's a night of CFF Cup to Vos, NT Championship to Australia.

[Aurora Australis]

Possible 1st XP NT watchlist
* Sacido's 19yo sprinters
Todd Cahill 19yo cobbler
* Eric Armstrong 22yo TT
Billy Janson 21yo TT
PDM_cycling 20yo TT
Manicomicos 20yo climbers
Ian Emerton 20yo hiller
** Cody Embley 19yo climber

[Vos]

Australia = World Champion !   
Very well done and congratulations, Aurora Australis !

[Franky]

Amazing... 

I have to admit that I'm quite disconnected from the game... but I'll be back, with a great brood of climbers 

[ophiuko]

Congratulations Aurora Australis for the second season in a row!
Congratulations Vos for the CFF Cup!

Fantastic season for aussies 

[horace_vr]

Well done! Amazing job, AA !