Australia s29

[Vos]

No candidates Down Under, so, again I'm automaticaly the NT manager.
Let's try to make the best of it, and merry christmas everyone ! 
 
RACE 1 : CHRISTMAS RACE in SPAIN

11ºC

Australia NT selection :

Paddy Friend ( 32 ) KunTeam
James Bush ( 33 ) Kelme4ever
Derek Jons ( 27 ) RHyNeStOnEs
Callum Carpenter ( 29 ) TeaMetal
Rob Mitchell ( 31 ) Speedbird
Virgil Seaman ( 24 ) Álvaro_Pino_Boys     ( debut )
Nate Gailes ( 33 ) Elgrand
Natham Middleton ( 27 ) Hero_cycling
Ian Emerton ( 30 ) RajenKujen

The s1 start was excellent, all 9 Aussies in the front peleton of 76.
But in s2 it seemed to go horribly wrong ; free role Bush, teamcaptain Friend and 3 helpers dropped to the 2nd group.
A perfect helper's job of Mitchell in s3, who brought Friend back into the front peleton of 61, incl. 4 other helpers who had a good s2.
In s4 those 4 other helpers dropped, but Mitchell was on fire and kept Friend in the front group of 34.
s5 results =

6º  Paddy Friend   0:00"
19º  Rob Mitchell   0:36"
20º   Derek Jons  0:36"

A decent/good result of the nr 7 in the flat-hills ranking, noted that some rivals listed as pure hills specialists, can be great on flat too.
It is clear that this season the individual WC jersey goes to a flat-hills specialist ( 2x flathills races this season ),
and it seems Paddy Friend has not really a chance anymore due to this result and his nr 21 position in the golden hills ranking.
Of course, he is going to try it anyway in NT race 6.

Australia starts with a 5º place in the season ranking, 200 points behind leader Switzerland.
Next week we celebrate new years day in Colombia, with hopefully good Australian results in this brutal mountain race of 265 km.

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Australia u24 ( 163 cyclists ) :


CFF u23 Dream Team =
hills
10. Sam Griffin  ( 22, QuintoYtapa )
cobblehills & flatcobble
1.  Terrell Clapton  ( 22, Antequera )
3.  Angus Dixon  ( 22, ICSluj )
tours
10. Robbie Armstrong  ( 22, Teamclaes )

Just like in previous season, again only 4 Aussies in the u23 DT, what is a low number compared to almost all other seasons.
Hopefully the next generations are better, so, everyone good luck with recruiting and scouting in Australia ! 

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Australia u22 ( 94 cyclists = 9x 19yo's + 37x 20yo's + 48x 21yo's ) :

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RACE 2 : NEW YEAR in COLOMBIA

27ºC

Duitama, Colombia ;
Let's hope that the Aussies are still fresh after celebrating new year's eve in Colombia ( see picture ).
Because it seems to me very hard to ride this brutal mountain race of 265 ( ! ) kilometers with a hangover. 

Best wishes to everyone in 2023 !

Australia NT selection :

Rick Cann ( 26 ) Wizards
Garret Mitchum ( 30 ) bikeandwine
Stu Vaughn ( 29 ) ProdopingPong
Barry Carpenter ( 31 ) Kelme4ever
Garret Woods ( 31 ) FlyEaglesFly
Allan Sheehan ( 26 ) Stuttgarter
Rick Pierre ( 26 ) Kalenjicycling 
Ken Holland ( 26 ) ForzaItaly
Kenneth Glass ( 30 ) gsumar_team     ( debut )

[Vos]

Well, this race was a tactical mess. 

For example helper Carpenter was solo in the front of s4. Of course, the plan was that the teamcaptain would be in his wheel.
But he was far behind in s4 ; in the 4th chasing group on already 0:52"
Luckily he met some helpers in s4, after dropping already in s2 where he was isolated, and in s3 still isolated.
Thanks to the s4 help and full power in s5, teamcaptain Cann passed a lot of cyclists and could repair the damage a bit.
But as nr 4 in the pure climb ranking, his result is dissapointing. Noted that his rivals are probably much more experienced.

"Best helper" Mitchum had a complete off-day, and he was the only Australian who could not follow the s1 front group of 40.
And the only free role did bad too ; Vaughn dropped unxpectedly already in s2, just like teamcaptain Cann.

Results :
7    Rick Cann      26   0: 31"   150      Wizards
12    Barry Carpenter   31   0: 58"   100      Kelme4ever
19    Stu Vaughn      29   1: 14"   20      ProdopingPong
20    Garret Woods           31   1: 16"   10      FlyEaglesFly

Despite a bad race with dissapointing results ( with the exception of helper Carpenter, who did better as expected ),
Australia did pretty well in the day ranking ; only Italy scored more points in this race and is now the new leader in the season ranking.

TOP 5 season ranking after 2 races :
1     585
2     530
3     470
4     425
5     360

Next week a flat sprint race in the south of France, and all the Australian golden flat sprinters ( = just 4 ) are already selected.

[Vos]

At the moment there are 15x 19yo Australians in the game.
So, tomorrow or the day after, the lists of 19yo's will be published. Good luck everyone with scouting in Australia ! 

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Australia u20 ( 18 cyclists ) :

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RACE 3 : SPRINT in FRANCE

30ºC

Miramas, France,
I'm still in doubt who the teamcaptain will be. Perhaps Stamer takes over the leaders role due to his active weather icon*.
For sure it will be a difficult, tricky tactical race with the hard wind, so, just like always, anything can happen in NT sprint races.

Because there are only 4 golden flat-sprinters Down Under, I selected the best 2 silver flat-sprinters as well, for extra support.

Pernom is selected as xp-cyclist/semi-helper ; he will be the teamcaptain in NT race 7 on the flat cobblestones.
And two 21yo sprinters make their debut for Australia.
Also in the picture was the only other potential future NT flat sprinter, the 20yo Dennis Lenoa ( OSLB ).
Unfortunately they are just 3 promising flat sprinters in all youth generations, what is a very scarce total number.
But too soon to select Lenoa, because I have to look how he developes. With good TR and the right training, he is for sure a NT asset.
Besides this, the selection was already full. Because I rather select a silver sprinter as extra support in this windy race.

Australia NT selection :

Horace Stamer* ( 29 ) TeamEuroscalt
Jasper Caan ( 32 ) SaulSalinasTeam
Rob Blixter ( 29 ) TeamEuroscalt
Adrian Janson ( 29 ) LOSRAYOSDELARRY
- - - - - - - - - -
Reggie Milne* ( 33 ) gsumar_team
Luke Morse ( 29 ) FaustoScoppi
- - - - - - - - - -
Bob Pernom ( 25 ) TeamEuroscalt
Virgil Kelly ( 21 ) ChessPower     ( debut )
Pete Odom* ( 21 ) Cabrasverdes     ( debut )

[Vos]

2º  Horace Stamer ( 29, TeamEuroscalt )     0:00"   

Unfortunately no victory, but 2º is an excellent result, thanks to s4 helpers Blixter and Janson.
Caan could-/should have scored some extra points, but his free role tactic was not good / too risky in s2 where he already dropped.

Season ranking leader Italy did amazing in this sprint race with the victory and the most points = 390.
Portugal ( 380 ) was 2nd in the day ranking, and Australia ( 250 ) third.

But Australia moved up to the 2nd place in the season ranking, because Switzerland did not score any points and dropped to 5th place.
Of course, the gap to nr 1 Italy is increased ; now 255 points behind.

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Australia u20 ( 27 cyclists ) :

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RACE 4 :  TT  CHOLET

8ºC

Cholet, France,
All the Australian TT specialists should be in topform, because of the upcoming TT stage 1 Tour Down Under that starts 1½ day later.
But that time trial in Adelaide is very different, just 5,5 km and in hot conditions because it is summer in Australia right now.
This French NT race 4 is a lot longer ( 35 km ) and a lot colder ( 8ºC ). Still, I expect very motivated Aussies at the start line this evening.

The biggest surprise in this selection is that the high ranked Herd ( SPORTLIFE ) is not selected.
Instead, the twice as much experienced Churchil makes his NT debut.
Perhaps he can surprise, but for the not in bold mentioned cyclists ; most likely they need a ( very ) lucky race to score points.
Like Sammy Alfier did in previous season with his 19th place.
And Bob Iverson even finished as 5th in previous season, with a mechanical breakdown in s3.
But back then he had an active weather icon, and in theory he has the lowest race GV of this selection but not included his 100xp.
So, he is selected due to his previous TT result and max. experience.
Hunter gets another chance after his very dissapointing race ( 44th ) of previous season, also he needs a lucky race to score points.

The in bold cyclists should be able to score a lot of points.
Janson might be the best, because as only one of this selection, he has an active weather icon.
But Johnston is mentioned as first.
He has the highest CFF ranking of all Australians, although never in his career he finished top10 in a NT time trial ( as best, s28 = 11th ).
But he should be extra motivated after his recent victory in stage 1 Romandie, what even was his very first victory in his career. 
Although now he does not have an active weather icon ánd the almost perfect race conditions of his own team.
And of course I have to mention that this Australian NT selection has the current TT world champion ; Trautemberg ( s28 = 6th ).
Although that WC track was very different ( the same as the WC TT of this season ), he should be supermotivated in his rainbow jersey.
But who knows what will happen, maybe Jonny Alfier and Taylor will be the best scoring Australians, just like they did in previous s28.

Australia NT selection :

Gilbert Johnston ( 31 ) SPORTLIFE
Billy Janson* ( 31 ) LottoGranadier
Jonny Alfier ( 32 ) Innioraths
Lenny Taylor ( 31 ) RHyNeStOnEs
Alex Trautemberg ( 31 ) Thorboassonarvesen
Sammy Alfier ( 26 ) Facha_Bartolo
Bob Iverson ( 31 ) Catalonia_Team
Maurice Hunter ( 27 ) SPORTLIFE
Oliver Churchil ( 30 ) Speedbird     ( debut )

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1    Albano Andre      31   0: 00"   300      WFCyclingTeam
2    Stefan Lievens      28   0: 01"   250      Aspigarri
3    Jonny Alfier      32   0: 01"   225      Innioraths
4    Sebastiao Dourado      31   0: 02"   200      Aspigarri
5    Fabien Gallas      30   0: 02"   180      Quickstepbronx
6    Bob Iverson      31   0: 03"   160      Catalonia_Team
7    Manuel Enrique Porras      30   0: 03"   150      TeamSerfin
8    Billy Janson      31   0: 04"   140      LottoGranadier
9    Gilbert Johnston      31   0: 05"   130      SPORTLIFE
10    Alfredo Piedade      30   0: 05"   120      ProdopingPong
11    Harz Muff      30   0: 05"   110      Quickstepbronx
12    Lenny Taylor      31   0: 06"   100      RHyNeStOnEs   --> bad luck ; he started with a mechanical breakdown.
13    Leif Kristoffersen      29   0: 07"   90      BorinotTeam
14    Anders Vikan      30   0: 07"   80      KunTeam
15    Ethan Payne      29   0: 07"   70      Facha_Bartolo
16    Alex Trautemberg      31   0: 08"   60      Thorboassonarvesen
17    Erik Kõuts      26   0: 08"   40      Oloteam
18    Oliver Churchil      30   0: 08"   30      Speedbird
19    Gregor Arzdorf      30   0: 09"   20      WinterIsComing   --> the nr2 of CFF had an unlucky race & finished with a flat tire.
20    Stu Harris      29   0: 09"   10      Wizards   --> with mechanical breakdown in s3.
- - - - - - - - - - -
23    Maurice Hunter      27   0: 10"   0      SPORTLIFE
29    Mirko DiLuca      31   0: 12"   0      catapunchimpon   --> this Italian was the most unlucky ; s2 breakdown & s4 flat tire.
32    Sammy Alfier      26   0: 13"   0      Facha_Bartolo

Besides the breakdowns and flat tires ; it is clear that the luck factor was of big influence due to some very surprising results.
But the most remarkable in this time trial =
after an absence of two seasons, finally the Portuguese ( in red ) top TT specialists were selected.
As expected, they scored many points ( 620 ) and Portugal moved up to the 2nd place in the season ranking.
But Australia did excellent too and scored the most points ( 845 ) in this race, and is now the new leader :

TOP 7 season ranking after 4 races :
1    1.565   
2    1.240
3     975
4     680
5     665
6     640
7     470

[Vos]

RACE 5 : Muur van Geraardsbergen

37ºC

Bornem, Belgium,
No place for xp-cyclists in this race, because Australia goes full power with the strongest selection possible.
This is including 2x 23yo's who are already high ranked golden cobble-hills-specialists.
Morse has the highest Aus. CFF ranking, but I estimate that Ablett will be the better teamcaptain due to more xp and an active weather icon*.

Australia NT selection :

Alex Ablett* ( 28 ) Aspigarri     
Andrew Morse ( 25 ) Plopsala
Norman Pocock ( 30 ) Flandria
Colin Ronnald ( 23 ) MortoviaCycling
Emerson Brown ( 23 ) Atlanterhavet
James Crickton ( 24 ) Álvaro_Pino_Boys
Kenneth Jackson ( 28 ) Astanadena
Elgin Henderson ( 28 ) Innioraths     ( debut )
Mannie Hines ( 33 ) Thorboassonarvesen

[Vos]

4º  Alex Ablett ( 28, Aspigarri )   0:10"

Finishing in the chasing group of just 3 behind topfavorites Vetsch( 1º ) and Zarubin( 2º ) is a pretty decent good result, thanks to s4 helper Jackson.
Unfortunately the 2x free roles could not score a few extra points, but Australia ( 200 points ) did way better as rival Portugal ( 0 points ).
The other rivals are Italy ( 225 points ) and Switzerland ( 470 points, and by far the best nation in this race ).
All other countries seem to have no real chance anymore to become world champion, see TOP 5 season ranking after 5 races ;

1.    1.765   
2.    1.240
3.    1.200
4.    1.110
5.       690

Next week a hot and windy flat-hills race in Switzerland.