The road season is well under way in Australia - they started with the Jayco Bay Classic and National Crit Champs and moved on to the National Road Championships. Below the jump there'll be results of the Road Race & the ITT and more - including a bit about some of the riders, some fun transfer news, links to rider blogs, photos and as many other Australian updates as I can find - and women's cycling fans, we've ticked another rider off our "Where is she riding?" list, which is superb! As ever, if you find anything you'd like to share too, about the races, or riders from anywhere, or any other women's cycling news add it to the comments - and don't forget to check them for other people's updates!
That women's Road Race top three was an excellent result for three great riders - starting with some really welcome transfer news
You might remember Neylan from when she was interviewed on Podium Café back in May - she's got a great philosophy of "the harder you work, the luckier you get!", and has had one of those interesting, non-traditional routes into the sport. She rode for Diadora Pasta Zara for 2011, but that team had a big change of direction, back to predominantly Italian riders, and that has left a number of riders without teams, including Neylan. So it was really good to see her lining up for the Nationals in Abus Nutrixxion kit - and you can read a bit more about her new team in her blog! (Neylan's blog and twitter are always worth following - she's another of the riders who update faster than some of the races do!)
But back to the road race!
| Women's results |
Men's results |
| 1. Amanda Spratt, GreenEdge AIS, 2:55:22 2. Tiffany Cromwell, GreenEdge AIS, + 00:45 3. Rachel Neylan, Abus-Nutrixxion, s.t. 4. Alexis Rhodes, GreenEdge AIS, + 01:30 5. Gracie Elvin, Jayco. s.t. 6. Carla Ryan, AA Drink-Leotine.nl, s.t. 7. Shara Gillow, GreenEdge AIS, s.t. 8. Joanne Hogan, Jayco, s.t. 9. Grace Sulzberger, Jayco, s.t. 10. Taryn Heather, SASI, s.t. |
1. Simon Gerrans, Greenedge, 04:07:38 2. Matthew Lloyd, Lampre ISD, + 00:02 3. Richie Porte, Sky, s.t. 4. Adam Hanson, Lotto Belisol, + 01:05 5. Will Clarke, Team Champion System, + 01:09 6. Steele Von Hoff, Chipotle Development Team, + 01:11 7. Chris Sutton, Sky, s.t. 8. Baden Cooke, Greenedge, s.t. 9. Anthony Giacoppo, Genesys Wealth Advisors, s.t. 10. Bernie Salzberger, Raleigh GAC, s.t. |
U23 women's road race results: 1. Sinead Noonan, 2. Rebecca Werner, 3. Rebecca Henderson
U23 men's road race results: 1. Rohan Dennis, 2. Eric Sheppard, 3. Calvin Watson
I did love the video & the photos of Amanda Spratt coming up to the line with her head in her hands, looking overcome with all kinds of emotion. I met Spratt at last year's Thüringen Rundfahrt, and she has to be the smiliest bike racer in the women's peloton - she ALWAYS looked glad to be there! She was a super-strong junior, but had a couple of years out recovering from horrible injuries, so it was good to see that she won the GC at the Czech stage race Krásná Lipa last year. You can read a bit more about her in this 2010 Cycling Tribe interview. Tiffany Cromwell in second place is also a good sign - Cromwell was team-less for 2010 after the Skyter Shipping debacle, and then had problems last season that ended with a mid-season transfer to Hitec for the last few races of the season. Here's to a great 2012 for them both! And here they are, talking about the race:
For more on the Road Races, see Womenscycling.net race report & photos, great report on SheRides Cycling, Men's race report & photos on Cyclingtips, and Cyclingnews have more video rider interviews from the races
Full results on the event website
I wish I had put some money on Shara Gillow before the race - she retains her title from last year, and I'm sure she'll be a force to be reckoned with, come the Olympics and the Worlds. I can't wait to see how she does in 2012 - last year she had her superb Giro Donne stage win from a crazy breakaway - and was the only rider not called Marianne Vos to get to wear the maglia rosa - and she's only just 24!
It's also good to see Taryn Heather and Bridie O'Donnell on the podium, not letting Greenedge have everything their own way! As far as I know, neither of the riders have a pro team for the coming season yet, although Heather might get a ride on Team Australia.... I hope they both get exactly what they want for 2012 - they both deserve it!
Spare a thought for Jack Bobridge, though, who crashed in the ITT, and although he hasn't broken anything, may not be able to ride the TDU...
| Women's ITT results |
Men's ITT results |
| 1. Shara Gillow, Greenedge AIS, 0:37:04.35 2. Taryn Heather, SASI, + 01:13 3. Bridie O'Donnell, + 01:14 4. Amanda Spratt, Greenedge AIS, + 01:29 5. Alexis Rhodes, Greenedge AIS, + 01:38 6. Grace Sulzberger, Jayco, + 02:25 7. Rachel Neylan, Abus Nutrixxion, + 02:30 8. Rebecca Wiasak, + 02:38 9. Sinead Noonan, SASI, + 02:50 10. Lauren Kitchen, Rabobank, + 03:12 |
1. Luke Durbridge, Greenedge, 0:46:20.44 2. Cameron Meyer, Greenedge, + 00:06.96 3. Michael Rogers, Sky, + 00:15.86 4. Michael Hepburn, Greenedge, + 01:10.11 5. Richie Porte, Sky, + 01:18.94 6. Cameron Wurf, + 01:19.53 7. Travis Meyer, Greenedge, + 02:21.83 8. Will Clarke, Champion System, + 02:22.77 9. Luke Roberts, Saxobank, + 02:29.13 10. Jack Anderson, Endura Racing, + 03:11.95 |
U23 women's ITT results: 1. Sinead Noonan, 2. Lauren Kitchen, 3. Sarah Kent
U23 men's ITT results: 1. Rohan Dennis, 2. Damien Howson, 3. Campbell Flakemore
Full results on the event website - photos & report on Cycling Australia
This being Australia, there are plenty of funny blogs & posts around the place to give us a rider's eye view. Here are some I've found - and anything you see, please add it to the comments.
The Road Race has been held on the same course for a number of years, and the hills mean the sprinters just don't enjoy it that much! Here's Chloe Hosking on how it feels to finally finish the race!
To onlookers my struggle was probably quite amusing. At one point I managed to bridge the gap to the group of eight girls in front of me only to sit on the wheel for two seconds before getting dropped again. Ah, the agony!
My satisfaction with simply finishing the race reminded me of why I love riding bikes. While the adrenaline rush you get from sprinting at 65km/hr is really quite something, the sense of achievement I feel when my teammates, or myself do something which we can be truly happy and proud of is something that can’t be beaten.
Lisa Jacobs didn't have a great race - but infamous cycling commentator, Lisa's Mum got nearer her goals, and found how she can become the next Phil Liggett!
Shara Gillow wrote a blog on her Road Race.... before she won the ITT!
Finally, it's not a blog, but a piece on Cyclingnews about Rochelle Gilmore and her re-shuffled plans for the season
Although Gilmore maintains that her situation could be a lot worse, and seems unconcerned that her rivals are well ahead of her at this point in time with just three spots on the women's road team available for the London Olympic Games in July.
"I think with the GreenEdge girls that any one of them could make the Olympic team, they're all very strong," Gilmore admits. "For me mentally coming here racing against them and being very close to their form it gives me a lot of confidence because I was in hospital having surgery under general anaesthetic when they were in training camp.
"You've also got Chloe [Hosking] and Loren Rowney from outside GreenEdge so I think the Olympic selection is very open given we haven't had the first international race of the season yet. We really need to wait until February to see who's at world level."
and finally.... This isn't all Australian, but it's really, really great! I am a huge fan of the guy behind PetitesReines - he makes some really great videos that include pre- and post-race footage from women's road & CX races - and this is a really nice compilation of his clips from 2011 races. The Aussie connection is that the red-headed dancing cyclist at the start is Carla Ryan - but just watch it, it's very cute indeed, I guarantee it will make you smile!
Année 2011 en images from Petitesreines on Vimeo.
0 recs | 73 comments
And some polemica...
Lauren Kitchen says Greenedge and Jayco teams were working together in the Crit Champs
Issues re Greenedge’s use of race radios in the men’s ITT
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
I don't think it's GE's use of race radio that should cause concern, but that Cycling Australia let themselves be pressured and
are not even sure that with only an hour until the race, all teams knew they could use race radio. So stupid! I’m really cross, because these Nats have been a wonderful intro for GE, and Durbridge is a very worthy winner of the TT today. CA can’t afford to play favourites, particularly in an Olympic year.
Seahorse - January 10, 2012
Hurrah! More bullies!
tgsgirl - January 10, 2012
It looked like
Greenedge and Jayco were the only two teams at full strength there. Bike Exchange were riding for Rochelle wh is still getting over her Giro crash, and the non-Greenedge and non-Jayco women who are signed up with other teams made up teams with girls whose names I didn’t recognise.
Monty. - January 10, 2012
In the Nationals, they could only have their Aussie riders, too
and the sprinters REALLY hate that RR course! Previous years always have sprinty types begging Cycling Australia to vary the course every now and again, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease!
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
Haha yeah and RS and T-L never worked together in the USA NC before
It happens.
The Race Radios thing is very bad, probably more for CA than GE because they succumbed to them. Apparently Hansen had asked if he could use a race radio and was told no but I can’t imagine any other teams (or riders like Cameron Wurf) would have race radios on hand, which makes the move by GE per-meditated and even worse. Ho hum, at least Durbridge is a deserving winner, here’s hoping he features in a couple of stage races with TT in them before the Olympics focus.
RollinRollinRolland - January 11, 2012
Mick Rogers didn't have a radio either, which suggests that Porte was also minus one.
I could throttle Shayne Bannan. GE have started well, then shit like this muddies the waters. I also hate the thought of Durbridge’s win being undermined.
Seahorse - January 11, 2012
It's bizarre, because the report implies they asked in the middle of the women's race
which seems very, very last minute – so other teams might not even have had them at the course
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
Rogers also was delayed by cars on the course!
Though bless him, he says it made no difference
http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/34225/Riders-call-for-closed-TT-course
(I have a big soft spot for Mick R, the 1st fantasy TdF game I ever played, I put him as my GC man… oh deary deary me….)
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
Even Wiggo has a soft spot for Mick Rogers:) He's a lovely man I think, and apparently an excellent mentor.
At the moment I think some riders would worry that saying something would either look like bad sportsmanship, or cruel their Olympic chances. That doesn’t reflect well on Cycling Australia does it?
Seahorse - January 11, 2012
Worse than cars on the course, it was wind from a passing truck that blew Jack Bobridge off his bike.
Poor little fella.
Seahorse - January 11, 2012
Just a crazy accident to happen
And such a bad time for him too, when he needs every opportunity to fight for his Olympic place
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
I was looking for more information on some of the names I haven't noticed before
and I found this SMH interview with Grace Sulzberger – and how her cycling career was derailed by an eating disorder. Brave of her to be talking about it – here’s hoping all goes well for her in the future
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
I'm still not sure what to think about that report
Cycling really is a sport where you have to manage your weight if you want to get on, but in that case shouldn’t the teams be giving lots of advice on how to eat properly. Then again Bridie mentioned something before about talking to some specialist she knew for tips on how to do it properly.
Monty. - January 10, 2012
Bridie wrote an article recently about body issues and eating disorders in sports
I can’t find it right now, but it was very interesting/worrying – and something I don’t see referenced – except in a kind of celebratory way (Wiggins going down to a state where he was in starvation mode at the end of the TdF helping him to 4th) or in cases like Marta Bastianelli’s… I think it’s good that it’s talked about, because when riders are teenagers, and their bodies still changing/developing, or when they’re in that ultra-competitive “anything to win” headspace, it should be so important for teams and coaches to be hyper-vigilant
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
"Visit Ballarat"
I don’t know, Ballarat sounds like something you do or something you are (and not in a good way), not a place to visit.
TheFigurehead - January 10, 2012
Just watched that Men’s RR video.
Man! Gerrans just took off! It was not even sprint, he just said to Lloyd and Richie : " see ya at the Podium Ceremony, mates"
holmovka - January 10, 2012
It was a fantastic race to watch.
Seahorse - January 10, 2012
The others looked pretty cooked
broerie - January 10, 2012
This is adorable
PetitesReines is a fan who went to a fair few road and CX races in 2011 – and this is a really sweet, light-hearted video of nice clips from those: http://vimeo.com/34467453
I especially like Carla Ryan’s dancing, and the dudes in bear competitions – but have a look, it’s lovely!
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
(I'm editing it into the article too, as it's not Aussie, but it features them!)
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
I'm working through those Specialised blogs now
this one from Ally Stacher reminds me of those old Jack Lalanne sales spiels, but he had the decency to admit from time to time that although it was terribly healthy it also tasted like shit.
Monty. - January 10, 2012
Ha, hadn't seen those
but she really does love her juicing, does Ally.
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
Didn't you post the "worst boy in the neighbourhood" one?
Monty. - January 10, 2012
I did on my tumblr & twitter, can't remember about here
If I didn’t, for anyone who hasn’t seen it, it’s a great story by Ina-Yoko Teutenberg – go & read it, it’ll make you grin!
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
Will Rachel Neylan ever expand on that
unfortunate rift in the team’s management. I wonder if it was as good as the one in Selle Italia a couple of years back when the two managers stopped talking to each other and got the team to be intermediaries in tell him …. you go tell him …. games.
Monty. - January 10, 2012
Hah, it should go on the list of "Untold soried from 2011"
pretty much top of the list after the Garvélo saga
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
untold stories!
gah, my spelling!
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
Great article Sarah, thanks so much for your efforts in bringing all this together!
I really don’t know how I’d follow women’s cycling at all without you and assorted other lovely people here at the cafe :)
Albertina - January 10, 2012
Thanks for the compliation
The men’s RR was certainly very entertaining, shame there were only highlights of the womens.
Comparing it to last year I think Bobridge’s ride last year was certainly better in an individual aspect but the whole race this year was just amazing and so intense from the get go. There was no semblance of a peloton left after around lap 5 (of 16) I think, crazy stuff.
RollinRollinRolland - January 11, 2012
It's a pleasure!
Apparently Bobridge is still having tests after his ITT crash – and the riders have called for the course to be closed in the future to stop anything like that happening again
http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/34225/Riders-call-for-closed-TT-course
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
Some interesting things from today
Canadian Erinne Willock will be skipping the Olympics to have a baby! Huge congratulations to Erinne & Tony!
Lizzie Armitstead says she and Nicole Cooke are all good and have put differences behind them
PetitesReines video, where they asked lots & lots & lots of womens riders why they love cycling – including Adrie Visser, Alessandra d’Ettorre, Alona Andruk, Amber Pierce, Andrea Graus, Carla Ryan, Christel Ferrier-Bruneau, Elena Cecchini, Elisa Longo Borghini, Lizzie Armitstead, Mara Abbott, Noemi Cantele, Oxana Kozonchuk, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Sophie de Boer, and LOTS more!
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
So you read the sensible Lizzie story
The Yorkshire Post included the far more important detail that:
That just never gets old, does it.
And in a new addition to our Girls-in-Uniform collection, Elena Cecchini has joined the Fiamme Azzurre
Monty. - January 11, 2012
Did you see the tweets from Lizzie, about taking her nieces/nephews to the Hornby world to promote the Scalextrix
and how much she wished she was a kid there? I really like her, she seems so down-to-earth!
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
I can't get that video to open - gah!
(and Yorkshire Evening Post > Yorkshire Post, at least it always was when I lived in Leeds!)
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
It's annoying when that happens
PFP posted a link to what she says is complete coverage of the French CX champs, but I couldn’t make it work
Monty. - January 11, 2012
Oh, it opens now!
Thankyou!
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
Weird, dispassionate response from Armitstead on why she loves cycling
“I started because of a talent identification programme. I continue while improving. I’ll stop when World Champion.” The end.
tedvdw - January 11, 2012
Oh, Monty, I was asked by the lovely woman behind SheRides Cycling to say thanks to you
for plugging her site!
Everyone else – do bookmark SheRides Cycling, it’s a really great site about and for women who cycle at all levels, and full of fun things!
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
Ooo thank you
nowadays I just assume that you’ve seen most of the stuff first.
Monty. - January 11, 2012
Heh, she thanked me, but I said I saw it via you!
I always assume you’ve seen everything first, too!
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
I'm guessing people have seen this elsewhere, but Jeroen Blijlevens (DS) wants Vos to ride with the men
On Velonation and Cyclingnews
I’d love to see it happen (and no, I don’t think it’s a sign women’s cycling is crap – I think every sportsperson who’s at the very top would relish the chance to compete against new rivals if they’ve beaten anyone else – in the same way that eg Fab Cancellara being so dominant at Classics & ITTs, or Cav beating everyone at the sprints doesn’t mean men’s cycling is rubbish!)
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
Narrow-minded response from UCI official
via another article at Velonation: “It is simply not possible,” solely because the current rules don’t allow it! In my view, in every sport there should be an Open category where any and all are eligible to participate. (But then I immediately contradict myself when half man – half carbon fibre spring hybrids want to enter. Sorry.)
tedvdw - January 11, 2012
Though quite amazingly
CN forums managed to keep a twelve page discussion without ever hitting the would/wouldn’t sort of argument where they usually end up when talking about women’s racing
Monty. - January 11, 2012
Emma P rides in quite a few of the mountain sportives in Switzerland/Italy
she usually does pretty respectably there. And Magda de St J (we really need an abbreviation) came pretty high in both of the official Tour Etapes last year. Was it top 20 or thereabouts? I can’t remember exactly.
Monty. - January 11, 2012
Here's the video interview from NOS about the possibilities
in Dutch, o’course
http://nos.nl/video/329675-vos-wil-graag-tegen-mannen-rijden.html
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
I've found
that if I do the Vos, laid back sort of thing, as I watch then it all starts to make sense.
Monty. - January 11, 2012
For CX fans
The ever-superb Gwéna has found video from the French CX championships – and you can find links to the men’s races from there too
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
And if you want the Italian champs
here’s 45 mins from Bolzano
Monty. - January 11, 2012
And from the department of cheap laughs
here’s a Rabo video that suggests that PFP learnt to speak English by watching Peter Sellers films and boxed sets of ’Allo ’Allo.
Monty. - January 11, 2012
Here's an interesting little snippet of a rule change
Over the last week or so the UCI has been publishing the team lists (change Pro Conti to Women – I can’t see any way to link directly to the page) that were submitted to it. Today it has come out with a press release saying that it has finished and that it has registered 35 teams for 2012, 7 up on 2011.
So far so good. But you may remember that there was a scramble for places at the Giro Donne last year, it being the sole climby big race after l’Aude was cancelled, and that some national squads that had expected to be present were bounced by the rule that registered teams had priority. Australia and France were among the casualties. Now it looks like someone somewhere down the line has found the time to get a rule change, because now the UCI has come up with a team ranking based on the points riders scored in last years races, and then decided that:
It’ll be interesting how many of those top five demand their droit de inclusion, and whether that really strengthens the field given that most of the women who scored loads of points are riding in a top 10-15 team anyway. That top five right now are Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Great Britain and Italy. The Netherlands, well Vos and Annemiek VV get in on their trade team (and who would get to wear the orange jersey that said Rabobank), Germany likewise gets almost all their points from Arndt and Teutenberg, Sweden ditto Emma J, and GB seem to have stopped spending money on their women’s road team. And if those top 5 say no thanks then do the invitations return to the organisers or pass down the line. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Monty. - January 11, 2012
The top 5 nations of the nations' ranking?
That’s insane! I know the Netherlands usually runs a separate team in some races (Marianne & Martine ride for them at Alfredo Binda, eg) but it’s crazy, as it means if, eg Emma Pooley has scored loads of points, so Team GB can go, but the good GB riders are already in trade teams, it means a UCI trade team will miss out to a place of eg Team GB development riders. Great for the young riders, o’course, but it de-professionalises women’s cycling.
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
That's what it looks like
but it might make more sense to rank the national squads by points that the riders they will be bringing have scored. And even then those national squads would look pretty pathetic since just about everyone who wanted seems to have found a team for 2012. Of those that cost more than 1 point on VDS (‘cos that’s the easiest sort for me to do), the following haven’t yet confirmed anything:
Mara Abbott 35
Gabriela Slamova 8
Kirsty Broun 4
Jeannie Longo 4
Joelle Numainville 4
Edwige Pitel 4
Amber Halliday 2
Melissa Holt 2
Wendy Houvenaghel 2
Elena Kuchinskaya 2
Alison Testroete 2
Aurore Verhoeven 2
Erinne Willock 2
Mara, dunno (I hope she’s OK after that strange accident before the Giro), Gabriela Slamova was a pricing error, Longo who cares, Amber H isn’t planning on riding at this level again, Wendy H is a trackie, Aurore Verhoeven talks on her blog about riding some races with the French team, and Erinne W is pregnant.
Monty. - January 11, 2012
I guess they would be making up national teams from riders on teams not invited or racing?
Like eg Claudia Häusler riding with the German national team at Thüringen, and the Swedish/Norwegian teams made up of Hitec & Alriksson riders
but yes, that would make a lot of sense. I am a massive fan of Team Australia, for example, but I don’t think it’s right that national teams get to ride races like the Giro or the World Cups
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
Some missing 1 pointers
Nancy Arreola – dunno
Veronica Andreasson – did her and Gustav get married ‘cos they want to have kids?
Christine Becker ???
Kat Carroll – Kelly Benefit ??
Lisa Jacobs – AIS ??
Carmen Small – Kelly Benefit ??
Bridie ???
Marianne Peltzer – the Ned Bloeit ghost rider
Madeleine Sandig – is she more of a trackie?
Liza Rachetto – ’cos the only way you’ll stop her racing would be by burying her at a crossroads with a stake through her heart.
Josie Tomic – AIS ??
Monty. - January 11, 2012
Think Sandig & Tomic will be track-focused this year
(I wonder how we find out who the 7-ish Aussies who get AIS scholarships are this year?)
(I laughed outloud re Rachetto!)
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
Looks like you're right about Tomic
and she was injured just before Christmas
Monty. - January 11, 2012
I think only 3 AIS scholarships have been given out
(which is normal) Sinead Noonan, Grace Sulzberger & Gracie Elvin. All of whom were at the pointy end of the Oz Nat RR. These girls will be based in the Castronno (It) living quarters while others (possibly Nettie Edmonsen & Jess Allen & others) will come over for short stints. Kirsty Broun is working as a criminal lawyer in Brisbane but she may get a few weeks over in Europe with the AIS but this is pure speculation on my part.
AdelaideFatboy - January 12, 2012
I didn't know Broun was a criminal lawyer!
That is AWESOME! And there has to be a tv show in there somewhere. I’m I right in thinking Lisa Jacobs is a lawyer too? I’m imagining them both in some hybrid of Law & Order, with bike racing as well…
Sarah Connolly - January 12, 2012
And Bridie is a doctor :)
Seahorse - January 12, 2012
Oh, and some of the Germans are in the police...
We can get a full cast going here!
Sarah Connolly - January 12, 2012
I think
Bridie is more likely to be able to perform surgery than Tony Martin is likely to be able to handcuff somebody though.
Jens - January 12, 2012
T-Mart just looks at them and they cuff themselves
tedvdw - January 12, 2012
Charlotte Becker trained as a police officer, I believe
Oh, and of course, all the Fiamme Azzurre riders can come in for any prison-based episodes!
Sarah Connolly - January 12, 2012
Didn't she have Polizei written on her bike too?
I’ve no idea whether it had any didden sirens or slashing lights.
And if you want some added fluffy cuteness (or even some assaults on cows’ bottoms) one of the Italian women (can’t remember who) is training to be a vet.
Monty. - January 12, 2012
We could have Emilia Fahlin, Tiffany Cromwell & Lizzie Armistead
playing Charlies Angels, they’re pretty enough (I know I’m biased) and Carla Ryan looks a bit like the Chick out of Unforgettable (Poppy Montgomery is from OZ) Just saw the Greenedge team song vieo, it’s very good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjciChu9gv8
AdelaideFatboy - January 14, 2012
Bridie could play Dr Megan Hunt in the show Body of Proof
Isn’t Pooley a scientist? She could replace Abbie in NCIS. (I really need a life)
AdelaideFatboy - January 14, 2012
Tiff could make the disguises
or at least until someone spotted that all disguises were pink.
Monty. - January 14, 2012
What I really don't understand is how these rules are
and why they don’t, if they’re worried about this, put in place the two tier system that some of us have been hoping for?
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
I guess the top 10/15 teams thing is a start
you can flick between team, nation and individuals here (Rossella Ratto’s team is missing because they’ve not got any points). Interestingly MCippollini is only 11th.
But if (for another example) all the Russian women get in to the races because Rusvelo is 9th in the team ranking (and that’s mostly down to Bubnenkova’s great year), are race fields really going to be improved if Russia jumps ahead of Italy and they get to bring their B squad.
There are a couple of countries that probably do deserve a place. Italy, because their top women are scattered over lots of teams, and France sort of ditto, and their teams might not otherwise get invites. Otherwise, fooey.
Monty. - January 11, 2012
That's the interesting thing, isn't it
And that riders’ points will be counting twice – for their team and for the national team – which doesn’t seem fair, esp with teams that have clusters of nationalities (Greenedge and the Aussies, Specialized & the Germans, AA & Brits, Rabo & AA & Dutch)
(How on earth does it count, btw, when some nations have so many more riders than others? I’m guessing that eg the Netherlands will always be top team from force of numbers – it would be crazy if, eg Skil-1t4i missed the cut-off for the Giro, but the Neds could send a team made up of all the Dutch Skil riders. But countries like, I dunno, Sweden, or GB to a lesser extent, there are much fewer riders in the peloton, and eg Emma Pooley is never going to score points in the races like Qatar. Is it worked out on all the points for a nation, or on the top X riders from a country?)
I guess the system penalises the teams like Dolmans and BePink, with a superstar like Martine Bras and Noemi Cantele and mostly development riders, where they would have got a place at races because of the good performance of that star – unless that superstar can get enough points all by herself.
(Although in both those cases I imagine the Netherlands and Italy will always be Top 5 teams…. but I’d much rather BePink could get a place at a race rather than sending an Italian National Team that was BePink in disguise.)
(Makes me wonder, too, what happens where national teams are on a shoestring. It’s fine for Australia, they’re planning a team in Europe all season, but other countries don’t have the same resources, and will be focusing any resource on the Olympics)
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
(Really hope if the top 5 nations don't want to go, the places are offered to teams...)
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
(sorry, I mean to trade teams, not national teams)
Sarah Connolly - January 11, 2012
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