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Down Under Classic Discussion
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| redordead |
Posted on 03-10-2025 06:38
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Team Leader
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Welcome to the 17th edition of the Down Under Classic. It has served as the season opener for the Pro Continental division for as long as I can remember. It's a very short race, more of a criterium with only 81 km. Most of the best sprinters tend to be here and some from the CT also usually make the trip. It's an early chance to see how the best riders match up against each other for the upcoming season. It's a fast and furious race due to its length and we don't always get to see lead out trains, but I will include them in the list below.
With that said let's look at some of the favourites:
| Sprinter | FL | RS | SP | AC | Lead out | FL | RS | SP | AC |  Ewan | 75 | 71 | 83 | 81 | Baterdene | 74 | 70 | 76 | 77 |  Coquard | 72 | 72 | 83 | 81 | Afewerki | 72 | 69 | 78 | 79 |  Dainese | 76 | 76 | 81 | 82 | Coutinho | 71 | 72 | 78 | 78 |  Zabel | 74 | 70 | 81 | 79 | Page | 75 | 72 | 78 | 79 |  Van Poppel | 72 | 71 | 81 | 78 | Milan | 77 | 80 | 74 | 73 |  Liu | 74 | 69 | 80 | 80 | Ariesen | 75 | 73 | 70 | 71 |  Peak | 80 | 77 | 80 | 78 | Dekker | 77 | 77 | 77 | 76 |  Walls | 74 | 71 | 80 | 78 | Lander | 74 | 67 | 76 | 72 |
The PCT sprint field is again headlined by Caleb Ewan and Bryan Coquard. The Aussie edged out the Frenchman in the individual ranking last year and with the latter having declined again I think Ewan has to be considered as the #1. A clear 3rd option looks to be Dainese who looks plenty strong enough to challenge the top two across the season. Zabel and Van Poppel round out the 81 sprinters. I think both have been less consistent over recent times, but have enough speed to compete for the highest spots in any race. Liu was brilliant for Lotto last year and will want and need to continue in that way. Same can be said for the recently trained Peak who also brings to the table the best stats outside of SP and AC. Rounding out the favourites is Walls who didn't have the best of times in PT, but may find his footing here in PCT.
| FL | HI | ST | RS | SP | AC |  Hodeg | 72 | 65 | 69 | 74 | 79 | 78 |  Willwohl | 73 | 65 | 71 | 67 | 79 | 78 |  Riabushenko | 76 | 68 | 71 | 74 | 79 | 77 |  Rajovic | 72 | 64 | 70 | 76 | 78 | 82 |  Gibbons | 75 | 65 | 73 | 72 | 78 | 78 |  El Sabbahi | 77 | 69 | 72 | 76 | 78 | 77 |  Plowright | 74 | 60 | 70 | 73 | 78 | 76 |
The remaining sprinters will look to place in any of the top 10 spots. Maybe some of them can finish as high as in the top 10. I didn't list the rouleurs here, but it's not out of the question that they can get involved in those top 10ish spots. Hodeg, Willwohl and Riabushenko seem the most likely to cause an upset, but my biased self will look at someone like Rajovic to give Ekoi a great start to the season.
Full startlist:
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| Caspi |
Posted on 03-10-2025 06:52
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Domestique
Posts: 705
Joined: 22-09-2022
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We're so done 
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 03-10-2025 07:01
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2129
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Looking forward to get the season going! We need to make the most of the early part of the season as sprints and cobbles are where we excel, and a podium for Dainese should be the target here.
Thanks for the preview!
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| seancoll |
Posted on 03-10-2025 07:09
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Breakaway Specialist
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Can't wait to see a surprise breakaway win and the terror it will bring us all for the upcoming season.
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 03-10-2025 07:10
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7541
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Want a good start to our season here so we have a lot riding on Coquard. Very tough field with Ewan here though so we will be happy with a podium finish. I feel like anything else would be a disappointment though considering how good Ewan and Coquard are..
Good luck everyone and thanks for the preview!
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 03-10-2025 08:01
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Sprinter
Posts: 1804
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Thanks for the preview red (and pointing out Rajovic  )!
If we get someone into the break we should have covered all options here with Dusan for the sprint and Gasper for a late attack. A top 10 would be nice either way but more is always on the table. I'm thrilled for the new season I any case, so best of luck to all of you!
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 03-10-2025 08:29
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Team Manager
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Those are some very strong leadouts! I'm very curious how those play out. Hodeg is here alongside Biniam Girmay, we'll probably see quickly if that's a good combination or if it's hurting both - I hope for the former, for the sake of many races this year. A Top 10 result is the goal for sure. Other than that, I'm also curious how Peak will perform with his unique stats.
Good luck everyone and thanks for the nice preview, red!
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 03-10-2025 09:01
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Tour de France Champion
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Let's go Bonif.. Oh wait..
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Heine |
Posted on 03-10-2025 09:15
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4461
Joined: 08-04-2007
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So glad I have no sprinters in this field...
Peak with Dekker as leadout looks great here, but I just have to root for Zabel!
Edited by Heine on 03-10-2025 09:35
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 05-12-2025 10:11
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 03-10-2025 09:32
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Sprinter
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Thanks red for the preview!
Liu will face some tough competition, but I hope he gets off to a good start 
Good luck everybody!
MG - Lotto - Caloi
[MG] New Manager of the Year - PCM.daily Awards 2022
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 03-10-2025 09:48
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Team Leader
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Awesome preview and good luck to all.
I think Rajovic will suprise a bunch here with that ACC
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| Booker |
Posted on 03-10-2025 11:57
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Protected Rider
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Thanks for the preview red, so happy to have the season nearly underway!!
Not holding out massively high hopes, but a top 10 for Willwohl would be a nice start to the campaign. Maybe some of our annoying roleurs will play a part too!
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| quadsas |
Posted on 03-10-2025 12:14
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2727
Joined: 18-01-2013
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Here for XP and Varga shenanigans
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 03-10-2025 15:01
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Classics Specialist
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top 15 for Gibbons is the hope here which is as good as a top 10 in C2, top 10 here is as good as a top 4 if we can dream a little but should be a good points finish to start our season  |
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| KaiserAdler |
Posted on 03-10-2025 16:20
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Domestique
Posts: 674
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Fielding an African sprinter here has become a tradition here for us. I doubt El Sabbahi could replicate the performance Saber displayed here years ago but still fingers crossed. Thanks for the preview Red
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| MacC |
Posted on 03-10-2025 21:42
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Sprinter
Posts: 1712
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Nice that Plowright got a mention, hopefully wuth some good air he can do a top 15
Let the racing begin!
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 03-10-2025 23:14
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2539
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Also interested in how Peak goes and fingers crossed for Zabel to do well when not a favourite.
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 04-10-2025 07:48
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3219
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Thanks for the preview! Milan isn't the ideal final leadout guy but I really have no one else better for the job so prayers up that it works out!
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 04-10-2025 09:20
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3484
Joined: 23-07-2008
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Wow! What a start, this race has a tendency to throw up surprise results and that combined with a very slim chance of a breakaway due to he short distance made it a perfect low risk opportunity for Gibbons and he just so happened to get the lucky roll of a good wheel here 98pts is a huge sum on CT and already puts him as a top 65 scorer from last season and near his 141pt total after only two race days. Zabel an expected winner with Peak going well
Two things that were quite evident here: one leadout sit up after there sprint so probably not as many leadout riders scoring in the classics
Two have a really good sprint stat on the last leadout man can make a massive difference of used correctly Coutinho went too early here but is clearly going to be a huge help when timed better with the gap he put on the field there |
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| Heine |
Posted on 04-10-2025 09:24
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4461
Joined: 08-04-2007
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Zabel! Big one for him!
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Down Under Classic 
