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Bicycle Racing News and Opinion,
Monday, January 8, 2024

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2023 Tour de France | 2023 Giro d'Italia

Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for. - Socrates

Upcoming racing:

• Jan 12-21: Santos Tour Down Under
• Jan 20: Clasica Comunitat Valenciana
• Jan 24-28: Challenge Illes Balears-Volta Ciclista a Mallorca
• Jan 28: GP d'Ouverture-La Marseillaise
• Jan 28: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
• Jan 30 - Feb 3: Saudi Tour

Latest completed racing:

• Jan 1: GP Sven Nys
• Dec 29: Exact Cross Loenhout-Azencross
• Dec 28: Superprestige Diegem
• Dec 27: Superprestige Heusden Zolder
• Dec 26: World Cup Gaver Cyclocross
• Dec 17: World Cup Namur Cyclocross

Luke Plapp's Team Jayco-AlUla posted this report:

Team Jayco AlUla dominated the Australian Road Race Championships as Luke Plapp secured his third title in as many years, crossing the line alongside teammate Chris Harper while Kelland O’Brien grasped the final podium spot.

Luke Plapp & Chris Harper finish 1 - 2. Photo: Con Chronis

Plapp and Harper went clear with more than 100km to go as they jumped away from a dangerous breakaway group that formed early in the 16-lap race. Once the pair had a gap there was no looking back as the advantage grew lap after lap while O’Brien formed part of a three-rider chase group behind.

With more than six minutes over the chasers, Plapp and Harper were able to savour the moment on the final lap as they shared a smile before crossing the line together to finish off a stunning and dominate ride.

O’Brien then made it an historic day for GreenEDGE Cycling as he sprinted home to take third place and lock out the podium for the team. The result is the third podium clean sweep for the team after Plapp, Harper and Michael Hepburn in the time trial and a Liv AlUla Jayco one, two, three in the criterium.

In total, the squad roll away from Ballart and the national championships with nine medals in total, including five gold medals across the six elite races.

Luke Plapp (1st):
“The Aussies are back, GreenEDGE is back! That was amazing out there, I think from the gun we had everything under control and me and Harper had a great time out there, I can’t thank him enough.

"We just wanted to be in control the whole time and I think we saw it, we knew we could take control early and once we were out there we always had it in the bag. It was an amazing team effort, from Blake [Quick] at the start, Rudy [Porter] following the moves, then Kell, we were never out of it.”

Chris Harper (2nd):
“I think from the start we were all on top of it, Plappy and I came across the line one-two and it really was a team effort today, everybody played their part. We had numbers and could dictate the race really.

"Plappy was absolutely flying at the end there, so I had to tell him to ease up a little bit for me, but it’s a great day and a good hit out for us going to Tour Down Under next week as well.”

2024 Australian Road Race Championships – Men
1. Luke Plapp (Team Jayco AlUla) 4:34:26
2. Chris Harper (Team Jayco AlUla) ST
3. Kelland O’Brien (Team Jayco AlUla) +6:09

Roseman-Gannon's Team Liv AlUla Jayco posted this report:

Ruby Roseman-Gannon made it a dream start to the 2024 season for Liv AlUla Jayco, keeping her cool to win the Australian Road Race Championship in a tense sprint finale in Ballarat as teammate Alexandra Manly took home the bronze medal.

Ruby Roseman-Gannon is the new Australian Road Champion. Photo: Con Chronis

After taking the criterium title in stunning style on Friday evening, Roseman-Gannon lined-up for Sunday’s road race as a clear race favourite, and the 25-year-old demonstrated why with a calculated and aggressive performance.

It was a typically attacking race with Liv AlUla Jayco never far from the action as every rider headed up the road at some point during the nine-lap battle. As the bell rang for the final lap a leading trio of Roseman-Gannon, teammate Georgia Baker and Lauretta Hanson held a sizeable advantage over a select chasing group following a series of breakaway attempts.

However, things eventually came back together over the crest of Mount Buninyong as a number of chasing groups made their way back to the head of the race to set up a thrilling finish.

As the leading group raced through the final kilometre Amber Pate pulled a huge turn to tee up her teammates, with Roseman-Gannon proving to be the fast in the dash for the line with Manly charging through for third place and the bronze medal.

The double medal haul makes it six medals in total for Liv AlUla Jayco at the Australian National Championships in 2024 – a dream start to the season.

Ruby Roseman-Gannon:
“I’m in shock. The last couple of years I’ve wanted this so bad and every year I finished just a bit disappointed. I had amazing legs, I mean it helped I was always up the road on the climb, but I can’t thank my team enough, like really, really this is the best group and I’m just in shock. The last time Ballarat, it means a lot, I think it just doesn’t feel real.

"I think everyone was just on another level, we had the team meeting before and everyone was 100% in. we really wanted this, you know we had tears in the meeting about how much it meant to us. It’s an Australian team and it means so much to bring it back to the Europe, so I can’t thank the girls enough. I can’t thank the team enough, it feels like a dream, I’ve done a lot of work for this moment.”

2024 Australian Road Race Championships – Women:
1. Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Liv AlUla Jayco) 3:04:52
2. Lauretta Hanson (Lidl-Trek) ST
3. Alexandra Manly (Liv AlUla Jayco) ST

Here’s the team’s news:

The Arkea-B&B Hotels team has been built to shine in every aspect of the Australian race. It will also be competing in two other events on the other side of the planet: the Surf Coast Classic and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Analysis.

Louis Barré:
“This will be my first time on Australian soil. I like racing abroad and discovering new races and cultures. I cut two weeks after Guangxi, and after that I rode well and paid attention during the whole pre-season period, which is very important. I’ve done my utmost to do well from the start of the season in Australia. I’d like to achieve a top 15 overall at the Tour Down Under, and a top 10 on a stage. The Tour of Guangxi gave me a lot of confidence last year, particularly at UCI WorldTour level. My aim is to build on that momentum over the season as a whole, by being as consistent as possible.”

Miles Scotson:
“This will be my 7th participation in the Tour Down Under, and like all Australians I’m proud to take part in this competition, which is our national tour. My aim for this race will be to help the team, I want to feel the atmosphere within the team and I’m going to help Dan in the sprint finishes. There may be one or two stages that suit me as an individual. I want to get off to a good start with Arkea-B&B Hotels on the roads of my country. We’ll also be racing in the Surf Coast Classic and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. It’s a kind of classic, and it’s played out in small groups in sprints. The Surf Coast Classic is more for the sprinters. These are important events and it’s good that we’ll be able to compete in several races during our stay in Australia, it doesn’t make the teams move around just for one event.”

Miles Scotson racing in the 2021 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Sirotti photo

Mickaël Leveau, sports director:
“We’ll be racing three UCI events in Australia this season: the Tour Down Under, the Surf Coast Classic and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Dan McLay will be our sprinter for the mass finishes. He will be supported by our Australian recruit. Miles Scotson will be able to offer the whole team the benefit of his extensive knowledge of the roads in his country. Miles usually plays the role of pilot-fish during sprints, and his association with Dan could bring us great satisfaction. Louis Barré will be the designated rider to make up a place in the overall classification. The Surf Coast Classic should come down to a sprint, and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is more of a race for the puncheurs, who should fight it out for victory in small groups. It’s also worth noting, as with Miles, that this will be the first race in our colours for Laurens Huys, who competes in the same category as Louis.”

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