Competitions 2025 SCS Road Cycling Championships

[Ironhawk]

2025 Season Details

We're back for 2025. The competition this year will be the exact same format as last year, with the exception that there will be no Olympics event this year (obviously). Refer to the first page of this topic for more details on how this works if you are new or need a refresher.

The calendar of events for 2025 is as follows:



This is very similar to 2024, with most events being held six days later than they were in 2024. The main exception is that the World Championships and Il Lombardia are held 1 day earlier than in 2024 - this will mean a shorter break for any cyclists attempting a Vuelta/WC double.

As per last year, there will also be national championships held throughout the year. The first of these (for nations chosen by entrants last year) is the Australian Road Nationals, which will be held in Perth this week. The ITT will be held this Thursday (9/1), and the road race next Sunday (12/1).

@Dravid, @Aston and myself will be picking for this event (if the two of you are entering again this year). With a different course this year, it's definitely not as easy to pick a winner and defend your champion bands! PM me your entries prior to the race starting as per usual.

@Bonaparte, @chels, @Kiewa, @Old Big 'Ead, @tso, @Woosie - I'll let you know closer to the national championships for your nations when you need to pick. Woosie, the NZ championships are on 6-8 February, for all of the European ones, they will likely be in June (TBC).

For anyone else who is looking to give this a go, simply let me know that you are interested and you're in! You can join in at any time. Don't worry if you don't know much about cycling - there's lots of resources available to pick up who the main chances are in any race.

Hope to see some good competition again this year. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Ironhawk]

Dravid picked Jay Vine for the ITT.

I picked Lucas Plapp, figured it'll be out of the two.

Will update later when I get home.

Edit: Looks like it was pretty much a battle in two. Plapp 1st, Vine 2nd.

 

[Ironhawk]

Dravid and I have swapped picks for the road race - Dravid has chosen Plapp, I've picked Vine.

I watched a bit of the U23 race yesterday, and repeated climbs at the end of each circuit although not super long are going to eliminate most riders from having any chance if there's any pace at all in the race (and there usually is) due to having to do them every 13 km. It's a course that definitely suits Plapp for a fourth consecutive title, and he should be favourite, however history says riders don't win that many titles in a row. Only one Australian has ever won four national championships (Hubert Opperman back in the 1920's), and they were not consecutive. Vine is also good at similar courses to this, and assuming both finish, I'd be surprised if both are not top 5. It seems to suit riders that can both time trial and climb, and there's not a heap of those in the race. I originally thought a sprinter type may be able to hang on, as the climb is not that tough, but having to do it so often will rule them out unless everyone rides very conservatively.

 

[Woosie]

Is it possible to start a new thread for this season?

I found myself going back to page 1 later in the season to check dates on upcoming events.

If it's on Page 26, it may be a bit trickier.

 

[Ironhawk]

Is it possible to start a new thread for this season?

I found myself going back to page 1 later in the season to check dates on upcoming events.

If it's on Page 26, it may be a bit trickier.

Happy to hear other's thoughts. If it's inconvenient, I can create a new topic, I mainly just continued it here as I think it slightly reduces server load.

I could also start a group conversation with all participants (once I know who the regulars are this season) reminding of upcoming events if that works.

 

[Old Big 'Ead]

Happy to hear other's thoughts. If it's inconvenient, I can create a new topic, I mainly just continued it here as I think it slightly reduces server load.

I could also start a group conversation with all participants (once I know who the regulars are this season) reminding of upcoming events if that works.

I am not fussed either way. I found myself just following the topic, and when you gave us notice of an event coming up, I would then look into it.

 

[Woosie]

Happy to hear other's thoughts. If it's inconvenient, I can create a new topic, I mainly just continued it here as I think it slightly reduces server load.

I could also start a group conversation with all participants (once I know who the regulars are this season) reminding of upcoming events if that works.

I can always book mark page 26 too.

Alternatively, if the "2025 Season Details" is added to the first post on page 1, that could work.

Whatever's easier for you @Ironhawk - big work load doing this.

 

[Ironhawk]

I can always book mark page 26 too.

Alternatively, if the "2025 Season Details" is added to the first post on page 1, that could work.

Whatever's easier for you @Ironhawk - big work load doing this.

I can only edit posts for 24 hours after posting, I can't modify the first post any more unfortunately. I might have to ask someone in the leadership group very nicely if it is even possible.

 

[Dravid]

I can only edit posts for 24 hours after posting, I can't modify the first post any more unfortunately. I might have to ask someone in the leadership group very nicely if it is even possible.

If you can't edit posts, then I don't mind the idea of a new thread... But I don't mind either way, whatever is easiest!

 

[Dravid]

Turbo Durbo with the shock won.... Although it sounds like it was gifted to him by Plapp.

 

[Ironhawk]

Luke Plapp finished 2nd in the road race, Jay Vine 6th.

Luke Durbridge led for most of the race, initially in a group of two before dropping the other breakaway leader with around 5 laps to go. On the second last lap, it was clear he would get caught, and Plapp broke away from the peloton on the climb to catch Durbridge. The two Jayco riders built on their lead over the final lap to over a minute, as nobody was willing to work in the peloton. Plapp was clearly far stronger, but gifted the win to Durbridge (who was racing in front of his home fans, and had done a lot of work all day).

Tough luck there Dravid, as Plapp could have easily won that. Vine was never in it - his lack of any team support was my big worry in picking him.

 

[Ironhawk]

TDU starts today. Just for a bit of fun (doesn't count), I'll pick Onley, Fisher-Black, Welsford and Andresen. Bit of practice before the real stuff starts.

(Assuming favourites of Narvaez, Williams, Onley, Plapp, Vine).

 

[tso]

TDU starts today. Just for a bit of fun (doesn't count), I'll pick Onley, Fisher-Black, Welsford and Andresen. Bit of practice before the real stuff starts.

(Assuming favourites of Narvaez, Williams, Onley, Plapp, Vine).

I'm playing Velogames as always.

 

[Ironhawk]

TDU starts today. Just for a bit of fun (doesn't count), I'll pick Onley, Fisher-Black, Welsford and Andresen. Bit of practice before the real stuff starts.

(Assuming favourites of Narvaez, Williams, Onley, Plapp, Vine).

Rough count I scored 1040. I expected a similar final stage to last year with a hill stage finish rather than a criterium, didn't look at profiles at all or I may have changed picks. Reasonable score, but probably wouldn't end up a top 10 quality score.

 

[Ironhawk]

The Great Ocean Road race is on tomorrow, and I'll have another practice run (doesn't count officially). This is always a tough one to pick, but I'll give it a go.

Favourites: Coquard, Andresen, Strong, Pithie, Fisher-Black

My choices: Strong, Teutenberg, Romo

Wouldn't be surprised if I get a zero though, there's plenty of potential winners.

Three Kiwis in the 5 favourites (from a betting site where I found the odds) - good time to give a reminder to @Woosie that the NZ national championships are being held next week. The ITT will be on Thursday 6th, the road race on Saturday 8th.

 

[chels]

Practice run definitely needed.
Aaron Gate, Javier Romo, Finn Fisher-Black

Good to see so many NZers on the start line. BTW, what was the betting site you refer to @Ironhawk?

 

[Ironhawk]

Practice run definitely needed.
Aaron Gate, Javier Romo, Finn Fisher-Black

Good to see so many NZers on the start line. BTW, what was the betting site you refer to @Ironhawk?

Think it was bet365 but not sure, I just googled the race name and odds.

 

[Ironhawk]

They just had Max Gawn on the Ch. 7 coverage. Big fan and very knowledgeable of the cycling. Possibly a future career as a cycling commentator once he finishes up in the AFL. I thought I remembered from previous years he had a podcast talking about cycling, but have never listened to it, will have to track it down.

 

[Ironhawk]

Practice run definitely needed.
Aaron Gate, Javier Romo, Finn Fisher-Black

Good to see so many NZers on the start line. BTW, what was the betting site you refer to @Ironhawk?

2nd, 4th and 10th, did better than my 4th and 6th. Neither of us picked the winner.

I did consider Schmid among my selections, but didn't make my final 3. Good to see Jayco finally get the win though.

 

[Ironhawk]

Woosie has picked Laurence Pithie to win both championships for NZ. Unfortunately Fisher-Black won the ITT with Pithie 5th. Better luck in the road race!