Matt Goss primed to bounce back

MATT Goss, the world's top ranked rider from HTC-Highroad, is back on his feet after a bout of flu spoiled his chances at the Tour of Flanders.

Matt Goss

MATT Goss, the world's top ranked rider from HTC-Highroad, is back on his feet after a bout of flu spoiled his chances at the Tour of Flanders last week.

Goss, who has put Exeter in northern Tasmania on the map, says he's feeling strong heading into Roubaix this weekend which sees Mark Cavendish make his debut on the cobbles.

Interestingly Goss is ditching a carbon machine in preference to aluminium and tyres with three centimetre deeper rims.

The Tasmanian's preparation included riding a 90km ride of the section of cobbles around the Arenberg Forest, which sees the field turn right instead of the traditional left exit once they make it through.

Speaking of Goss, he says his fondest memory of the classic was watching from his hotel room at the Tour of Georgia, in the United States back in 2007, his first year as a professional.

“I cheered myself hoarse watching Stuey O'Grady come into the Roubaix velodrome on his own. Now I get a chance to do the same,” said Goss.

 ”While I believe the Tour of Flanders is a much tougher race with all the climbing involved,  the cobbles at Roubaix just shakes your body to pieces. It takes four or five days to recover.”

VIEWERS CHOICE

HOW about those nice folk at Eurosport. They've finally woken up to the fact that Australia is interested in what's happening on the roads of the northern hemisphere.

After originally slating coverage of Paris-Roubaix at 7am on Monday, long after the result is known, they are bringing the coverage forward to 8.30pm on Sunday.

It now gives viewers a choice. Eurosport or SBS.

SUPERSTITIOUS O'GRADY

SPEAKING of Stuey O'Grady, the Port Adelaide football club ambassador appears to be a superstitious chap.

O'Grady will have the number 7 saddlecloth on his back for Leopard Trek, the same number he wore when he forever rode himself into sporting folklore with his gutsy win when riding for CSC in 2007.

While Scott Sunderland wasn't on a bike, he gets much of the credit for developing the race tactics from the team car that helped push O'Grady to the front of the peloton after Fabian Cancellara had dropped off the pace.

For those who missed the O'Grady doco on SBS2 in midweek, I strongly suggest you do yourselves a favour and buy the DVD.

It makes for rivetting watching.

“It is going to be warm, dry and dusty,” O'Grady reports.

“I'm feeling good. Bring it on and enjoy the show.''

DAVIS A HAPPY DRAGON

ALLAN Davis, another starter at Roubaix in the Astana colours,  may be from Bundaberg, Queensland, but his football team he barracks for hails from very much south of the Tweed River in NSW.

Yep, “Alby” is a mad keen St George-Illawarra Dragons fan.

Now you know.

HIGH NUMBERS 

THERE will be 13 Australians and four reserves in the Roubaix.

Matt Goss (HTC-Highroad), Adam Hansen (Omega Pharma Lotto), Allan Davis, Simon Clarke (Astana), David Tanner, Luke Roberts, Baden Cooke (Saxo Babnk-Sunguard), Mitchell Docker (Skil Shimano), Mathew Hayman (Team Sky), Heinrich Haussler, Brett Lancaster (Garmin Cervelo), Stuart O'Grady (Leopard Trek) and Robbie McEwen (Team RadioShack).
On the reserves list are: Graeme Brown (Rabobank), Chris Sutton at Sky, Mat Wilson at Garmin and William Clarke at Leopard Trek.

What it means is that the depth of Australian road cycling has never been deeper.

Little wonder the country is ranked Numero uno by the UCI and Matt Goss is still top of the pops in the individual rankings four months into what everyone agrees is a long and hard season.