2012 Tour Down Under Stage 1: Prospect to Clare, 149km, 2.WT

[auscyclefan94]

2012 Tour Down Under Stage 1: Prospect to Clare, 149km, 2.WT

Start Time: 11am (Adel time)
Finish Time: 2.54pm ETA

ŠKODA King of the Mountain: Kapunda to Tarlee Road, Taylors Run

Jayco Sprint Locations: Main Street, Kapunda and Main Street, Riverton

Feed Station: Clare Road, Kapunda

Live radio coverage with ABC

Stage preview - Youtube

Weather: 37C and relatively strong northerly winds.

 

[Wilba60]

I see they are also getting 37C and relatively strong northerly winds.

"Mostly sunny morning. Isolated showers about the hills and southern suburbs from midday, extending throughout in the afternoon and evening. Winds north to northeasterly averaging up to 35 km/h tending westerly during the afternoon then tending southwesterly and light later in the evening."

Unless the wind change comes in time, does this mean into a headwind all day?

 

[Richeypen]

If you ignore the altitude numbers that profile is almost interesting.

 

[Thomsena]

How I hate tennis.

 

[rgmerk]

Yep, headwinds

First road stage of the year, headwinds, stinking hot day...desultory break featuring riders from the UniSA team and some unfortunate neo-pros, inevitably reeled in for a sprint finish. GreenEdge doing lots of work on the front because Matt White is peeved at them for screwing up yet another crit.

Nathan Haas probably got himself out of breakaway duty tomorrow by collecting a few primes on Saturday night

 

[Swede1]

Once again I pick my man Greipel. Although that will probably be a popular choice. Hagen will once again be up there getting time bonuses so that he can win it on Willunga. I think Greipel will win on Sterling also. If he can do that and then stay reasonably close on Willunga he could win overall.

If Greipel can be the sprinter getting the leadouts like Cav used to always get I think he will be able to beat Cav more often then not.

 

[hughmoore]

I see they are also getting 37C and relatively strong northerly winds.

"Mostly sunny morning. Isolated showers about the hills and southern suburbs from midday, extending throughout in the afternoon and evening. Winds north to northeasterly averaging up to 35 km/h tending westerly during the afternoon then tending southwesterly and light later in the evening."

Unless the wind change comes in time, does this mean into a headwind all day?

Yes, will be a headwind all day with little protection anywhere.


Hugh

 

[Tugboat]

Hard to look past a repeat performance of Greipel coming of Hendy's wheel at 200 to go. To come of a wheel at already close to 70km/h as easily as he did shows he's in great form and the whole Lotto team had the lead-out ffairly well polished!

I'm picking him for every stage except Stirling and Willunga.

 

[Raceoftruth]

At last some racing. Is this profile decieving or could it split the field?

 

[dlwssonic]

This profile looks kinda boring. Wont be surpise if Greipel wins. I think watching Australia trashing India is more interesting.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

hopefully blythe

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Hopefully Renshaw will not have a flat tire in the last 2km now and make the sprint a bit exciting.

 

[maltiv]

hopefully blythe

What was up with Blythe last year, by the way? I can't even remember seeing him in the top 5 anywhere, and he certainly didn't win any races.

 

[Flamin]

Finally, back to racing. Has been a long 3 months.

 

[theyoungest]

Hopefully Renshaw will not have a flat tire in the last 2km now and make the sprint a bit exciting.

By headbutting Greipel out of the race?

I can't see him having the speed to challenge Greipel, at all.

 

[Parrulo]

By headbutting Greipel out of the race?

I can't see him having the speed to challenge Greipel, at all.

that would be fun i don't see him having the speed either. i still think rabo would be better off by having renshaw leading out bos

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Well, maybe Greipel will lose the wheel of his magnificent train, and then Renshaw will use his magnificent position skills to win the sprint?

 

[maltiv]

Edvald says the plan still is to do leadouts for Sutton. What can you say...brilliant Sky logic right there.

 

[theyoungest]

that would be fun i don't see him having the speed either. i still think rabo would be better off by having renshaw leading out bos

Or having him lead out Matthews, who has a chance to win the overall if he picks up bonus seconds in the flat stages. I really don't understand why he's not the team leader here (together with LLS, obviously).

 

[Ferminal]

Or having him lead out Matthews, who has a chance to win the overall if he picks up bonus seconds in the flat stages. I really don't understand why he's not the team leader here (together with LLS, obviously).

I don't think they rate Matthews for the flat stages (or just want to show faith in their star signing Renshaw), he will have a real crack at Stirling though. If he gets a top3 there hopefully they try and get him bonuses on 3 and 4.

Interesting to see if anyone plays for the intermediate sprints.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Edvald says the plan still is to do leadouts for Sutton. What can you say...brilliant Sky logic right there.

Maybe Edvald needs to practice lead outs, ready for the serious stuff later in the year. Seems pretty logical to me, if that's the case.

 

[Jamsque]

If Greipel gets the same quality of lead-out he did at the CCC I can't see anyone passing him.

 

[issoisso]

I don't think they rate Matthews for the flat stages (or just want to show faith in their star signing Renshaw), he will have a real crack at Stirling though. If he gets a top3 there hopefully they try and get him bonuses on 3 and 4.

Interesting to see if anyone plays for the intermediate sprints.

Matthews is already one of the best in the world on an uphill gradient sprint.
On a flat sprint though, he's no more than decent.

 

[will10]

Matthews is already one of the best in the world on an uphill gradient sprint.
On a flat sprint though, he's no more than decent.

Question mark?

Based on what exactly? I didn't see him take any really big scalps last year in an uphill sprint. Yes he had some wins against OK opposition, but how can you be the best in the world when you haven't taken on the best in the world?

 

[theyoungest]

Question mark?

Based on what exactly? I didn't see him take any really big scalps last year in an uphill sprint. Yes he had some wins against OK opposition, but how can you be the best in the world when you haven't taken on the best in the world?

Who would you consider to be the best in the world? Goss and Greipel are alright, aren't they? He beat both of them on his first try.