2012 Tour Down Under Stage 6: Adelaide Street Circuit, 90km, 2.WT

[badboyberty]

The WT events should have hierarchical status just like non-WT events. The 2.HC races are bigger than the 2.1 events for example.

....

I just feel that there should perhaps be three tiers to the UCI's World Tour races (and accordingly the points paid) just as there are three tiers to the UCI's non-WT races (.HC, .1 and .2).

WT-1 (GTs, Monuments)
WT-2 (major stage races eg Suisse, País Vasco, Paris-Nice, T-A, and major one day races eg Amstel, Flèche, G-W)
WT-3 (minor stage races eg TDU, Beijing, Eneco, and minor one day races eg Plouay, Vattenfall).

The big teams still have to show up, but the points are not quite as ridiculously skewed as at present.

This is a great idea. And I'm saying that as an Aussie who lives and owns a bikeshop on the TDU route.

I think today's stage could be improved by moving the finish line, or at least the intermediate sprint line to the top of Montefiore Hill. I can't imagine the organisers ditching the street circuit in the near future because it's so ridiculously convenient and easy for spectators, but a technical short ITT on standard bikes through the city itself would make a great spectacle.

 

[mewmewmew13]

That pic of Norton Summit ...looks really pretty. Seems like a great addition.

 

[mewmewmew13]

fwiw I wish there was an 'other' option on the poll....

 

[BillytheKid]

This is a great idea. And I'm saying that as an Aussie who lives and owns a bikeshop on the TDU route.

I think today's stage could be improved by moving the finish line, or at least the intermediate sprint line to the top of Montefiore Hill. I can't imagine the organisers ditching the street circuit in the near future because it's so ridiculously convenient and easy for spectators, but a technical short ITT on standard bikes through the city itself would make a great spectacle.

ITTs typical don't hold the crowds in place...not making merchants happy. Or do you think it would be different there?

 

[BillytheKid]

A little late on that.

 

[badboyberty]

ITTs typical don't hold the crowds in place...not making merchants happy. Or do you think it would be different there?

No idea really on how crowds work, but a nice prologue length ITT with heaps of corners should be almost as fast on normal bikes as TT machines, and if it was tight enough should work as well for the crowd as the North Adelaide Crit does now.

Still after this year I think they'll take "if ain't broke don't fix it" attitude to the course design.

 

[BillytheKid]

No idea really on how crowds work, but a nice prologue length ITT with heaps of corners should be almost as fast on normal bikes as TT machines, and if it was tight enough should work as well for the crowd as the North Adelaide Crit does now.

Still after this year I think they'll take "if ain't broke don't fix it" attitude to the course design.

I only mention it because until this year the Cali had to finish in a town. The whole race design and finance revolves around host towns. I think this year they killed the Sierra Road (at 5k and 9.8% average) uphill finish for milder but longer climb to the ski resort town of Mammoth. Not nearly as good. I thought the twice-up Willuga a great idea and Sierra Road not unlike it, but I agree a loop prologue or short ITT could work as well a criterium in town.

 

[thehog]

A little late on that.

Hey where you been? We've missed you

 

[BillytheKid]

Hey where you been? We've missed you

Been laying low with my Basque bros over at Ft. Sumner.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

I only mention it because until this year the Cali had to finish in a town. The whole race design and finance revolves around host towns. I think this year they killed the Sierra Road (at 5k and 9.8% average) uphill finish for milder but longer climb to the ski resort town of Mammoth. Not nearly as good. I thought the twice-up Willuga a great idea and Sierra Road not unlike it, but I agree a loop prologue or short ITT could work as well a criterium in town.

The thing about Norton's Summit is that it is pretty close to town too.
It would be heaving.

 

[BillytheKid]

Apparently the humor of laying low at Ft. Sumner is lost here....that's where the real Billy the Kid is buried. And yes he often did disappear among the small population of Basque sheep herders there.

 

[wirral]

Live Stream in 15 minutes if I have calculated Australia's time zones and daylight savings correctly.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Live Stream in 15 minutes if I have calculated Australia's time zones and daylight savings correctly.

you should be correct, and I've heard from other sources--TSF-- that should be about the time

 

[BillytheKid]

Live Stream in 15 minutes if I have calculated Australia's time zones and daylight savings correctly.

I waiting for the Sky feed to kick in. That would be about 7:45 pm here.
Thanks for the up date.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Umm twitter feed from TDU just said around 45 minutes...
if I read that correctly

 

[wirral]

Channel Nine (Australia) Sydney Time 1:40 pm is the stated scheduled time

 

[BillytheKid]

Channel Nine (Australia) Sydney Time 1:40 pm is the stated scheduled time

http://www.sportlemon.tv/v-2/14/162/v-356284.html

You nailed it!

 

[mewmewmew13]

cyclingfans.com has the ch9 link up...not live yet.

dim has 3 feeds up...I think

 

[Anonymous]

cyclingfans.com has the ch9 link up...not live yet.

dim has 3 feeds up...I think

http://teamskyfans.com/tdu1.html

http://teamskyfans.com/tdu3.html

http://teamskyfans.com/tdu2.html

Stream 3 is the better of them

 

[mewmewmew13]

http://teamskyfans.com/tdu1.html

http://teamskyfans.com/tdu3.html

fixing number 2. Stream 3 is the better of them

funny, I just went right away to feed 2!
it's super!!
last night I couldn't get full screen from the other ch9 feeds...


very hot temps...a barnburner race today

 

[AussieGoddess]

Early break

Thomas de gent - vacansoleil
Jack Bauer - Grampian
Leigh Howard - green edge

Dunno that they will stay away though.

 

[Ferminal]

About 12 off the front now. More even, 16.

Peloton sits up and lets them go.

 

[Anonymous]

Phil trying to convince us that someone 2m30 down on gc is a danger man..

 

[Spare Tyre]

Indeed Oman was quite good last year and I kinda liked the echelons in Qatar as well. So I guess watching the races was ok, but there was no audience. Both countries have absolutely nothing with cycling.
The only reason they got a cycling race is because a sheikh paid huge amounts of money for it to promote their country. Nothing better than a cycling race as it crosses large parts of the country.
Not sure how an endless desert is promotion though

If Oman and Qatar dissapear I will be a happy man. If they cared for Asia they should race in Iran, but I understand that's going to be a bit difficult.

A race in Australia makes a lot more sense. Cycling is a growing sport over there and looking at the crowds during this TDU it's a good thing they got a race over there. Maybe it shouldn't be WT though.
They better move the TDU to February.

The TDU wouldn't be viable in February. January is 'holiday month' in Australia. It's summer, the kids are on holiday from school and lots of parents take leave to look after them. In February the crowds on the side of the road would disappear as kids are back at school, everyone back at work etc.

Also, February is the hottest month in this part of the world. It's possible there would be a series of days in the low-mid 40s which would be difficult for the riders and would deter most spectators.

A couple of years ago the Jayco Herald Sun Tour (Victoria not South Australia) tried to shift dates from October to February and Mike Turtur/TDU argued against it, so the move didn't get UCI approval.

 

[AussieGoddess]

I have what might be a stupid question .... But I will ask it anyway.

How is the order of the team cars for the spring classics determined?

For some reason I always thought it was based on team ranking in uci points .... Making these early races pretty important.

Is that right?