2013 Santos Tour Down Under Stage 1: Prospect -> Lobethal, 135km

[auscyclefan94]

Greipel very easily. Surprised that more of the teams did not attack.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Von Hoff could not hold the wheel which created the gap. EBH got boxed in by Von Hoff.

 

[Flux Capacity]

Thanks for the replies about Goss

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Greipel looked great, both in terms of his climbing legs and, obviously, his sprint. I think that the gap was exaggerated by Van Hoff losing his wheel and marooning everyone else behind, but it was still an excellent display.

 

[greenedge]

Greipel demolished the rest, Von Hoff looked as if he was going backwards when Greipel kicked. I think Demare can win a stage against him but needs better placing and Goss was nowhere- so i shall not say he shall win a stage with Greipel likely to feature again for the rest of the TDU.

 

[Yingge]

If today is an example of how the CN Live coverage will be for the rest of the TDU, then they should give up now.....according to the scant coverage it is still in progress.....the editor presumably gave up and left.

 

[Ferminal]

Just follow the official ticker:

http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/live-feed.htm

 

[Eric8-A]

That's why I love the Aussie races, I just sat down for dinner here on the west coast.

Same here. The coverage usually happens around the evening here. No having to wake up early in the morning for the Tour Down Under

 

[maltiv]

Greipel looked great, both in terms of his climbing legs and, obviously, his sprint. I think that the gap was exaggerated by Van Hoff losing his wheel and marooning everyone else behind, but it was still an excellent display.

Indeed, Van Hoff screwed everyone else over with his terrible sprint, but of course, sprinting slowly is no crime

Demare looked really fast as well, wonder if he could've been close to Greipel with a better position. Last year he was one of very few sprinters who managed to beat Greipel head to head in a flat sprint.

 

[LaFlorecita]

kangaroos and kualas are cute, very cute actually, all kinds of deadly snakes, spiders, lizards, sharks, and pretty much every other animal in australia are not

i am starting to feel silly for not putting more money on phill for the overall win

What about wombats, they are not deadly, I don't think so. They are slow and fat.

Where the hell was Tyler, is he lead out for von Hoff

 

[stefank]

What about wombats, they are not deadly, I don't think so. They are slow and fat.:

Deadly, no, but they can have a mean streak. They may be fat but can actually move amazingly quickly.

 

[iZnoGouD]

105 Andy SCHLECK LUX RLT +1:19 hihihihi

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Can anybody explain to me why Argos, as a sprint oriented team, is WT, if their highest placed rider in a sprint stage is Koen de Kort at 67th.

 

[theyoungest]

Can anybody explain to me why Argos, as a sprint oriented team, is WT, if their highest placed rider in a sprint stage is Koen de Kort at 67th.

Because Marcel Kittel is a very, very limited rider. And De Kort probably was hoping for him to return in the peloton.

 

[Netserk]

Can anybody explain to me why Argos, as a sprint oriented team, is WT, if their highest placed rider in a sprint stage is Koen de Kort at 67th.

Indeed

 

[greenedge]

Deadly, no, but they can have a mean streak. They may be fat but can actually move amazingly quickly.

They can also crush you, especially if you get in their burrow/hole, where they feel entrapped and charge for the exit, even with you in the way.

 

[maltiv]

Some GC pretenders who lost time today:

Eros Capecchi +1:19
Luke Durbridge +1:19
Nathan Haas +1:19

 

[iZnoGouD]

Did Machado look strong?

 

[cineteq]

Some GC pretenders who lost time today:

Eros Capecchi +1:19
Luke Durbridge +1:19
Nathan Haas +1:19

Must be the hair.
http://www.steephill.tv/2013/tour-down-under/photos/stage-01/

 

[the asian]

Can anybody explain to me why Argos, as a sprint oriented team, is WT, if their highest placed rider in a sprint stage is Koen de Kort at 67th.

Shimano is an official partner of the UCI.

 

[cineteq]

Guardini
"The 1 is gone, as I thought the final a bit challenging for me. For January I'm not complaining! Now waiting for stages 4 & 6."

 

[theyoungest]

Orica should have brought Matthews. Was a good finish for him. If Goss can't even make it to the sprint on this stage, he won't make it anywhere, except the pan flat final stage.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Ponzi rode a good sprint aswell, he got stuck a little behind renshaw but had good speed.

I think he could surprise in stage 2 aswell.

 

[Leadbelly]

So when is the first Gorilla v Cav clash due? Could be very tasty.

Thankfully the three guys I have money on for the GC all were in the main pack today - quite encouraging that Velits was up towards the front and finished in the top 20, maybe shows that he's taking it seriously. The proof will be in the pudding tomorrow.

 

[abbaskip]

Greipel - with that type of lead out is unbeatable. His top speed is up there with anybodies, and he only had to come out with 200m to go, and keep going.

By the time Demare, Renshaw and Ponzi really started winding up, the race was over.