2014 Tour Down Under Stage 1: Nurioopta -> Angaston, 137km (2.WT)

[gooner]

Gerrans to dominate the stage wins a la Sagan in Cali and Suisse manner.

He will be tough to shake from here.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gerrans to dominate the stage wins a la Sagan in Cali and Suisse manner.

He will be tough to shake from here.

The only way Gerrans can really lose the overall is if Evans, Porte and Gesink rip the race to pieces on Wilunga. I personally think that Gerrans has such a high level of form that he will be near impossible to beat.

 

[Rossco8]

Anyone catch which Belkin rider was down there in that crash?

broken collarbone for Dave Tanner

per RIDE Cycling Review on Facebook

 

[barn yard]

The only way Gerrans can really lose the overall is if Evans, Porte and Gesink rip the race to pieces on Wilunga. I personally think that Gerrans has such a high level of form that he will be near impossible to beat.

willunga hill is not long enough to get rid of a guy like gerrans

from memory gerrans was in difficulty on corkscrew road last year but that is a lot more difficult than willunga hill

 

[peterst6906]

I know we don't have that thread anymore (or do we?), but she's back:

http://t.co/bqnkyrnt1u

 

[Tragic]

willunga hill is not long enough to get rid of a guy like gerrans

from memory gerrans was in difficulty on corkscrew road last year but that is a lot more difficult than willunga hill

I think he had asthma or allergy issues that day. Corkscrew shouldn't be a problem for him normally.

He really is in form.

 

[austy37]

Shame Ewan got dropped.

 

[theyoungest]

Shame Ewan got dropped.

Merckx' climbing isn't what it used to be.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Shame Ewan got dropped.

yea, perhaps a bit surprising considering 70 riders made the cut over the hill.

With head wind in the finale, Greipel may have been in front for too long. Still very good win for Gerrans.

 

[jens_attacks]

gerrans is in impressive form, i think better than in last 2 years. unbeatable imo
looking forward to cadel,richie and frank schleck for podium

 

[forkboy84]

broken collarbone for Dave Tanner

per RIDE Cycling Review on Facebook

Thanks. Nasty injury to pick up.

 

[Kwibus]

Thanks. Nasty injury to pick up.

Tanner was a big asset in Slagters TDU win last year. The entire year he was an excellent domestique for Belkin.

 

[movingtarget]

Merckx' climbing isn't what it used to be.

He's 19 what's with the Merckx stuff ?

 

[theyoungest]

He's 19 what's with the Merckx stuff ?

Pat Jonker called him 'awfully close' to Merckx, hence my taking the p.ss

Of course he's a big talent ('big' maybe not being quite the word).

 

[willbick]

gerrans is in impressive form, i think better than in last 2 years. unbeatable imo
looking forward to cadel,richie and frank schleck for podium

Lololololol

 

[ItalianGigolo]

I really like Ewan...but comparing him to Merckx !?!!? Really?
Isn't that a little too much?

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I really like Ewan...but comparing him to Merckx !?!!? Really?
Isn't that a little too much?

Would you mind if someone was to compare you to Italian Stallion from that film?

 

[maltiv]

Pat Jonker called him 'awfully close' to Merckx, hence my taking the p.ss

Of course he's a big talent ('big' maybe not being quite the word).

Woah. Ewan can sprint and climbs short hills reasonably well...but sucks in mountains, TT's and cobbles.

If he's close to Merckx, then almost everyone is. I guess Steele Van Hoff is "awfully close" to Merckx as well

 

[greenedge]

greipel is in the main group according to tv coverage

i guess when you have nathan haas driving the climb a few sprinters will make it in the group

His pace looked hard enough/ no one else really pulled, nor did the GC riders attack. He had a teammate who finished 3rd/ a rider in Dennis to work for.
Also he has been injured (did not ride the Nats).

Congrats to Gerrans on an amazing victory.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Well this result adds a little bit of context to Sunday's.