Hot racing coming up in Australia

[Ilmaestro99]

I can't speak for Devil's Elbow, but I think my lack of enthusiasm might derive from being unduly influenced by Jancouver during my early years on the forum

Yeah good point. To be honest devils elbow is always well thought through, so I'm just interested on his persepctive of this race, for me tour down under it's just a bit of fun

 

[Cookster15]

Following the races in Australia can be a little embarrassing for Aussie fans who follow European racing. Mostly due to the lack of geography in the areas where the race is best promoted for commercial reasons. Unlike Europe or North America, Australia is a mostly flat continent. South Australia has no real major mountain ranges, just the ancient worn down Flinders ranges. There is more challenging geography in the Snowy Mountains, Victorian Alps and even around Sydney.

But I think TDU is a good cobweb cleaner for the coming European season. So it does serve a purpose to get riders into shape for the upcoming European season. And climbs like Willunga and the Corkscrew seem sufficient to ensure it isn't just a sprinter bore-fest. Simon Gerrans, Richie Porte, and Cadel Evans add to the race's credibility. The TDU can also be raced in oppressive heat, even hotter than France in July. This makes it tough for riders coming from the European winter.

I miss the Herald Sun Tour. Genuine climbs, raced in the Victorian Alps with genuine long / highish climbs (>1,800 metres). Jai Hindley last won that race in 2020. But it won't get big crowds so it is difficult to promote.

Going back there was the Commonwealth Bank cycling classic conducted on the east coast (nearer to Sydney). A stage race also with some good climbs, including those used in the 2022 Wollongong Worlds. The Commonwealth Bank cycling classic was won by a young Jan Ullrich in 1993.

 

[ingsve]

I'll never be the biggest fan of TDU,

To me the TDU will always be like reaching an oasis after wandering through a raceless desert for three months.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Interested as to why you're not a fan when it's just a fun winter training race to kick off the season (climate issues?), but anyway I think you're showing disrespect to double monument winner Simon gerrens and tdf podium/ double Paris nice winner Ritchie porte. The race surely can't be more prestigious now it's just congested by UAE domestics getting their one slither of leadership for the season.?

I could be wrong but it seemed more prestigious pre-covid to me

Difficult finish times for anyone in Europe, uninspired routes, and for a large chunk of the 2010s it was basically an Aussie/Greenedge open championship because nobody else bothered to show up with any sort of form (the 2017 edition might just be the worst WT stage race of all time). The latter issue is definitely a thing of the past and the routes, while still not the most inspiring, are definitely more varied (both within and between editions) than they used to be.

I also don’t think UAE have been thaaat dominant, yes they’ve won twice in three years but both of those editions were competitive and they haven’t placed multiple riders in the top-10 a single time.

 

[Sciatic]

Following the races in Australia can be a little embarrassing for Aussie fans who follow European racing. Mostly due to the lack of geography in the areas where the race is best promoted for commercial reasons. Unlike Europe or North America, Australia is a mostly flat continent. South Australia has no real major mountain ranges, just the ancient worn down Flinders ranges. There is more challenging geography in the Snowy Mountains, Victorian Alps and even around Sydney.

But I think TDU is a good cobweb cleaner for the coming European season. So it does serve a purpose to get riders into shape for the upcoming European season. And climbs like Willunga and the Corkscrew seem sufficient to ensure it isn't just a sprinter bore-fest. Simon Gerrans, Richie Porte, and Cadel Evans add to the race's credibility. The TDU can also be raced in oppressive heat, even hotter than France in July. This makes it tough for riders coming from the European winter.

I miss the Herald Sun Tour. Genuine climbs, raced in the Victorian Alps with genuine long / highish climbs (>1,800 metres). Jai Hindley last won that race in 2020. But it won't get big crowds so it is difficult to promote.

Going back there was the Commonwealth Bank cycling classic conducted on the east coast (nearer to Sydney). A stage race also with some good climbs, including those used in the 2022 Wollongong Worlds. The Commonwealth Bank cycling classic was won by a young Jan Ullrich in 1993.

"cobweb cleaner" I like that; I could use a bit myself!

 

[Tim Cahill]

Don’t know if anyone still follows him but Richard would top 10 here even now. He’d have Narvaez on the ropes and we’d be lauding his GT-winning form as is January tradition.

 

[Cookster15]

Difficult finish times for anyone in Europe

In Australia fans follow European races that usually finish at 1:30am local time. Formula 1 is super popular in Australia despite the time zone issues watching European and American races. Of course populations and size of potential audience drives commercial realities but if we want the sport of cycling to be truly global rather than just Euro centric then these attitudes on time zones must change.

 

[Netserk]

if we want the sport of cycling to be truly global

we dont

 

[Sciatic]

In Australia fans follow European races that usually finish at 1:30am local time. Formula 1 is super popular in Australia despite the time zone issues watching European and American races. Of course populations and size of potential audience drives commercial realities but if we want the sport of cycling to be truly global rather than just Euro centric then these attitudes on time zones must change.

I guess that could make some sense. But conversely it figures that a sport hold their events at the times that fit where their biggest target audience (in this case by far) is located. For example, west coast NFL fans are used to games being played at the times best suited to east coast audiences.

 

[RedheadDane]

I just hope I'll actually be able to watch it next year.
Well, the weekend stages; I've come to realise that maintaining a proper sleep schedule when you need to go to work is generally a good idea.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

In Australia fans follow European races that usually finish at 1:30am local time. Formula 1 is super popular in Australia despite the time zone issues watching European and American races. Of course populations and size of potential audience drives commercial realities but if we want the sport of cycling to be truly global rather than just Euro centric then these attitudes on time zones must change.

Virtually all the big sporting events being in either Europe or North America means that almost nobody in Europe, North America and by extension Latin America and Africa is going to watch a sporting event in an unfavourable time zone (except for the World Cup and the Olympics), and races in European afternoons are okay-to-well-timed to watch in the evening for the bulk of Asia (and even Western Australia, for that matter). South Australia is at GMT+10.5 this time of year, so even if you’re in East Asia, stages finish well before your workday ends - if you’re in China, that’s probably worse than the 11pm-ish finish of your average European race. So having races in Australia does little else than massively drive down both your potential and actual global TV audience compared to European races of similar stature. The TDU is important for keeping the sport going in Australia, but there is zero sense in trying to make the Australian calendar less peripheral than it is now.

 

[Squire]

I would say the TDU is perfect as it is. After months of no racing, almost anything is going to be enjoyable, so I don't mind the somewhat uninspiring routes. I like the chill vibe of the race as an aperitif for the season, and there's plenty of time to get used to seeing all the new jerseys. And if the race was too good, it would lessen the anticipation of the 'proper' races that come later. Not every race needs to be a RVV or Giro. The TDU also seems to be in a very healthy spot financially, so I don't think it really suffers from the relative lack of TV audience.

 

[Cookster15]

Virtually all the big sporting events being in either Europe or North America means that almost nobody in Europe, North America and by extension Latin America and Africa is going to watch a sporting event in an unfavourable time zone (except for the World Cup and the Olympics), and races in European afternoons are okay-to-well-timed to watch in the evening for the bulk of Asia (and even Western Australia, for that matter). South Australia is at GMT+10.5 this time of year, so even if you’re in East Asia, stages finish well before your workday ends - if you’re in China, that’s probably worse than the 11pm-ish finish of your average European race. So having races in Australia does little else than massively drive down both your potential and actual global TV audience compared to European races of similar stature. The TDU is important for keeping the sport going in Australia, but there is zero sense in trying to make the Australian calendar less peripheral than it is now.

I get all that and I agree with your last sentence. But I think there is a place for the TDU in its current January scheduling.

As I mentioned earlier, Formula 1 has races all over the world in every time zone - including Australia. Naturally F1 has massively bigger audiences and revenues but I think it’s good for cycling to aspire to greater global reach. It’s good for sponsors. The fact the TDU’s status has risen since its early days is proof the business case can work. Obviously some European based fans disagree and that fine. This is after all a place to share opinions.

What other professional racing occurs in January? As someone posted earlier, the TDU is a sign the long offseason is drawing to a close.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

What other professional racing occurs in January? As someone posted earlier, the TDU is a sign the long offseason is drawing to a close.

AlUla Tour (ew), the three Valencian one-day races (which overlap TDU), Challenge Mallorca, in some years GP La Marseillaise (this year it and the final Mallorcan leg are on Feb 1). So quite a bit actually.

And of course, San Luis/San Juan (IMO more important for globalisation) until recently.

 

[hayneplane]

TDU has improved massively from the early years dominated by Andre Greipel to the extent that the race was so sprint heavy he could win the GC with the time bonuses.

Now it’s a nice race for support riders and promising youngsters to get their chance at leadership in a world tour race and the nice to play before the big cats come out to play as Spring approaches.

 

[Berniece]

AlUla Tour (ew)

Always nice way they visualize the last kilometer on that specific mountain, where they fly along side the riders at a similar altitude

 

[yaco]

I'll never be the biggest fan of TDU, but it's hard to ignore the fact that the race is more prestigious and attractive now than in the years of endless Porte-Impey tussles.

Gotta say last year was a damp squid with Narvaez winning without once touching the wind. This is why I think they introduced a prologue for 2026.