Santos Tour Down Under Start List

[badboyberty]

I lived just next to the finish line of that stage and still ride it every week or so. I think it is more of a pure sprinters finish than for someone like Piti, but it will depend on how fit some of the riders are and how hard they race the circuit laps.


The hill is not that steep and not very long, it is also very straight and wide.

put 74 MtBarker Road Stirling into Googlemaps and you can see the finish hill.

I'm hoping a group will get away on Wickams and stay away till the finish. Definitely more a stage for a roulleur than a climber. If a strong group goes away I'd hope that LL Sanchez and Jack Bobridge are in it and they battle it out for the win. Or better yet, Tim Roe will get away with a small group and end up as the highest Aussie on GC.

However if last year's playbook is followed, a weak break will go early and be brought back after Handorf and Davis and Greipel will have a sprint off. At least the stage should be selective enough that some of the more gravity challenged sprinters will find their GC hopes left at the Echunga pub.

What I'm really hoping for is Graeme Brown to be dropped on Wickams and drop right out of contention for the overall, the less motivation he has to be near the front the safer it is for everyone.

 

[maltiv]

Alexander Kristoff not allowed to start the TDU because the UCI hasn't bothered to test him 4 times for the Biological passport (he doesn't have one as he was continental last year), thus they don't allow him to start, or do any races whatsoever before they have done it. So far they have done...0 tests.

Could take some time. UCI is amazing. No, really.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Alexander Kristoff not allowed to start the TDU because the UCI hasn't bothered to test him 4 times for the Biological passport (he doesn't have one as he was continental last year), thus they don't allow him to start, or do any races whatsoever before they have done it. So far they have done...0 tests.

Could take some time. UCI is amazing. No, really.

What a joke, Kristoff would good to watch as he is a young fast prospect in the sprint.

I lived just next to the finish line of that stage and still ride it every week or so. I think it is more of a pure sprinters finish than for someone like Piti, but it will depend on how fit some of the riders are and how hard they race the circuit laps.


The hill is not that steep and not very long, it is also very straight and wide.

put 74 MtBarker Road Stirling into Googlemaps and you can see the finish hill.

It looked like a hard uphill finish from last years coverage.but from google maps it doesn't look too hard. last year their were some time gaps on that stage.

 

[Big GMaC]

Alexander Kristoff not allowed to start the TDU because the UCI hasn't bothered to test him 4 times for the Biological passport (he doesn't have one as he was continental last year), thus they don't allow him to start, or do any races whatsoever before they have done it. So far they have done...0 tests.

Could take some time. UCI is amazing. No, really.

hmmm.... what about last year when Lance hadn't been done? Oh wait.

also f*** me is greipel and early horse/human clone experiment? those things are ridiculous!

 

[powderpuff]

I lived just next to the finish line of that stage and still ride it every week or so.

I am going to be at the TDU this year to watch; I won't have a car so what is the easiest way to get to Stirling to watch the race from Adelaide CBD, after watching the start of the stage? Is there a train, anywhere I can hire a bike to ride out? How far is it(most direct route)?
Also for Stage 5 the Willunga stage what is the best way(sans auto) to get to Willunga to watch the race?

 

[auscyclefan94]

hmmm.... what about last year when Lance hadn't been done? Oh wait.

also f*** me is greipel and early horse/human clone experiment? those things are ridiculous!

i know, lance gets special treatment but the issue with lance was changed due to Mike Tutur taking the issue up to the uci.

 

[badboyberty]

I am going to be at the TDU this year to watch; I won't have a car so what is the easiest way to get to Stirling to watch the race from Adelaide CBD, after watching the start of the stage? Is there a train, anywhere I can hire a bike to ride out? How far is it(most direct route)?
Also for Stage 5 the Willunga stage what is the best way(sans auto) to get to Willunga to watch the race?

you can get a "city bike" free bike rental from Bike SA on Franklin St. Just please make sure you get some photos taken of you riding a step-thru steel 3-speed up the old freeway and post them here so we can see...

Or you can get a bus from the city. I don't know where the bus stops in town are exactly but almost any bus route starting with an 8 will take you to Crafers or Stirling.

Best way to Willunga is probably by train to Noarlunga and then get on the bus from there to McLaren Vale. Then go into the bike shop across from the supermarket and hire a bike to get around on for the day.

 

[powderpuff]

you can get a "city bike" free bike rental from Bike SA on Franklin St. Just please make sure you get some photos taken of you riding a step-thru steel 3-speed up the old freeway and post them here so we can see...

Or you can get a bus from the city. I don't know where the bus stops in town are exactly but almost any bus route starting with an 8 will take you to Crafers or Stirling.

Best way to Willunga is probably by train to Noarlunga and then get on the bus from there to McLaren Vale. Then go into the bike shop across from the supermarket and hire a bike to get around on for the day.

Thanks for the info.
A three speed step thru... bewdy, i'll have to wind it up to win the sprint into Stirling, hope I can control the speed wobbles on the downhill.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Thanks for the info.
A three speed step thru... bewdy, i'll have to wind it up to win the sprint into Stirling, hope I can control the speed wobbles on the downhill.

While your in adelaide, can you please knock/push over Valverde as I really dispise the guy?

 

[powderpuff]

While your in adelaide, can you please knock/push over Valverde as I really dispise the guy?

Couldn't do that.. but I may have a word with the neutral service guys.
Like he must produce photo ID and $1000 security deposit before given a wheel change.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Couldn't do that.. but I may have a word with the neutral service guys.
Like he must produce photo ID and $1000 security deposit before given a wheel change.

The tables have been turned

 

[El Imbatido]

Couldn't do that.. but I may have a word with the neutral service guys.
Like he must produce photo ID and $1000 security deposit before given a wheel change.

Just pay the neutral service guys to say "Me no speak Spaneesh". Then have him hold out a wheel and say "Shimano 10 speed"

 

[badboyberty]

While your in adelaide, can you please knock/push over Valverde as I really dispise the guy?

The race is passing though McLaren Flat, home of the Scarpantoni, Vasarelli and Petrucci wine making families, maybe they can get Kangarilla Rd designated as Italian Territory for the day.

 

[clipperton]

sorry to go o/t but it looks like there's some folks who know their geography in here.
i'm coming over from melbourne for the tdu but am then scrambling back over the border to bright for the alpine classic so need to do a few rides to keep my legs warm and would appreciate any advice folks can give me.
i'm staying in brompton and was looking at the ride down to old willunga hill. it seems that the m2/a13 is quite a major road - is it reasonable to ride straight down there or is it better to go inland/coastal? is this reasonable without a garmin navigator hanging off the front of the bike?
as for other rides, is there any popular routes that folks can reccomend out in those lumpy spots to the east, ideally about 150kms for an out-and-back?
thanks in advance.

 

[badboyberty]

sorry to go o/t but it looks like there's some folks who know their geography in here.
i'm coming over from melbourne for the tdu but am then scrambling back over the border to bright for the alpine classic so need to do a few rides to keep my legs warm and would appreciate any advice folks can give me.
i'm staying in brompton and was looking at the ride down to old willunga hill. it seems that the m2/a13 is quite a major road - is it reasonable to ride straight down there or is it better to go inland/coastal? is this reasonable without a garmin navigator hanging off the front of the bike?
as for other rides, is there any popular routes that folks can reccomend out in those lumpy spots to the east, ideally about 150kms for an out-and-back?
thanks in advance.

Brompton to Willunga...

Easiest way (navigation and hills), head out onto South Rd and follow that till where it meets Marion Rd. On the right hand side of that intersection is the start of the Patrick Jonker Veloway that runs alongside the Southern Freeway. Even though it's a bike/shared-path it's not too bad on a road bike. Just follow that all the way through (turning right at the end of the Veloway onto the Marino-Willunga Rail trail) to McLaren Vale and then just cruise up Main Rd to Willunga.

For your Hills ride, I'd probably take a look at http://www.bikemap.net , if you can find something that heads out via Gorge Rd and the Corkscrew and comes back in using the Old SE Freeway you're probably onto an instant winner.

 

[hfer07]

out of curiosity-- Is LA being paid appearance fees again?

 

[Angliru]

I agree with publicus - shouldn't BMC have jersey number 11?

Is Alan Davis the defending champion? If so isn't it cycling tradition that the defending champ wears jersey #1?

 

[Angliru]

hmmm.... what about last year when Lance hadn't been done? Oh wait.

How could you forget that he's the most tested athlete in the history of sports?

 

[clipperton]

out of curiosity-- Is LA being paid appearance fees again?

given the man wakes up and demands an appearance fee from his mirror each day, yeah, he's getting paid.

thanks to badboyberty for the route advice.

 

[Polish]

Is Alan Davis the defending champion? If so isn't it cycling tradition that the defending champ wears jersey #1?

per the start list....

Davis #1
Lance #11
Cadel #21

Astana vs RadioShack....
Cadel vs Lance....
Specialized vs Trek...
Sprinters vs Sprinters

Can't wait.....hope I can watch the race on the interwebs.

 

[mherm79]

very strong starting list, can't wait to watch the race live, well worth the trip to Adelaide!

 

[Race Radio]

per the start list....

Davis #1
Lance #11
Cadel #21

Astana vs RadioShack....
Cadel vs Lance....
Specialized vs Trek...
Sprinters vs Sprinters

Can't wait.....hope I can watch the race on the interwebs.

Dude, it is JANUARY. Don't get too excited. Many months to go before a race that really matters.

 

[blackcat]

Dude, it is JANUARY. Don't get too excited. Many months to go before a race that really matters.

Tour of California that is

LEvi is my pick

 

[auscyclefan94]

I had a quick look on steephill, For the international (non aussies) their seems to be very limited coverage of the event. I had a quick look on steephill and doesn't look like their is too much of it. Some highlights and stages 0(down under classic), 5(wilunga), 6 (adelaide crit) aare shwn live in aus but that's it.

 

[Anonymous]

I had a quick look on steephill, For the international (non aussies) their seems to be very limited coverage of the event. I had a quick look on steephill and doesn't look like their is too much of it. Some highlights and stages 0(down under classic), 5(wilunga), 6 (adelaide crit) aare shwn live in aus but that's it.

Uk got highlights every day, and by the looks of it some stages live, but the tv guide is very very confusing.. Link to what has been worked out, and then link on that page to the full listings..

At the moment it looks like highlights of 0,1,2,3,4, and 5,6 both live.. At the moment no live coverage of the classic, but i will know for sure in the morning.