The Tour Down Under Just Got Interesting

[armstrong4ever]

At least the riders will be on form at the TOC the Tdu is just a training race for most of the riders.The TOC could do well if it didn't go up against the Giro.

It's the fastest growing bike race in the world. Within 5 years it's already televised in over 100 countries, more than the Giro 10 years ago.
The race is a succes, clashing with the Giro or not.

Hopefully in 2012 it will be 11 days, WorldTour race

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

Yessss, good news.

Sprinter showdown in January

Would like to see Cav leading out Goss or Renshaw. Giving back.
But I think this won't happen when Cav smells Greipel.

Farrar vs Greipel vs Cav vs Davis vs this Australian that is only fit in Australia vs perhaps Ciolek with a working leadout (no Milram damp-squib-leadout)

Not to sure about Ciolek....He moved to Quickstep didn't he? Don't know if they have the best lead-out available to send to Australia in January.

But you're right, Farrar, Cav, Greipel and perhaps Davis will be some battle. I'll be rooting for my man Mark

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

It's the fastest growing bike race in the world. Within 5 years it's already televised in over 100 countries, more than the Giro 10 years ago.
The race is a succes, clashing with the Giro or not.

Hopefully in 2012 it will be 11 days, WorldTour race

You sound a bit too obsessed with the TOC.
Sure, it's a big race, sure, it does get lots of attention.
But bigger than the Giro????
Just because Radioshack is still there and many Americans want to see their heroes perform does not make it better than the Second Biggest Race of cycling (and arguably the most exciting)!

And what 100 countries was the TOC televised in? I'm sure it was a lot but I doubt that number...

 

[Dettol]

as for all the victorians in this thread behaving like Stafford n Waldo, it's funny how you all rubbish the event yet still want it... tossers

We rubbish it because since it's in SA it's flat and boring. Otherwise if it was held in another state it may be actually interesting and have more attendence numbers.

 

[The Hitch]

And what 100 countries was the TOC televised in? I'm sure it was a lot but I doubt that number...

Theoretically any country which gets eurosport counts. Hey if i went on holiday to Nepal streamed a Eurosport video of a TOC sprint, it would count as a country. I think Krebs might even single handidly represent Mexico on some races.

Seriously though this is an issue on which most of the forum agrees. It gets annoying when people spout crap about TOC and how its fighting the Giro.

They think theyve hit a nail when they say "Giro is so hard, all the TDF contenders will to the TOC instead".
Fact is, last year only 3 of the TDF top 10 did the TOC. 1 of them got to the top 10 by a few seconds thanks to a 10 minute breakaway, another finished 7th after the performance of his life, and the 3rd was Andy Schleck whose presence at the TOC had nothing to do with bike racing.

 

[theyoungest]

It's the fastest growing bike race in the world. Within 5 years it's already televised in over 100 countries, more than the Giro 10 years ago.
The race is a succes, clashing with the Giro or not.

Hopefully in 2012 it will be 11 days, WorldTour race

It's televised, but do people watch it? No, they don't.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Can't say the top sprinters in the world are there if Graeme Brown is missing (at least according to Brown)

To be fair, his hissy fits and crash-causing is more likely to entertain than anything else outside of Willunga in this bore.

You know you are the worst pt race when the announcement that 3 boring sprinters will contest several boring sprint stages, suddenly makes the race interesting.

This race, alongside Niedersachsen and Missouri, are among the most loathsome of them all. At least this one has Willunga.

indeed.

blah, sprinting just isn't entertaining racing. The TDU is by far the most boring PT race.

If anything, cav's inclusion makes things less interesting. yawn.

This, but doubly so.

Yeah. 4 hours of racing just to see who can sprint the final 300m the fastest = real excitement.

Mm-mmm, I love the smell of tedium in the morning.

Willunga hill is a poor excuse for a hill in a cycling race.

Even if Cav is not in his peak, he should still get up there and preserve his lead. He will have the team riding tempo for him.

Willunga isn't too bad for a climb at that point in the year. It can break up the field. The problem is that the finish is back in town, meaning they have a fair bit of flat, descent and more flat to the finish. If they finished at the base of the descent, it could make the race 10x more fun because the sprinters' teams wouldn't have as long to catch anybody escaping which would make an escape like last year's actually have a chance of making a decisive contribution to the race rather than time bonuses being the sole deciding factor.

So it's a bit of a sprinter's tour. So what? There are plenty of tours around for the mountain climbers. You know, those tours that you don't win unless you weigh 63kgs. That can get a bit boring too.

But the problem is not that it's a sprinter's race. It's that a) the sprinters don't really have to work outside of one hill to win - little wind, no dirt, no hills... if the teams have worked and the sprinters triumph, fine. But it's a parade rather than a race. And yes, there are plenty of tours for the mountain climbers. But those don't involve pelotão compacto with the break a minute ahead for hours on end before the final 200m - so instead of ten seconds of excitement you get half an hour. Massive tradeoff.

The only thing that will make the tdu entertaining is some decent uphill finishes. Top of Willunga Hill finish would be interesting...

Disagree. You could put the finish on a descent, as said above. The finish definitely has to be closer to the hill though.

So there aren't allowed to be any sprinters races? Silly attitude...I guess we should change every sprinters stage into a mountain stage in a GT but it is "exciting".

Not every stage. But a race in which 5 out of 6 stages are guaranteed bunch sprints is a waste of everybody's time.

It is a sprinters race. Sprinters deserve there race and the riders don't want it to hard so you knockers of the tour down under can get lost because the race is what it is and the riders don't want it too hard. The wilunga stage was very exciting stage this year so I would hardly call it an excuse. The people also love this race and if you saw the crowds, they were amazing. Wilunga Hill (yes it is only 3.5km) this year was very reminscent of the tdf mtn stages with tonnes of passionate cycling fans and people running in their underwear alongside the riders.

I know people don't want it too hard - but that doesn't mean you should make it a walkover. The Tour de San Luís and the Giro della Provinzia di Reggio Calabria are both in January and have more interesting parcours, doesn't stop people showing up. You don't have to make it ultra tough, just make use of exposed windy roads, dirt roads or rough surfaces, a handful of small hills (you wouldn't even need to ADD any, just put the ones there already are closer to the finish to make attacking late on seem more worth it and give the classics riders a chance to get a bit of a runout). As it is, the whole péloton can virtually sleepwalk to the base of Willunga.

Good startlist? Wait till you see the startlist of ToC. It will be outstanding and much better than this.

Yea, and none of those guys will give a good god damn either.

I'm fine with the notion that 'sprinters deserve their races as well'. Just don't claim it is gonna be entertaining.. cause it wont.

I love cycling, but I'm not excited for this just because this is the first race back. I'd rather be at work and make some money then watch this bore.
I'll see all the fireworks in the 10 second replay on the news anyway.

This.

Races made for sprinters are fine, as long as the sprinters are made to work for their wins. That means either some hills or some crosswinds.

I think the Willunga stage last year was quite good from the last ascent to the finish. One other stage had some hills near the end, but not enough to split the field. All other stages had no content until the sprint.

+1.

 

[Anonymous]

It's the fastest growing bike race in the world. Within 5 years it's already televised in over 100 countries, more than the Giro 10 years ago.
The race is a succes, clashing with the Giro or not.

Hopefully in 2012 it will be 11 days, WorldTour race

The tour of Oman was televised in that many counties in its first year.. So, erm, I dont really know what Im saying. Tour of Oman is better than the Tour of California?

And besides, the fastest growing race in the world is Montepaschi Strade Bianchi, thats gone from nothing to a semi classic in just a few years

 

[Christian]

So we have boonen, farrar, mcewen, cavendish, greipel and davis with probably hensderson, sutton and some others all in the same field!!!!

Maybe Bennati too

 

[maltiv]

And besides, the fastest growing race in the world is Montepaschi Strade Bianchi, thats gone from nothing to a semi classic in just a few years

Should be growing faster, considering how awesome it is. Hopefully we'll get a rainy edition next year!

 

[auscyclefan94]

To be fair, his hissy fits and crash-causing is more likely to entertain than anything else outside of Willunga in this bore.

This race, alongside Niedersachsen and Missouri, are among the most loathsome of them all. At least this one has Willunga.

This, but doubly so.

Mm-mmm, I love the smell of tedium in the morning.

Willunga isn't too bad for a climb at that point in the year. It can break up the field. The problem is that the finish is back in town, meaning they have a fair bit of flat, descent and more flat to the finish. If they finished at the base of the descent, it could make the race 10x more fun because the sprinters' teams wouldn't have as long to catch anybody escaping which would make an escape like last year's actually have a chance of making a decisive contribution to the race rather than time bonuses being the sole deciding factor.

But the problem is not that it's a sprinter's race. It's that a) the sprinters don't really have to work outside of one hill to win - little wind, no dirt, no hills... if the teams have worked and the sprinters triumph, fine. But it's a parade rather than a race. And yes, there are plenty of tours for the mountain climbers. But those don't involve pelotão compacto with the break a minute ahead for hours on end before the final 200m - so instead of ten seconds of excitement you get half an hour. Massive tradeoff.

Disagree. You could put the finish on a descent, as said above. The finish definitely has to be closer to the hill though.

Not every stage. But a race in which 5 out of 6 stages are guaranteed bunch sprints is a waste of everybody's time.


I know people don't want it too hard - but that doesn't mean you should make it a walkover. The Tour de San Luís and the Giro della Provinzia di Reggio Calabria are both in January and have more interesting parcours, doesn't stop people showing up. You don't have to make it ultra tough, just make use of exposed windy roads, dirt roads or rough surfaces, a handful of small hills (you wouldn't even need to ADD any, just put the ones there already are closer to the finish to make attacking late on seem more worth it and give the classics riders a chance to get a bit of a runout). As it is, the whole péloton can virtually sleepwalk to the base of Willunga.


Yea, and none of those guys will give a good god damn either.

This.

+1.

Are you comparing the field of the tour de san luis or the Giro della Provinzia di Reggio Calabria to the tour down under field?

 

[El Pistolero]

Fastest growing race is the Clasica de San Sebastian.

Monte Paschi Eroica or whatever it's called nowadays fastest growing? In your dreams, it's a great race that sadly doesn't get enough attention.

It should be a 6th monument. Or the fifth, just dump Milan-San Remo already =D

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Are you comparing the field of the tour de san luis or the Giro della Provinzia di Reggio Calabria to the tour down under field?

It's not as good a field. But then, no top team HAS to go to either. But some still do. Nibali, Pozzato, Kolobnev, Rasmussen, Jackson Rodríguez, Francesco Chicchi, Serpa, Botero, Peña, Kiserlovski, Napolitano, Cheula, Valls, Gómez Marchante, Niemiec, Baliani and Ochoa all lined up in San Luís... not a bad lineup.

In the TDU, all the top teams MUST attend. It's no wonder that it's a bit skewed.

What I'm saying is, making a race that is tougher than the TDU currently is will not stop people attending. They won't attend if they make it really difficult, but San Luís is harder than the TDU is and still gets a decent field. Add the ProTour points and the organisational nous of the TDU guys and you'll still get a good field.

I also said, they don't need to make the race harder even - they just need to place some of the hills they already have near enough to the finish to open up an option, just the slimmest chance, for anything more than a bunch sprint. If you tempt people to form small groups and try to break up the sprint, then they'll do it, and you get unpredictability. If it still ends up in a bunch sprint, then so be it, but we'll have got there by a more interesting route than the race currently is at.

 

[cyclingfanatik]

I'd rank Greipel a big notch lower than Farrar on the Sprinters totem pole. The only way he beats Cav is if he gets lucky (read Cav makes a mistake) Not that I love Cav, i'm just saying. TDU will be a non-event for Greipel if Cav really cares about racing in it.

 

[Anonymous]

Fastest growing race is the Clasica de San Sebastian.

Monte Paschi Eroica or whatever it's called nowadays fastest growing? In your dreams, it's a great race that sadly doesn't get enough attention.

It should be a 6th monument. Or the fifth, just dump Milan-San Remo already =D

For me San Sebastian (sadly) gets lost a bit in the post tour come down. We usually miss it as we are still in mainland europe when its on.

Bianci has gone from the autumn date to its rightful place in the spring, and considering its only 4 years old draws a great startlist, and has had four pretty damn good winners. The Eroica stage in the Giro has done it no harm at all and of course the giro goes back there next year.

anyway, im going well off topic.

 

[ingsve]

Fastest growing race is the Clasica de San Sebastian.

Monte Paschi Eroica or whatever it's called nowadays fastest growing? In your dreams, it's a great race that sadly doesn't get enough attention.

It should be a 6th monument. Or the fifth, just dump Milan-San Remo already =D

No way. To me it seems that San Sebastian had more attention and prestige to it when it was a World Cup race. Since the Pro Tour was introduced it has faded in my opinion and in no way can it be said to be growing.

And there are lots of other races I would call a 6th monument ahead of San Sebastian.

 

[lucybears]

For me San Sebastian (sadly) gets lost a bit in the post tour come down. We usually miss it as we are still in mainland europe when its on.

If riders from the Tour can get there in time to race, Fans should also

 

[royalpig180]

I'd rank Greipel a big notch lower than Farrar on the Sprinters totem pole. The only way he beats Cav is if he gets lucky (read Cav makes a mistake) Not that I love Cav, i'm just saying. TDU will be a non-event for Greipel if Cav really cares about racing in it.

I'm not convinced that we've got enough evidence to say that Cav's that much better than Greipel. I would personally tend to agree with you and expect Greipel to be pretty much on a par with Farrar with Cav being the best. But we need to see them race head to head before when can jump to that conclusion. Even comparing their results against similar sprinters cannot acheive this comparison because different sprints demand different tactics and people come in and out of form. I for one can't wait to see them duke it out in January.

 

[Hoop Dogg]

To everyone who is saying it's boring too flat etc.

If you were to put proper hills (mountains) in a stage race in 35 degree heat in the middle of January how many riders would u expect to show up?? It's one of the very first races of the season!

Take it for what it is. A race to ease everyone into the long season ahead, and a chance for the sprinters to have a semi hitout before MSR. Plus it's a good opportunity for us aussie fans to see some of the worlds best in our little corner of the (cycling) world.

Please don't carry on like the yanks in pretending to be something we're not.

 

[Ferminal]

To everyone who is saying it's boring too flat etc.

If you were to put proper hills (mountains) in a stage race in 35 degree heat in the middle of January how many riders would u expect to show up?? It's one of the very first races of the season!

Take it for what it is. A race to ease everyone into the long season ahead, and a chance for the sprinters to have a semi hitout before MSR. Plus it's a good opportunity for us aussie fans to see some of the worlds best in our little corner of the (cycling) world.

Please don't carry on like the yanks in pretending to be something we're not.

You don't need mountains, all you need is some sort of uphill gradient in the last 10km or something which may break the field up and avoid the inevitable sprint.

 

[flicker]

To everyone who is saying it's boring too flat etc.

If you were to put proper hills (mountains) in a stage race in 35 degree heat in the middle of January how many riders would u expect to show up?? It's one of the very first races of the season!

Take it for what it is. A race to ease everyone into the long season ahead, and a chance for the sprinters to have a semi hitout before MSR. Plus it's a good opportunity for us aussie fans to see some of the worlds best in our little corner of the (cycling) world.

Please don't carry on like the yanks in pretending to be something we're not.

With beer anything is possible. In the former brit penal colony I should think beer and grog should be allowed in the bindons at over 25o. Bring on the Ayers rock TT/

 

[flicker]

I'd rank Greipel a big notch lower than Farrar on the Sprinters totem pole. The only way he beats Cav is if he gets lucky (read Cav makes a mistake) Not that I love Cav, i'm just saying. TDU will be a non-event for Greipel if Cav really cares about racing in it.

Unless Cav and HTC are paid off Cav. will make Griepel cry some serious tears, not crocidille tears.

 

[mulletCobra]

So the "top three" sprinters are showing up to a charity ride.. Big deal?

 

[auscyclefan94]

You don't need mountains, all you need is some sort of uphill gradient in the last 10km or something which may break the field up and avoid the inevitable sprint.

well the stirling stage is a good example of that and i think they could have another stage like that one.

It's not as good a field. But then, no top team HAS to go to either. But some still do. Nibali, Pozzato, Kolobnev, Rasmussen, Jackson Rodríguez, Francesco Chicchi, Serpa, Botero, Peña, Kiserlovski, Napolitano, Cheula, Valls, Gómez Marchante, Niemiec, Baliani and Ochoa all lined up in San Luís... not a bad lineup.

In the TDU, all the top teams MUST attend. It's no wonder that it's a bit skewed.

What I'm saying is, making a race that is tougher than the TDU currently is will not stop people attending. They won't attend if they make it really difficult, but San Luís is harder than the TDU is and still gets a decent field. Add the ProTour points and the organisational nous of the TDU guys and you'll still get a good field.

I also said, they don't need to make the race harder even - they just need to place some of the hills they already have near enough to the finish to open up an option, just the slimmest chance, for anything more than a bunch sprint. If you tempt people to form small groups and try to break up the sprint, then they'll do it, and you get unpredictability. If it still ends up in a bunch sprint, then so be it, but we'll have got there by a more interesting route than the race currently is at.

You make some good points but having a finish on top of wilunga is not as easy as it sounds. It is very thick bush at the top of the climb and nothing is really at the top of the climb.

Here is a link of approxiamately the top of the climbs is and it's surroundings.
Wilunga Hill summit

 

[Dettol]

To everyone who is saying it's boring too flat etc.

If you were to put proper hills (mountains) in a stage race in 35 degree heat in the middle of January how many riders would u expect to show up?? It's one of the very first races of the season!

Take it for what it is. A race to ease everyone into the long season ahead, and a chance for the sprinters to have a semi hitout before MSR. Plus it's a good opportunity for us aussie fans to see some of the worlds best in our little corner of the (cycling) world.

Please don't carry on like the yanks in pretending to be something we're not.

Tasmania- it has hills and would be cooler in January.