Tour Down Under 2025 - Men's (Jan. 21-26)

[Netserk]

Romo... Maybe it wasn't as stupid as it seemed. He couldn't have beaten Narváez in the sprint. But a solo from the bottom was probably a bit much.

With the splits before the climb, I think he'd have pulled it off if Plapp wasn't Plapp.

It annoyed me greatly just how well they served it for Narvaez, even opening a gap for him in the sprint well in advance of the turn (Romo did well to move up beside him so that he had to wait for Plapp to open a gap along the barriers).

 

[Ilmaestro99]

FFB looked the fastest at the end, too late for him though. Narvaez similar level as last year but race circumstances have been favourable and he’s clearly been watching old Roglic tapes from the archives.

He's even copying roglic interview technique, says absolutely nothing of substance

 

[pastronef]

He is taking the old school approach that January races are pre season events purely there to get some kilometres into the legs and shed a bit of winter weight.

It is quite impressive how someone barely pack fodder at their late career base level can still peak well enough to podium a grand tour.

and for 3 years in a row. he knows himself, he can plan his form, old school, not the new gen going big from spring to autumn.
once he retires an era will end.

 

[Potomac]

and for 3 years in a row. he knows himself, he can plan his form, old school, not the new gen going big from spring to autumn.
once he retires an era will end.

an "era" for him? In whose mind?

 

[Tymek]

Narvaez is very impressive. Great performance throughout all stages.

 

[Squire]

It annoyed me greatly just how well they served it for Narvaez, even opening a gap for him in the sprint well in advance of the turn (Romo did well to move up beside him so that he had to wait for Plapp to open a gap along the barriers).

I don't think there was a way in which Narvaez would not have won that.

 

[pastronef]

an "era" for him? In whose mind?

he was the first Sky rider to wear a TDF leader jersey (white jersey 2010) he's the last one of those Sky years. TDF winner, Olympic champion. the last rider of the Sky era

 

[Potomac]

he was the first Sky rider to wear a TDF leader jersey (white jersey 2010) he's the last one of those Sky years. TDF winner, Olympic champion. the last rider of the Sky era

I would argue Egan Bernal's crash was the end of the Sky/Ineos era. Of course if Bernal goes on to greater glory then you might argue he started a new era. Thomas was certainly a part of the Sky era, but not a bookend.

 

[tobydawq]

he was the first Sky rider to wear a TDF leader jersey (white jersey 2010) he's the last one of those Sky years. TDF winner, Olympic champion. the last rider of the Sky era

Yeah, I think it's quite fair to call him an era-defining rider. He is the only one to have ridden for them since their inception.

 

[Berniece]

I don't think there was a way in which Narvaez would not have won that.

Plapp not chasing after Roma?

 

[Rockestar_33]

McEwan talking about the wine, the tempranillo , has me searching the house for a bottle. I'm sure I don't have have australian, but there must be some chianti about.

Fantastic drop from that region

 

[Rockestar_33]

Don't see how team tactics allow for a Vine victory (and he hasn't looked great either). Think the sprinty types, like Narvaez, should be the favourites with the headwind. Narvaez wins the race if he wins the stage, even if Romo is not gapped. I expect FFB and Onley to be good as well.

Very good call. A shame that today is basically a procession stage. Don't think it's necessary for a race like this, a stage that encompasses Corkscrew or Mt Lofty would be better IMO

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Very good call. A shame that today is basically a procession stage. Don't think it's necessary for a race like this, a stage that encompasses Corkscrew or Mt Lofty would be better IMO

As I understand it, it will be the last time that this course, which has featured in almost every edition since 2001, is going to be used in the race.

 

[Rockestar_33]

As I understand it, it will be the last time that this course, which has featured in almost every edition since 2001, is going to be used in the race.

Good. I don't mind having 2-3 sprint days in it but I'd love a 7th stage for an ITT, whether that be a prologue or a longer one, and another GC day.

A 25 km ITT to finish this one would have been very interesting, Plapp vs Sheffield would have been an awesome sight to compare.

 

[search]

Good. I don't mind having 2-3 sprint days in it but I'd love a 7th stage for an ITT, whether that be a prologue or a longer one, and another GC day.

A 25 km ITT to finish this one would have been very interesting, Plapp vs Sheffield would have been an awesome sight to compare.

the problem are the time trial bikes, I guess. It costs a lot of money to bring those to Australia.

But yeah, a bit of a change doesn't hurt. I wouldn't even mind them to go for a route a sprinter can win on every now and then again.

 

[Tim Cahill]

El Patron Juanpe has been kicked out!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1883286234296148164

The peloton should not race and come across the line together like Cancellara used to have them doing in protest.

 

[stefank]

El Patron Juanpe has been kicked out!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1883286234296148164

The peloton should not race and come across the line together like Cancellara used to have them doing in protest.

One of the bottles he received yesterday (from neutral service if I remember correctly) was by far the most sticky bottle of all the sticky bottles that I have ever seen.

 

[Rockestar_33]

the problem are the time trial bikes, I guess. It costs a lot of money to bring those to Australia.

But yeah, a bit of a change doesn't hurt. I wouldn't even mind them to go for a route a sprinter can win on every now and then again.

Nah. I want to see the likes of Remco, Tadej, Primoz and Jonas come out here at some point, you have Renewi as a "sprinter GC" race, no need for a second. Plus the CEGORR is generally a sprinters classic rather than a puncheurs

 

[Netserk]

Nah. I want to see the likes of Remco, Tadej, Primoz and Jonas come out here at some point, you have Renewi as a "sprinter GC" race, no need for a second. Plus the CEGORR is generally a sprinters classic rather than a puncheurs

Australia has a better chance to host the Eurovision Song Contest.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Nah. I want to see the likes of Remco, Tadej, Primoz and Jonas come out here at some point, you have Renewi as a "sprinter GC" race, no need for a second. Plus the CEGORR is generally a sprinters classic rather than a puncheurs

2 of them already did

 

[Tim Cahill]

One of the bottles he received yesterday (from neutral service if I remember correctly) was by far the most sticky bottle of all the sticky bottles that I have ever seen.

This one

https://twitter.com/x/status/1883275380293079531

It was... a touch on the long side yes. Not sure what neutral service are doing there.

 

[Rockestar_33]

Australia has a better chance to host the Eurovision Song Contest.

Doesn't mean I can't still want it to happen.

2 of them already did

Once apiece in their first year of being in the pro peloton. I think this is also a race that's missing from both their palmares

 

[Samu Cuenca]

the problem are the time trial bikes, I guess. It costs a lot of money to bring those to Australia.

But yeah, a bit of a change doesn't hurt. I wouldn't even mind them to go for a route a sprinter can win on every now and then again.

They could just use road bikes like they did on the prologue two years ago. Also, I must have played too much PCM with fantasy stages, cause I was sure there had actually been a Willunga ITT in the past.

With six stages, they should always make it hard enough for a non-sprinter to win it, but I wouldn't mind seeing the sprinters have a better chance of winning that they have now, in some editions that is.

 

[stefank]

This one

https://twitter.com/x/status/1883275380293079531

It was... a touch on the long side yes. Not sure what neutral service are doing there.

That's the one I remembered.

 

[yaco]

Good. I don't mind having 2-3 sprint days in it but I'd love a 7th stage for an ITT, whether that be a prologue or a longer one, and another GC day.

A 25 km ITT to finish this one would have been very interesting, Plapp vs Sheffield would have been an awesome sight to compare.

You are never having a 25 ITT to fit in with the current parcours. Where the TDU is missing out is a few one week stage races have one day 1.1 races before the stage race. The TDU has the Schawbe criterium which could be reconfigured to a one day race like the Figeroa Classic or Muscat Classic.