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

[proffate]

Sprint was from 230-250 metres to go.

It was just barely over 200m, as best as I can tell from the video.

Also looked a little uphill, and Van Poppel was in an all out sprint for at least 200m before that. So it wasn't actually a long sprint but you could see why it felt like it to Welsford.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

For fans of maps here's the stage 2 map, and evidently Menglers Hill will be today's highlight. Also, highs today in Tanunda will be 32C in the afternoon.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Well done to Big Geraint Thomas, clearly the only person here who enjoyed his off-season.

Got to respect Thomas for giving the Mickey mouse races the attention they deserve

TDU used to be about seeing some kangaroos and lapping the applause from the fans in the sun, before going back to do your first serious training camp

Now guys are doing whole december training blocks just to aim for a 5th on GC in TDU so they get some uci points

Respect to gerant Thomas for staying true to the spirit of cycling and only caring about the biggest races. He take a stand against the woke point scoring nonsense

 

[Earns1985]

For fans of maps here's the stage 2 map, and evidently Menglers Hill will be today's highlight. Also, highs today in Tanunda will be 32C in the afternoon.

So question will be, if all sprinters survive the last ascent. And if not, if they can come back before the final.

I am thinking especially on Welsford here..

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Got to respect Thomas for giving the Mickey mouse races the attention they deserve

TDU used to be about seeing some kangaroos and lapping the applause from the fans in the sun, before going back to do your first serious training camp

Now guys are doing whole december training blocks just to aim for a 5th on GC in TDU so they get some uci points

Respect to gerant Thomas for staying true to the spirit of cycling and only caring about the biggest races. He take a stand against the weak point scoring nonsense

Yeah, G is all about the strong pint scoring at this time of year.

 

[tobydawq]

Got to respect Thomas for giving the Mickey mouse races the attention they deserve

TDU used to be about seeing some kangaroos and lapping the applause from the fans in the sun, before going back to do your first serious training camp

Now guys are doing whole december training blocks just to aim for a 5th on GC in TDU so they get some uci points

Respect to gerant Thomas for staying true to the spirit of cycling and only caring about the biggest races. He take a stand against the woke point scoring nonsense

Lol

 

[Unchained]

I say it every year, because it's always true,
super, super impressed with Australian National Team management, the 2 riders they sent up the road didn't disappoint!!
Great showing! Both guys really leaving it all on the road, every time you looked at them, 100% effort and worked great together, punished themselves!! Post race interview was a funny moment of self discovery.. Woman says " you guys are normally rivals, but worked great together today " both of them thinking , man I enjoyed that more than I thought, switched off the rivalry gene for the sake of the country!!
Tried something similar to a degree in the women's races..maybe to make it work one rider's name needs to be Marriage

 

[search]

only time they did Mengler's Hill from this "steep" side so far was 2014, I think - although with a different finish.

Greipel made it over there, guys like Viviani or Ewan not

Santos Tour Down Under 2014 Stage 1 results

Santos Tour Down Under 2014 Stage 1 from Nuriootpa to Angaston was won by Simon Gerrans before André Greipel and Steele Von Hoff. Simon Gerrans was leading the general classification.

www.procyclingstats.com

Usually TDU is a soft race, but I guess there is a chance that Welsford won't make it, yeah.

 

[Earns1985]

only time they did Mengler's Hill from this "steep" side so far was 2014, I think - although with a different finish.

Greipel made it over there, guys like Viviani or Ewan not

Santos Tour Down Under 2014 Stage 1 results

Santos Tour Down Under 2014 Stage 1 from Nuriootpa to Angaston was won by Simon Gerrans before André Greipel and Steele Von Hoff. Simon Gerrans was leading the general classification.

www.procyclingstats.com

Usually TDU is a soft race, but I guess there is a chance that Welsford won't make it, yeah.

Who could have an interest in making the race hard on the final climb?
Visma for Brennan, Lidl for Teutenberg?
Picnic PostNL (had to look up the new name ) for Lund Andresen?

 

[aruipksni]

i woke up early , so i watched the last 37km, and there was very little to see or enjoy from this stage, and the sprint wasn't much of a sprint to me.
and i haven't seen any kangaroo....
i hope for some better stages ahead.

 

[Cookster15]

Menglers Hill looks about 6km from the finish which is downhill. I think the sprinters will be in touch and Welsford will have too much power for the other sprinters.

But Stage 3 and Pound Reserve looks a different kettle of fish.

 

[Potomac]

I was reading the Inrng blog preview of this stage. He characterizes Menglers Hill as rarely troubling the sprinters.
Dammit.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Who could have an interest in making the race hard on the final climb?
Visma for Brennan, Lidl for Teutenberg?
Picnic PostNL (had to look up the new name ) for Lund Andresen?

IPT for Strong and Cofidis for Coquard really should have an interest here too. If it’s harder than expected, the likes of Narváez, Bettiol, Nerurkar and Lapeira could come into play.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I was reading the Inrng blog preview of this stage. He characterizes Menglers Hill as rarely troubling the sprinters.
Dammit.

I mean, it’s pretty much established at this point that 90% of cycling media are shockingly uninformed when it comes to race routes. Of the things I started taking seriously when I really got into cycling, those analyses were basically the first ones out.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

This is bloody awful, feel so bad for him after already a completely lost season to start your new year like this. He's Outkeldermanning Kelderman.

It's such a bummer to happen in the first race of the season, and looking at his recent history it seems like he spent more time in the hospital than on the road.

 

[Rockestar_33]

Menglers Hill looks about 6km from the finish which is downhill. I think the sprinters will be in touch and Welsford will have too much power for the other sprinters.

But Stage 3 and Pound Reserve looks a different kettle of fish.

3-5 will be for GC definitely

 

[Rockestar_33]

I like Corbin Strong for today's stage FWIW

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Lovely palm trees lining the streets on what looks like a sunny summer day in Australia - completely different from the cold and snowy spell we're currently experiencing in the States.

Terrific crowds and about 89km to go

 

[Unchained]

Fergus firing on all cylinders, other riders pedaling squares, disgraceful effort, just phoning it in!! 80k+ just let the Australian roll alone!! It's not going to work, that's not a mystery, pull through already!!

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Fergus firing on all cylinders, other riders pedaling squares, disgraceful effort, just phoning it in!! 80k+ just let the Australian roll alone!! It's not going to work, that's not a mystery, pull through already!!

Maybe they're saving their gas for another two passes of Menglers Hill, I dunno.

I love TDU's KOM jersey btw., love the light aquamarine green. Or is it seafoam green? No matter, it's lovely whatever it is.

 

[Unchained]

These young Australian riders are well prepared, good showing, and yes sea foam green looks super beautiful when you can ride like Browning!!
Yes there is a ton of well deserved tourism propaganda!! People living someplace freezing must be either thinking why they are not on vacation or are doing internet search for " South Australia cycling vacations ".. Those kangaroos ripping around through grape vines was awesome!!

 

[Tricycle Rider]

These young Australian riders are well prepared, good showing, and yes sea foam green looks super beautiful when you can ride like Browning!!
Yes there is a ton of well deserved tourism propaganda!! People living someplace freezing must be either thinking why they are not on vacation or are doing internet search for " South Australia cycling vacations ".. Those kangaroos ripping around through grape vines was awesome!!

Browning has been great, I'm impressed!

Nice photo finish for the sprinters in their battle for points, seems like they're having a good time.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Break caught, but it was fun while it lasted!

45km to go and one more go at Menglers Hill.

 

[saunaking]

did Phil Ligget die and really shitty AI is impersonating him?
He can't be well. He is soooo monotone
brutal

 

[Netserk]

Barely dropped a wounded wombat. What a whimper.