Tour Down Under 2026 (Men's, Jan. 20-25)

[Tim Cahill]

The prologue pogacar Samuel Watson should’ve been given top billing and gone off last, probably too fiddly for Vin€ and Plapp.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

FIORELLI

 

[Tim Cahill]

The raft of bread rolls and abundant foodstuffs at the rabobank dinner table has helped fiorelli become Miguel Indurain. The Italians had him on water and lettuce this whole time.

 

[Squire]

The raft of bread rolls and abundant foodstuffs at the rabobank dinner table has helped fiorelli become Miguel Indurain. The Italians had him on water and lettuce this whole time.

Gave him a bit more inertia to overcome in the turns, looks like.

 

[Squire]

I can see someone like Zijlaard overtaking Watson. People you wouldn't quite expect are getting pretty close. Seems like it's less windy, which might be playing a role.

 

[Cycling111]

I can see someone like Zijlaard overtaking Watson. People you wouldn't quite expect are getting pretty close. Seems like it's less windy, which might be playing a role.

One of those strange decisions by Ineos that their favorite is the only one who doesn't come out last.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Fiorelli and brennen fastest at the first checkpoint but neither in the top 10. Visma great pacing.

 

[Squire]

Sweeny gained almost 100 positions from split 1 to the finish. The opposite of Visma pacing.

 

[Cycling111]

Fiorelli's best time trial result wasn't even be 50th place. He was in the group with Einer Rubio and those cyclists who lose 1 minute in 10km of time trial.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The Italian horse (owner) is only just getting started. He will do crazy things this year.

 

[Tim Cahill]

The Italian horse (owner) is only just getting started. He will do crazy things this year.

T1 is the true indicator of condition, Henri-François Renard-Haquin is primed to prove all the doubters wrong this season.

 

[Cycling111]

Watson is very good at prologues; first despite having set out in worse wind conditions.

I expected a better result from Ivo.

The surprises were Fiorelli's first sector and Pithie's third place.

 

[Squire]

Watson is very good at prologues; first despite having set out in worse wind conditions.

While it was clearly a bit less wind later in the day, I'm not sure it made much difference. There wasn't really a clear pattern in the times, and the wind seemed to come from a direction where it kinda evened out. The route seemed to be a nice mix between power and technical ability. Cornering can't have mattered that much, cuz Vine pretty much kept up with Watson's time despite making a bit of a meal of some of the corners. Judging by the splits, all his time was lost on the dead straight first part.

 

[CXXC]

ineos jersey looks really good

I thought that is one viewers will either love or hate, I liked! It's always great to see teams new colours, imagine if a footy team rocked up for the new season in different colours?

Great win for Sam Watson.

 

[Squire]

It's always great to see teams new colours, imagine if a footy team rocked up for the new season in different colours?

No need to imagine.

Comparable to the fan backlash if Picnic did away with the 'Keep Challenging' stripes.

 

[Netserk]

decimals :

#	Rider	Time
1	WATSON Samuel	4.16,9
3	PITHIE Laurence	4.19,6
4	VINE Jay	4.20,92
6	SCHMID Mauro	4.21,39
12	FISHER-BLACK Finn	4.23,67
15	PLAPP Luke	4.24,65
23	NARVÁEZ Jhonatan	4.25,79
41	ZAMBANINI Edoardo	4.28,5
42	KRON Andreas	4.28,85
52	O'CONNOR Ben	4.30,4
54	ROMO Javier	4.30,9
63	SCHIFFER Anton	4.33,24
68	BUITRAGO Santiago	4.33,59
78	YATES Adam	4.35,38
96	STRONG Corbin	4.37,49
98	VAN EETVELT Lennert	4.37,68

 

[Berniece]

decimals :

#	Rider	Time
1	WATSON Samuel	4.16,9
3	PITHIE Laurence	4.19,6
4	VINE Jay	4.20,92
6	SCHMID Mauro	4.21,39
12	FISHER-BLACK Finn	4.23,67
15	PLAPP Luke	4.24,65
23	NARVÁEZ Jhonatan	4.25,79
41	ZAMBANINI Edoardo	4.28,5
42	KRON Andreas	4.28,85
52	O'CONNOR Ben	4.30,4
54	ROMO Javier	4.30,9
63	SCHIFFER Anton	4.33,24
68	BUITRAGO Santiago	4.33,59
78	YATES Adam	4.35,38
96	STRONG Corbin	4.37,49
98	VAN EETVELT Lennert	4.37,68

Unless they win with boni’s some can already be written off. Pithie was brought to help with the sprint and isn’t going for a GC result

 

[yaco]

While it was clearly a bit less wind later in the day, I'm not sure it made much difference. There wasn't really a clear pattern in the times, and the wind seemed to come from a direction where it kinda evened out. The route seemed to be a nice mix between power and technical ability. Cornering can't have mattered that much, cuz Vine pretty much kept up with Watson's time despite making a bit of a meal of some of the corners. Judging by the splits, all his time was lost on the dead straight first part.

First 30 riders and last 10 riders had favourable conditions. Think the group of Gautherat and Schmid would have just about with better conditions. Thirty minutes after the race there was no wind. Fancy Vernon to grab the ochre jersey tomorrow.