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

[Devil's Elbow]

Of course nowadays you sometimes even see people with quadruple surnames, when both parents insist on having both their names used. We're getting a bit too liberal with the naming customs for my taste. But most of those cases are maybe not old enough to be pro bike riders yet.

Now I'm imagining that, by the time I'm a senior citizen, there will be at least one Norwegian kid unfortunate enough to get saddled with 16 surnames.

 

[RedheadDane]

Now I'm imagining that, by the time I'm a senior citizen, there will be at least one Norwegian kid unfortunate enough to get saddled with 16 surnames.

When your name is basically your family-tree.

 

[Panda Claws]

Matthew Fox 8th, but clearly 5th fastest.

 

[Squire]

Well, there's nothing to be confused about regarding Danish names. It's very simple; it varies.

Here are a few examples using riders in this race:

For example, we have 'Andreas Lorentz Kron', who is referred to as just 'Kron'.
Then we have 'Tobias Lund Andresen', who is referred to as just 'Lund'.
There's also 'Anthon Charmig', who is referred to as just 'Charmig', because he only has those two names.
Finally there's 'Mikkel Norsgaard Bjerg', who is referred to as just 'Bjerg'. (Also, he's only had the name 'Norsgaard' since 2021.)

But all of these are consistent with Scandinavian or Danish naming customs. So names can still be explained. No confusion needed if you know the customs (which admittedly are way more varied than, say, Spanish names).

Kron has double first name, like f.ex. Jean Marie in French. Or Kurt Asle in Norwegian.

Lund has the weird Danish patronym at the end, which is what I referred to when contrasting with Norwegian names. Seems like a lot of Danes have it. Søren Kragh, for example. Or Magnus Cort. It's extremely rarely used in Norway, and in the very rare cases where it is, it's before the actual surname as opposed to after it.

Charmig just has one surname, presumably his father's name, which is still very common in Norway too.

Bjerg has two surnames, probably one from each parent. So it's similar to Martin Urianstad Bugge. Or Tobias Halland Johannesen (where Johannesen is not a patronym but a normal surname that originated as a patronym in the 1800s when everyone were required to have a surname. That part could be confusing I guess. But actual patronyms are so rare in Norway that they can basically be disregarded).

Edit: Okay, so if Bjerg only has had Norsgaard since 2021, it has to be his wife's name. Which is also a normal way to get two surnames, although it's not as common for the man to change/add to his name as it is for the wife.

 

[claude cat]

Hearing this, anyone confirm?
—
Due to heat tomorrow....earlier start at Brighton (10.10am) and removing all Willunga Hill sections. Race will finish at the same place as the women’s race (top pub).

 

[Rockestar_33]

Hearing this, anyone confirm?
—
Due to heat tomorrow....earlier start at Brighton (10.10am) and removing all Willunga Hill sections. Race will finish at the same place as the women’s race (top pub).

Confirmed. GC battle done

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Hearing this, anyone confirm?
—
Due to heat tomorrow....earlier start at Brighton (10.10am) and removing all Willunga Hill sections. Race will finish at the same place as the women’s race (top pub).

It was officially confirmed half an hour ago. At least it happened in an edition that was already over GC wise.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014608451851468903

 

[Squire]

It was officially confirmed half an hour ago. At least it happened in an edition that was already over GC wise.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014608451851468903

Damn. One of my least favourite things about this sport, this. At least there's no need to get up early tomorrow.

 

[stefank]

I've been in Adelaide on a day when it was 44 degrees, and opening the door to go outside felt like opening an oven door. So while it's s sad decision, I think that it's fully justified.

 

[Squire]

I've been in Adelaide on a day when it was 44 degrees, and opening the door to go outside felt like opening an oven door. So while it's s sad decision, I think that it's fully justified.

I don't think riders having to ride in the heat is part of the reason for the course change though. It's purely the bushfire risk, isn't it?

 

[ingsve]

FFB is one of the most overrated riders. He's always struggled on climbs, but they still see him as a contender on climbing stages.

I guess it comes from the climbs he did in 2024 in Alula Tour and Oman. He did really well in two relatively short but very steep climbs. On top of that he was also 3rd on both the Uraidla and Willunga stages last season so expecting him to compete on the same stages this season is not really a stretch.

 

[stefank]

I don't think riders having to ride in the heat is part of the reason for the course change though. It's purely the bushfire risk, isn't it?

Based on the relevant parts of this news report, it's rider safety: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-23/sam-welsford-wins-tour-down-under-stage-three/106261424

 

[Tim Cahill]

You need a couple of riders like Ben Swift in your team.

 

[ingsve]

Now I'm imagining that, by the time I'm a senior citizen, there will be at least one Norwegian kid unfortunate enough to get saddled with 16 surnames.

And out of the 16 three names will be the same but with different spellings.

 

[ingsve]

So with the exclusion of Willunga, does that make the stage pancake flat? And in that case I'm guessing Bugge has already practically secured the mountains jersey.

 

[tobydawq]

Based on the relevant parts of this news report, it's rider safety: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-23/sam-welsford-wins-tour-down-under-stage-three/106261424

Yes, because it's dangerous to ride around in a bushfire...

 

[ingsve]

Hmm, stage 5 is that basically the same finish as they had in stage 2 in 2020 which ended in a bunch sprint? So that stage is also not likely to be decisive for GC at all?

 

[RedheadDane]

But all of these are consistent with Scandinavian or Danish naming customs. So names can still be explained. No confusion needed if you know the customs (which admittedly are way more varied than, say, Spanish names).

Kron has double first name, like f.ex. Jean Marie in French. Or Kurt Asle in Norwegian.

Lund has the weird Danish patronym at the end, which is what I referred to when contrasting with Norwegian names. Seems like a lot of Danes have it. Søren Kragh, for example. Or Magnus Cort. It's extremely rarely used in Norway, and in the very rare cases where it is, it's before the actual surname as opposed to after it.

Charmig just has one surname, presumably his father's name, which is still very common in Norway too.

Bjerg has two surnames, probably one from each parent. So it's similar to Martin Urianstad Bugge. Or Tobias Halland Johannesen (where Johannesen is not a patronym but a normal surname that originated as a patronym in the 1800s when everyone were required to have a surname. That part could be confusing I guess. But actual patronyms are so rare in Norway that they can basically be disregarded).

Edit: Okay, so if Bjerg only has had Norsgaard since 2021, it has to be his wife's name. Which is also a normal way to get two surnames, although it's not as common for the man to change/add to his name as it is for the wife.

Lund, Cort, and Kragh have "patronyms" in the same way the Halland Johannesen have; surnames that originated as patronyms.

And Bjerg does indeed have Norsgaard from his wife, you might have heard about her; won a stage in the TdFF back in 2023.

 

[Cycling111]

So, will it be a stage for sprinters?

 

[search]

Hmm, stage 5 is that basically the same finish as they had in stage 2 in 2020 which ended in a bunch sprint? So that stage is also not likely to be decisive for GC at all?

I think Stirling has pretty much always been a sprint, yeah, although not a full bunch sprint. Ewan still had a great uphill kick back then.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

To be honest if they need to cancel because of a bushfire that's fine, but it makes me want to go full jancouver.

You fly a whole entourage across the world for 4-5 weeks so they can do these small Australian races and then there's barely any racing that happens. But then the races are somehow WT so they get the same points as doing Paris nice. Ridiculous. And they stop because of bushfires, but they keep flying riders round the world for races in far corners which just keeps causing more bushfires.

 

[yaco55]

Its the same finish as the women's stage one. Thought this was a nailed on break before they changed the stage. Still a chance for the break because the peleton may be disinclined to chase. I stated after stage one that Welsford was the fastest which he proved today.

 

[tobydawq]

Its the same finish as the women's stage one. Thought this was a nailed on break before they changed the stage. Still a chance for the break because the peleton may be disinclined to chase. I stated after stage one that Welsford was the fastest which he proved today.

How could you have stated that if this is your first post ever?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

How could you have stated that if this is your first post ever?

Presumably because @yaco has had to re-register for some reason, or has signed in to an old account by mistake.

 

[Netserk]

But all of these are consistent with Scandinavian or Danish naming customs. So names can still be explained. No confusion needed if you know the customs (which admittedly are way more varied than, say, Spanish names).

Kron has double first name, like f.ex. Jean Marie in French. Or Kurt Asle in Norwegian.

Lund has the weird Danish patronym at the end, which is what I referred to when contrasting with Norwegian names. Seems like a lot of Danes have it. Søren Kragh, for example. Or Magnus Cort. It's extremely rarely used in Norway, and in the very rare cases where it is, it's before the actual surname as opposed to after it.

Charmig just has one surname, presumably his father's name, which is still very common in Norway too.

Bjerg has two surnames, probably one from each parent. So it's similar to Martin Urianstad Bugge. Or Tobias Halland Johannesen (where Johannesen is not a patronym but a normal surname that originated as a patronym in the 1800s when everyone were required to have a surname. That part could be confusing I guess. But actual patronyms are so rare in Norway that they can basically be disregarded).

Edit: Okay, so if Bjerg only has had Norsgaard since 2021, it has to be his wife's name. Which is also a normal way to get two surnames, although it's not as common for the man to change/add to his name as it is for the wife.

our naming customs are very liberal nowadays

usually, riders will (and commentators will assume to) use their middle name if their surname is a patronym to stand out more. likewise for politicians, other sportsmen etc.

but no one uses graungaard for julius johansen

and our most famous actor doesnt use dittmann