Tour Down Under - Stage 1: Mawson Lakes - Angaston, 138km

[theyoungest]

don't be so stupid. it's not webmaster. these guys get weight and measured at beginning of season and then these are put on website. that's why they fluctuate sometimes so according to website he is now 184 and 81 kg and last year he was 79kg

Of course the team knows his weight. But don't read too much into those numbers on the website. If you look at the pictures you can see that he's shed some weight. Now what do you believe, the website or reality.

 

[Tuarts]

Well other than cricket and afl in Australia I guess not many sports would find showing an event profitable of that's the case. What other sports are there that would be profitable?

Thing is, this is a PT race. Its ridiculous that anyone from the offical tv broadcaster to the UCI doesn't think there's something wrong with letting it only have a highlights package for half of the race. There's not even some sort of delayed coverage...

Now, I'm not one to be talking down the 'importance' of a WorldTour event, which so many seem fond to do but it has to work both ways. The UCI can't label an event as high ranking enough to earn more points than some races that have been around for longer and then fail to make sure there's decent coverage of it to the masses. You can't take any high ground if you only do haf a job.

 

[kurtinsc]

Thing is, this is a PT race. Its ridiculous that anyone from the offical tv broadcaster to the UCI doesn't think there's something wrong with letting it only have a highlights package for half of the race. There's not even some sort of delayed coverage...

Now, I'm not one to be talking down the 'importance' of a WorldTour event, which so many seem fond to do but it has to work both ways. The UCI can't label an event as high ranking enough to earn more points than some races that have been around for longer and then fail to make sure there's decent coverage of it to the masses. You can't take any high ground if you only do haf a job.

I like that the pro-tour has a relevant event in January, regardless of the media attention.

I really wish the Tour of California hadn't moved, and we could have a pro-tour TDU in January, followed by a pro-tour TOC in February to lead into the march races.

I know neither is bathed in media attention... but neither are other races in those spots on the calendar.

Now the TOC has moved... it's kind of useless.

 

[Anonymous]

Any highlights?

ANd im not talking about geo restricted ones, or sky. Im thinking proper internet highlights which anyone in the world can view on their browser.

Loads, sbs arent geo restricted (but very slow going up), teamskyfans are putting them up each day about 4pm on our site, youtube (tourdownunder) account goes up by about 9pm uk time on the day of the race, loads.

 

[jaylew]

Oh ffs not again. I thought the cancer classic came on a saturday and a day before the actual thing. By my count we should be on about stage3 by now.

THose ozzies really do take their time

You're not the only one. I thought this thing was going to start 2-3 days ago.

 

[Parrulo]

You're not the only one. I thought this thing was going to start 2-3 days ago.

ya me too XD

 

[Cobblestoned]

Only few hours till Omerta-Greipel nails them.
Ultimate sprintershowdown Down Under.

Can't wait....till live coverage starts on stage 5

 

[Parrulo]

so that means there will be no live stream?

 

[Sasquatch]

The TDU should scrap the cancer council classic.

They should instead use a small stage with the climb up Baw Baw on the Saturday - ranked one of the top five toughest climbs in the world.

The riders can transfer to Adelaide and start racing on Tuesday.

 

[insideout leadout]

Who will QS race for? Chicchi or Ciolek.....speed vs strength. Chicchi wears the first bib so I'll guess it's him.

 

[Cobblestoned]

so that means there will be no live stream?

Sorry. No stream.
Like in last years, only willunga stage 5 and stage 6 criterium are covered live.

It's not an optimal timezone so it's ok for me to wake up, have coffie and enjoy the highlights. At weekend it's ok, but it is dumb to stay up whole night for such a race anyway.

But I don't care.

http://www.steephill.tv/tour-down-under/#live

 

[Francois the Postman]

I did that for the Giro in an argument with Francois. Monte ZOncolan was the most talked about stage at that race followed by Laquilla followed by Mortirolo, but most of Laquillas talk took place after the stage.

The Tour had more posts per stage than the Giro. Well some stage had almost nothing, but the Tourmalet and Arenberg stages got more posts than any Giro stage.

The one reason I became a mod. I now have the awesome ability to delete posts 'til the numbers please me.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Who will QS race for? Chicchi or Ciolek.....speed vs strength. Chicchi wears the first bib so I'll guess it's him.

For today's hard finish Definetly Ciolek. If you read Brownie's appraisal of the route on CN he said it is tough. The final 3km profile is wrong.

The TDU should scrap the cancer council classic.

They should instead use a small stage with the climb up Baw Baw on the Saturday - ranked one of the top five toughest climbs in the world.

The riders can transfer to Adelaide and start racing on Tuesday.

I have an idea. Start the stage in thornton, climb up Lake Mountain, ride through Mcmahons creek, Warbuton, Yarra Junction, Noojee then baw Baw.
Lake Mountain Profile - the climb is a bit like Sierra nevada, not too steep but long.

Mt Baw Baw Profile

 

[Kevin Rudd's Hairdryer]

Only few hours till Omerta-Greipel nails them.
Ultimate sprintershowdown Down Under.

He wont get near the Columbia express. The Gossinator to rein supreme.

Apparently they are streaming race radio. I have been told to go to the TDU website and there should be a link but I cant find it!?!?!

 

[The Hitch]

The one reason I became a mod. I now have the awesome ability to delete posts 'til the numbers please me.

With my post count i pretty much have the same power

 

[Mambo95]

The TDU should scrap the cancer council classic.

They should instead use a small stage with the climb up Baw Baw on the Saturday - ranked one of the top five toughest climbs in the world.

The riders can transfer to Adelaide and start racing on Tuesday.

If they did that, then all the star names would just give it a miss and it would soon cease to exist through lack of sponsors and public interest.

It's an exhibition race for the fans. Nothing more. Keep it as it is.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Lets talk about the stage today now. Who's your tip?

I won't tip Kristoff so I will go.

1. Farrar
2. McEwen
3. Greipel

 

[Mambo95]

1. Cavendish
2. Farrar
3. McEwen

 

[insideout leadout]

1. Goss
2. Greipel
3. Ciolek (or Hendo)

I think Cav and Farrar will sit out today.

 

[Tugboat]

Not too much different from the other picks...

1. Greipel
2. Henderson
3. Goss

I just don't see Cav or Farrar being their sharpest at this time of year.

 

[insideout leadout]

I agree. They've got nothing to prove at this point of the season, and form matters in the early stages.

 

[The Hitch]

I agree. They've got nothing to prove at this point of the season, and form matters in the early stages.

As i said before, it wouldnt be too silly of Cav to go for stages here as its easy points for the Worlds. The more points he gets, the more riders he has at the worlds, and the more riders he has there, the better his chances.

TDU he has the chance for 5 stages + a PT WIN. Thats going to be worth a lot of points for GB. Its 6 months to the tour and 2 months till Milan San Remo so its not like hes sabotaging any other races, and the TDU is probably the easiest week long race on the planet. Hes going to be spending 7 days slipstreaming behind teammates on flats, and popping out for little sprints now and again.

He has nothing to lose and everything to gain by going for it.

Better to accumulate the points easily now, then scramble for them later in the season, in tougher races.

 

[ingsve]

1. Goss
2. Viviani
3. Hendo
4. Greipel
5. Kristoff

 

[insideout leadout]

That is a great observation regarding the points, I didn't read what you wrote about this before.

The question is whether Cav is as informed as you are about all this?

 

[krebs303]

He wont get near the Columbia express. The Gossinator to rein supreme.

Apparently they are streaming race radio. I have been told to go to the TDU website and there should be a link but I cant find it!?!?!

http://www.abc.net.au/adelaide/includes/winstream.asx