Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Unley to Stirling, 129km

[auscyclefan94]

Thursday 20 January 2011

Start Time: 11am (King William Road, Unley)

Skoda King of the Mountain: Germantown Hill

Jayco Sprint Locations: McLaren Flat and Echunga

Feed Station: Stirling Oval

Finish Time: 2.34pm

UPDATE:STAGE 3 PREVIEW

Weather: 36oC

Past Winners
2010: Manuel Cardoso
2009: Allan Davis

 

[Ferminal]

They should go around the Stirling loop a couple more times to rule out more of the sprinters.

Goss, Davis, Henderson or Matthews for the win. What about Robbie? Very similar finish to his ENECO win.

Once again the 3km profile is stupid due to the Y-axis values. We know its an uphill final and the profile looks like 80m or so over the last 1.75km but impossible to get anything accurate.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

It's strange how the last 3km profile never seems to fit the stage profile... (3the day on a row)

edit: the Y-axis thing Ferminal says does make some sens

 

[theyoungest]

This is the stage Manuel Cardoso won last year, right? If so, Goss FTW. McEwen and Matthews will be close.

 

[maltiv]

1. Matthew Goss
2. Ben Swift
3. Simon Gerrans

 

[auscyclefan94]

They should go around the Stirling loop a couple more times to rule out more of the sprinters.

Goss, Davis, Henderson or Matthews for the win. What about Robbie? Very similar finish to his ENECO win.

Once again the 3km profile is stupid due to the Y-axis values. We know its an uphill final and the profile looks like 80m or so over the last 1.75km but impossible to get anything accurate.

This will be too hard for mcewen. ballan or Goss and maybe Davis will win.

 

[euanli]

Henderson couldn't manage yesterday, he won't manage this stage either. Gerrans and Swift will be Sky's two guys now.

 

[will10]

Davis
Goss
Greipel

 

[taiwan]

unadventurous picks

Greipel, Goss, McEwen

 

[sublimit]

Goss
Davis
Swift

 

[ingsve]

1 Ballan
2 Swift
3 Goss

 

[euanli]

I think we are possibly expecting too much from Swift to follow up tomorrow.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Everyone, it is going to be very hot tommorow. 36oC. I think we should expect a small group to come to the finish. I think ballan is a good pick. Robbie, Greipel and others won't be up there imo. Goss or ballan for me.

 

[ingsve]

I think we are possibly expecting too much from Swift to follow up tomorrow.

Well, he said himself that the finish would probably suit him and he seems to be in good form for a finish like that. He's certainly on of hte sprinters who can handle a few climbs pretty well when he's on form.

 

[Jamsque]

Everyone, it is going to be very hot tommorow. 36oC. I think we should expect a small group to come to the finish. I think ballan is a good pick. Robbie, Greipel and others won't be up there imo. Goss or ballan for me.

Are you crazy? If it's as hot as you say they'll just soft-pedal even more than they would have anyway and it'll still be a bunch sprint.

 

[Connor Pass]

I'll go with Feillu - seems on decent form.

 

[flatclimb]

BTW, Insteading of making a small thread for this.

Who are the Australian team? Students? I noticed a Scott bike that Pegasus would have used.

 

[Sum_of_Marc]

Not sure why Ballan is so widely tipped, I doubt he is the sort to go for this type of stage so early in the season.

Who are the Australian team? Students? I noticed a Scott bike that Pegasus would have used.

Students? Hell no.

UNISA are a team made up of Aussies whose teams arent in the TDU, like Wes Sulzberger of FDJ, Mitch Docker of Skil - and have helped out a couple of would-be Pegasus riders also, like Berny Sulzberger and Luke Roberts.

 

[theyoungest]

Not sure why Ballan is so widely tipped, I doubt he is the sort to go for this type of stage so early in the season.

He'll have a go, BMC will want some kind of result in this race. He was already 6th or something in the first bunch sprint.

 

[flatclimb]

Not sure why Ballan is so widely tipped, I doubt he is the sort to go for this type of stage so early in the season.



Students? Hell no.

UNISA are a team made up of Aussies whose teams arent in the TDU, like Wes Sulzberger of FDJ, Mitch Docker of Skil - and have helped out a couple of would-be Pegasus riders also, like Berny Sulzberger and Luke Roberts.

I see, I just saw the sponsor on the back of the jersey. Nice to know.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Are you crazy? If it's as hot as you say they'll just soft-pedal even more than they would have anyway and it'll still be a bunch sprint.

We'll see. This stage is always attacking. We also have to think that it is one of the first times they will be riding through hills at race pace this year, many riders are sore from crashes and it will be very very hot at 36oC for the riders.

About Ballan, here's what he said the other day about particualr stages including this one.


"For the next stages, I hope I will be at the front at the end because from the profile of those stages, they're quite good for me.”

 

[Night Rider]

Greipel for a win today, Davis top three.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Any known DNS for today ?

Who is really damaged ?

 

[ingsve]

Any known DNS for today ?

Who is really damaged ?

CJ Sutton said yesterday that he was probably not starting.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I put the preview in on the topic post (#1) so people can look at the preview of the stage.

btw, Sutton & B Sulzberger aren't, Cav is 50/50 i think on starting but meyer will as it was suspected that Cam had a broken collar bone.