Tour Down Under (World Tour) Jan 21-26

[Dazed and Confused]

Suspected broken collarbone for Thomas Voeckler in a training accident this morning in Adelaide.

Damn, who will open the party on Willunga now?

 

[auscyclefan94]

For a kid like Dennis winning the TDU would be massive. It was for Slagter, who got a nice contract out of it and did little else for the season. It certainly will be for a kid from Adelaide.

Yeah, but I doubt it would be his "main target". It wasn't Slagter's either.

 

[movingtarget]

Can't see anyone but Gerrans winning the overall. It's his type of course as he has proved in the past. Also it's a big race for GE every year. Evans will probably target a stage.

 

[MatParker117]

Can't see anyone but Gerrans winning the overall. It's his type of course as he has proved in the past. Also it's a big race for GE every year. Evans will probably target a stage.

I can see Porte trying something near the bottom of Willunga Hill and on form he could crush the other GC contenders.

 

[karlboss]

I can see Porte trying something near the bottom of Willunga Hill and on form he could crush the other GC contenders.

Last year GC was decided on two stages, primarily on one. I think the only difference for this year is corkscrew won't be a surprise, so GC riders will finish together so it all comes down to Willunga which I think is more suited puncheurs than grimpeurs, Porte doesn't fit for me. Other than Gerrans which other puncheurs of that class care enough to be in a little form already and put an effort in? Someone like Gasparotto or Ulissi maybe, but i don't think they'll be so close to form as Gerrans. I quite like Geschke as it would probably be his biggest win for the season, but not sure on form he'd match some others building form.

Mostly I'm interested to see how uniSA and Drapac go.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Last year GC was decided on two stages, primarily on one. I think the only difference for this year is corkscrew won't be a surprise, so GC riders will finish together so it all comes down to Willunga which I think is more suited puncheurs than grimpeurs, Porte doesn't fit for me. Other than Gerrans which other puncheurs of that class care enough to be in a little form already and put an effort in? Someone like Gasparotto or Ulissi maybe, but i don't think they'll be so close to form as Gerrans. I quite like Geschke as it would probably be his biggest win for the season, but not sure on form he'd match some others building form.

Mostly I'm interested to see how uniSA and Drapac go.

Yeah, exactly. The fact that Gerrans road away from Evans and Porte on Mt Bunninyong indicates that the differences in form and condition between Gerrans and Evans & Porte is large.

 

[42x16ss]

For a kid like Dennis winning the TDU would be massive. It was for Slagter, who got a nice contract out of it and did little else for the season. It certainly will be for a kid from Adelaide.

Dennis will look to do well but not at the expense of the rest of the season. Look to younger guys with ambition like Slagter last year or someone preparing for MSR like Goss, Gerrans and Freire the last few years.

 

[movingtarget]

Last year GC was decided on two stages, primarily on one. I think the only difference for this year is corkscrew won't be a surprise, so GC riders will finish together so it all comes down to Willunga which I think is more suited puncheurs than grimpeurs, Porte doesn't fit for me. Other than Gerrans which other puncheurs of that class care enough to be in a little form already and put an effort in? Someone like Gasparotto or Ulissi maybe, but i don't think they'll be so close to form as Gerrans. I quite like Geschke as it would probably be his biggest win for the season, but not sure on form he'd match some others building form.

Mostly I'm interested to see how uniSA and Drapac go.

Yeah I think Porte needs longer climbs. You would think Gilbert would like it but he found the race too much so early in the season last time and he's not riding. I think the heat may have bothered him. Geraint Thomas should do okay but cracked badly on Willunga last year. Maybe different tactics may have helped. Valverde would do well but don't think he's racing TDU this year. Too bad Voeckler is out. That could have been interesting as he does not mind attacking early.

 

[Tragic]

I think Corkscrew suits Cadel, short hard climb followed by descent that is a little technical at the top (crash there last year) and only 7K to the finish. If he can get a few seconds on the others, then defend---

Having said that, there's a few others that won't be giving it away, Gessink/Bobridge, Moreno, and a relative unknown named Schleck---

 

[Tragic]

And yes, Porte needs a longer climb to whittle down the comp. Won't be dropping Gerrans on Willunga.

See you out there!

 

[barn yard]

I think Corkscrew suits Cadel, short hard climb followed by descent that is a little technical at the top (crash there last year) and only 7K to the finish. If he can get a few seconds on the others, then defend---

Having said that, there's a few others that won't be giving it away, Gessink/Bobridge, Moreno, and a relative unknown named Schleck---

the descent is not technical at all, one of the fastest and smoothest roads in the adelaide hills

i might be wrong but i seem to recall something from last year's race about a police moto overcooking it into a corner which caused the crash...?

 

[manafana]

Bouet for ag2r could be an outside chance for this seen him mentioned plenty, but i am leaing towards the obvious of gerrans or cadel

 

[Tragic]

the descent is not technical at all, one of the fastest and smoothest roads in the adelaide hills

i might be wrong but i seem to recall something from last year's race about a police moto overcooking it into a corner which caused the crash...?

I said a LITTLE technical - have only been up there once but seem to remember some sharp curves and rough surface at the top, maybe enough for a good descender to get a few seconds?

Suppose I could be wrong.

 

[greenedge]

What does everyone think about Felline's chances here. FS might be not able to go with the others on some of the descents/ explosive finishes, but could Fabio go well here, if given the opportunity and good form.

Jay McCarthy will also aim to go well, Wilunga should suit him.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Last year GC was decided on two stages, primarily on one. I think the only difference for this year is corkscrew won't be a surprise, so GC riders will finish together so it all comes down to Willunga which I think is more suited puncheurs than grimpeurs, Porte doesn't fit for me. Other than Gerrans which other puncheurs of that class care enough to be in a little form already and put an effort in? Someone like Gasparotto or Ulissi maybe, but i don't think they'll be so close to form as Gerrans. I quite like Geschke as it would probably be his biggest win for the season, but not sure on form he'd match some others building form.

Mostly I'm interested to see how uniSA and Drapac go.

Perhaps Gesink. Did well on steep walls in Emilia in the past, and also Quebec/Montreal.
It's outside Europe so he has a shot

 

[theyoungest]

Perhaps Gesink. Did well on steep walls in Emilia in the past, and also Quebec/Montreal.
It's outside Europe so he has a shot

Willunga Hill is maybe a bit like that hill in Montreal... not quite the Santuario di San Luca

 

[jens_attacks]

it's the alpe d'huez of australia!!
a dutch will win

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

it's the alpe d'huez of australia!!
a dutch will win

turbo diesel

 

[theyoungest]

Ulissi is a kind of Slagter. I don't see any other rider capable to challenge Gerrans on a climb like Willunga.

 

[trevim]

Jay McCarthy will also aim to go well, Wilunga should suit him.

Isn't he more of a rouleur? He didn't have a great first season, let's ser how he rides now.

Ulissi is a kind of Slagter. I don't see any other rider capable to challenge Gerrans on a climb like Willunga.

Ulissi finished his season almost in November. For his own good, I hope his form won't be to sharp at this point. I even find a bit strange that he's starting the season so early.

 

[roundabout]

He was good on the hills during his Jayco time

 

[theyoungest]

Ulissi finished his season almost in November. For his own good, I hope his form won't be to sharp at this point. I even find a bit strange that he's starting the season so early.

So did Porte and Gesink, both of whom rode Beijing.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

So did Porte and Gesink, both of whom rode Beijing.

Obvious joke alert.

Porte finished his season in July.

 

[manafana]

Obvious joke alert.

Porte finished his season in July.

i would have agree porte was their in body only by end of season.

Interested see what french teams do, bouet interests me, would liked elissonde but heard he had been a bit sick before coming over.

 

[movingtarget]

There is the possibility that Stage 1 may be cancelled due to bush fires :

Fire could force cycling cancellation
By Roger Vaughan, AAP Updated January 18, 2014, 5:02 pm


SA's bushfire crisis could force Tour Down Under organisers to cancel stage one.

It would be the first time in the event's 15-year history that organisers have had to change any part of the race.

After Sunday's Adelaide street race, the Tour itself starts on Tuesday with a 135km road stage from Nuriootpa to Angaston in the Barossa region north of the city.

The Barossa is threatened by one of four large fires burning in the state.

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