Tour Down Under (World Tour) Jan 21-26

[search]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt

 

[Netserk]

Dunno where on CN, but procyclingstats, CQranking and Steephill are all good sites to find results.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Starting the year with 0 WT points?

lol, still think Trusov will be competitive.

 

[ernesto.]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/14th-santos-tour-down-under-upt

Thanks!

 

[trevim]

Valgren will top 10

What kind of rider is he? I always assume young danish riders are TT beasts that can't climb

 

[Herr Katt]

Won u23 liege bastonge liege in 2012 and 2013 so i assume is some kind hilly specialist

 

[Ferminal]

Thanks! That was pretty helpful! What's your opinion? Do you think any of the sprinters will make it over the hill at the end of Stage 1 to contest the sprint?

Maybe, it's only January so if some of the sprinters more suited to hills show up in form they may make it, think Matthews/Ewan. Plus a few coming from Europe but it's harder to know if they will have the legs.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'll make my prediction on whether Evans wins this race overall after the Nationals on Sunday arvo.

Don't bother the official profiles don't tell you anything, just remember:

Stage 1 = ~2.5km @ 7% (steep mid) with 12km to the finish, 2-3% at the finish
Stage 2 = Usual rolling circuit and leg sapping uphill drag to the finish
Stage 3 = Corkscrew ~2.5km @ 8.5% (steep mid) and fast 7km to the finish
Stage 4 = Pray for wind
Stage 5 = Passo Wilunga
Stage 6 = Ceremonial circuit to celebrate the gruelling race

Note: The final circuit will be in a different location this year and will not feature the brutal Montefiore hill.

No, it is the Col du Montefiore...get it right!

 

[greenedge]

I doubt anyone would be able to outsprint Gerrans on Wilunga, so they will have to drop him.

Porte should be good.

 

[42x16ss]

Visconti, Voeckler, Thomas, Roelandts, Morton, Evans and Lloyd (if in form) should give him a run for his money if they turn up to win.

 

[barmaher]

some profiles of the stages would be nice too pls

Believe me, I was going to, but the race's website is pretty terrible unless you want to find out more about the sponsors. I gave up.

The steephill links are a bit easier to navigate. Actually, a lot easier to navigate (thanks Wallenquist).

 

[Roderick]

only 7 riders per team?

 

[theyoungest]

Visconti, Voeckler, Thomas, Roelandts, Morton, Evans and Lloyd (if in form) should give him a run for his money if they turn up to win.

Roelandts is the odd one out. Lloyd seems to be a bit overrated down in Oz.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Lloyd is not even going to ride this as he now rides for Jelly Belly Maxxis.

 

[theyoungest]

Lloyd is not even going to ride this as he now rides for Jelly Belly Maxxis.

UniSA might give him a spot, no?

 

[Ferminal]

Maybe not now that he has a team, it all depends on the nationals. If some of the U23s not already picked shine and Lloyd is unspectacular then I doubt it. If Lloyd has a good impact on the RR though I'd expect him to get a spot, but this is Australia and it comes down to who you know more than anything.

 

[lastplacerider]

Rojas on stage 1? Seems he usually does fairly well in this race and if in ok form should be able to get over the climb.

 

[IlPirata92]

Mathews for stage 1 in my opinion.... Rojas could have a chance too.

 

[fauniera]

Nah, Ewan will take this.

 

[Pentacycle]

Nah, Ewan will take this.

If only he would start...

 

[fauniera]

He's on the startlist.

 

[Pentacycle]

He's on the startlist.

All right, I was under the false impression that Drapac had taken the place of the UniSA team.

 

[42x16ss]

He's on the startlist.

Sweet. Will be good to see how he stacks up against the big boys over a longer distance. Goss and Matthews should be nervous.

 

[Ferminal]

I know you mean compared to crits against the pros, but TDU distances < U23 distances

BTW I think Haig can top10 without too much hassle. Afterall, Tour of Tasmania is pretty much the equivalent of the Girobio.

 

[42x16ss]

True, but Kittel, Greipel, Ferrari, Rojas and Goss (if in form) are a level above the likes of Rick Zabel, Allan Davis and Leigh Howard The overall speed is likely to be higher than he's used to as well.

Haig should be fine. Riders like Dennis and Matthews have finished top 6-7 at an even younger age coming straight from U23's.