Tour Down Under

[Tugboat]

All i can say is, a sprinter will win it.
All stages set themselves up to be a sprint, and it's quite difficult to see it go any other way.
As for Sky, the leader will clearly be Sutton, he's an aussie sprinter, let him have his chance here.

I think it's Greipel's to win again.

I don't think that you can say that Sutton is clearly Sky's leader over Henderson though. Hendy's quicker and he's as good as an Aussie living in Melbourne and being married to an Aussie track star and all.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Stage 3 and Stage 5 will be the hardest most descsive stages of the races as they are quite lumpy.

 

[lucybears]

Le Tour Down Under s'avère cette saison encore plus prisé que les précédentes. Outre Lance Armstrong, Cadel Evans et Alejandro Valverde, la course aux antipodes accueillera également Bradley Wiggins. Le soleil de l'hémisphère-sud semble ravir une grande partie des ténors du peloton, cherchant à retrouver la compétition le plus tôt possible. Cyclingnews

http://www.velo-club.net/article?sid=55898

[The Tour Down Under this season is even more popular than before. In addition to Lance Armstrong, Cadel Evans and Alejandro Valverde, the race at odds also host Bradley Wiggins. The sun of the south hemisphere seems steal much of the tenor of the pack, trying to find the competition as soon as possible. Cyclingnews]

Cyclingnews?? nothing here yet
http://www.cyclingnews.com/

 

[Anonymous]

Le Tour Down Under s'avère cette saison encore plus prisé que les précédentes. Outre Lance Armstrong, Cadel Evans et Alejandro Valverde, la course aux antipodes accueillera également Bradley Wiggins. Le soleil de l'hémisphère-sud semble ravir une grande partie des ténors du peloton, cherchant à retrouver la compétition le plus tôt possible. Cyclingnews

http://www.velo-club.net/article?sid=55898

[The Tour Down Under this season is even more popular than before. In addition to Lance Armstrong, Cadel Evans and Alejandro Valverde, the race at odds also host Bradley Wiggins. The sun of the south hemisphere seems steal much of the tenor of the pack, trying to find the competition as soon as possible. Cyclingnews]

Cyclingnews?? nothing here yet
http://www.cyclingnews.com/

i think they are getting muddled over that one.. nothing on the tour down under site and i assume they would be the first to release it, if not sky..

 

[lucybears]

i assume they would be the first to release it, if not sky..

they haven't caught up with Valverde yet, but he is going.

also here

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-wiggins_pour_commencer-4045.html

 

[Anonymous]

they haven't caught up with Valverde yet, but he is going.

also here

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-wiggins_pour_commencer-4045.html

oh.. so who is out..? im guesing the swift transfer has taken a delay... unless one of the others was only ever a rouse to cover the wiggins transfer..

 

[lucybears]

oh.. so who is out..? im guesing the swift transfer has taken a delay... unless one of the others was only ever a rouse to cover the wiggins transfer..

btw, dimspace & Kingsley A, welcome to the Tour Down Under Special 2010 @
http://tdu.cyclingfever.com/

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,15264_5791985,00.html

stuey doubtful...

 

[auscyclefan94]

BMC's adjusted roster...
Cadel Evans (Aus), George Hincapie (USA), Karsten Kroon (Ned), Danilo Wyss (Swi), Martin Kohler (Swi), Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) and Thomas Frei (Swi)

 

[craig1985]

What has inspired Valverde to come to Australia? Has Luis Leon Sanchez been raving about to Valverde for so long that Valverde figured he can get Sanchez to shut up by racing in Australia, or he has been given a massive appearance fee. All we need is Contador to come back and for the Schlecks to turn up.

 

[hfer07]

given the increasing numbers in top riders participation & worldwide attention-Will we see the TDU growing in stage numbers & Locations in a near future? I'd love to see one day Australia having a "grand tour" race.

 

[Ferminal]

What has inspired Valverde to come to Australia? Has Luis Leon Sanchez been raving about to Valverde for so long that Valverde figured he can get Sanchez to shut up by racing in Australia, or he has been given a massive appearance fee. All we need is Contador to come back and for the Schlecks to turn up.

Or maybe he's just racing wherever he can as he can't race in Italy and possibly gets a full ban from the CAS.

 

[badboyberty]

given the increasing numbers in top riders participation & worldwide attention-Will we see the TDU growing in stage numbers & Locations in a near future? I'd love to see one day Australia having a "grand tour" race.

I don't think Australia is really suited to a major stage race, but we do have excellent terrain for hilly one day races.

I'd like to see the addition of an Australian semi-classic in February. I know it's blasphemy, but if Melbourne-Warnabool was to be moved to the first half of February some of the TdU teams could hang around for a fortnight and for it and use it to kick off their Spring campaigns.

 

[auscyclefan94]

What has inspired Valverde to come to Australia? Has Luis Leon Sanchez been raving about to Valverde for so long that Valverde figured he can get Sanchez to shut up by racing in Australia, or he has been given a massive appearance fee. All we need is Contador to come back and for the Schlecks to turn up.

Because the TDU is a nice warm up for the year and the finish into Stirling for one of the stages suits Valverde to the T.

 

[maltiv]

BMC's adjusted roster...
Cadel Evans (Aus), George Hincapie (USA), Karsten Kroon (Ned), Danilo Wyss (Swi), Martin Kohler (Swi), Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) and Thomas Frei (Swi)

I'm surprised they took 22 year old Alexander Kristoff off the roster. He is a really underestimated sprinter and could easily pull off a stage win. He has already beaten Thor Hushovd several times in the sprints at national championships, and he also won a mass sprint in tour of britain this year.

Better than not having any sprinter at all atleast, in a race where every stage ends up in a bunch sprint...

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'm surprised they took 22 year old Alexander Kristoff off the roster. He is a really underestimated sprinter and could easily pull off a stage win. He has already beaten Thor Hushovd several times in the sprints at national championships, and he also won a mass sprint in tour of britain this year.

Better than not having any sprinter at all atleast, in a race where every stage ends up in a bunch sprint...

That's what I thought, Kristoff really packs a punch and if he could get over Wilunga hill he could of podiumed for overall. Thy might try to get mauro Santambrogio away on Wilunga as he was 8th Overall last year and can climb. Danilo Wyss can pack a punch and is a good roleur.

 

[*G*K*S*]

BMC's adjusted roster...
Cadel Evans (Aus), George Hincapie (USA), Karsten Kroon (Ned), Danilo Wyss (Swi), Martin Kohler (Swi), Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) and Thomas Frei (Swi)

IMO, I would watch out for this guy in this race.

 

[Sasquatch]

Even better - have the Melbourne to Warrnambool the Saturday after the TDU.

I think Adelaide is not big enough for the TDU. It needs to move to Melbourne. We need to get it to Melbourne.

As to who will win the TDU, Cantwell - his 29 wins this season were no flukes. He can match it with the big guys like Greipel.

Mind you, that stage to Stirling could suit Valverde very nicely.

 

[Ferminal]

Even better - have the Melbourne to Warrnambool the Saturday after the TDU.

I think Adelaide is not big enough for the TDU. It needs to move to Melbourne. We need to get it to Melbourne.

As to who will win the TDU, Cantwell - his 29 wins this season were no flukes. He can match it with the big guys like Greipel.

Mind you, that stage to Stirling could suit Valverde very nicely.

Couldn't the TdU run in both SA and Vic?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

That's what I thought, Kristoff really packs a punch and if he could get over Wilunga hill he could of podiumed for overall. Thy might try to get mauro Santambrogio away on Wilunga as he was 8th Overall last year and can climb. Danilo Wyss can pack a punch and is a good roleur.

Yep, I agree. I'm looking for Santambrogio to do something special in this race. He's a good climber and has to be very motivated to be on BMC. This is a big opportunity for him.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Yep, I agree. I'm looking for Santambrogio to do something special in this race. He's a good climber and has to be very motivated to be on BMC. This is a big opportunity for him.

Really, BMC and other teams could try and rip it up on the first lap of Wilunga, keep the pressure on and then launch Santambrogio on the second lap and he can ride away.

Couldn't the TdU run in both SA and Vic?

No, too far away.

Even better - have the Melbourne to Warrnambool the Saturday after the TDU.

I think Adelaide is not big enough for the TDU. It needs to move to Melbourne. We need to get it to Melbourne.

As to who will win the TDU, Cantwell - his 29 wins this season were no flukes. He can match it with the big guys like Greipel.

Mind you, that stage to Stirling could suit Valverde very nicely.

Stirling is perfect for Valverde. I agree that melbourne has better climbs and a more interesting race route possiblities. Cantwell is a strong sprinter.

 

[issoisso]

I'm surprised they took 22 year old Alexander Kristoff off the roster. He is a really underestimated sprinter and could easily pull off a stage win. He has already beaten Thor Hushovd several times in the sprints at national championships, and he also won a mass sprint in tour of britain this year.

Better than not having any sprinter at all atleast, in a race where every stage ends up in a bunch sprint...

Maybe he just doesn't have the form right now so they thought better. It's tough to go straight into a ProTour race as a neo-pro. The pace is just too high.
Look at Guarnieri, he's on of the best sprinting prospects in years, but he's having a hard time adjusting. Everyone does.

Bringing in a rider too slowly can slightly slow down his progression. Bringing in a rider too fast tends to completely kill their potential. They're being cautious. Good for Kristoff

 

[53 x 11]

Even better - have the Melbourne to Warrnambool the Saturday after the TDU.

I think Adelaide is not big enough for the TDU. It needs to move to Melbourne. We need to get it to Melbourne.

As to who will win the TDU, Cantwell - his 29 wins this season were no flukes. He can match it with the big guys like Greipel.

Well I guess that its good that only a few stages fully take part in Adelaide since its too small........wtf do you mean buy that anyway? How big does a city have to be to host a cycling race?

Oh, and Cantwell is not even playing the same game as Greipel. Greipel is on a whole new level. Cantwell couldn’t even get around Sutton when he was on top form

 

[53 x 11]

What has inspired Valverde to come to Australia? Has Luis Leon Sanchez been raving about to Valverde for so long that Valverde figured he can get Sanchez to shut up by racing in Australia, or he has been given a massive appearance fee. All we need is Contador to come back and for the Schlecks to turn up.

Doubtful.......Would most of the people who attend the TDU know who he is and would Mr Rann have any money left after fattening up Lance-A-Lot?