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TDU 2017 & 2018

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GotTheGoodes

GotTheGoodes

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** UPDATE 15th Jan 2018 **

2018 TDU stage 1 to commence tomorrow. All info here: tourdownunder.com.au

Going to be a cracking race this year. Really looking forward to seeing Richie back out there & supported by Gerro, Dennis & Scotson.

Also reckon Ewan will be given the full support now he's not sharing with Gerro.

Will be a great opportunity to see Sagan up close too.

Original post:
So the TDU has begun today in beautiful Adelaide.

The weather is very hot so times on this first stage will be down a fair bit I'd suspect. None-the-less, for those able to get there, the final circuit and finish in Lyndoch should be good for viewing.
 
Last edited:
The first event of the day was the KOM classification which went to De Vreese (Astana), who broke away early and has held his gap thus far.

1: Laurens De Vreese (BEL) - Astana Pro Team
2: Sander Armee (BEL) - Lotto Soudal
3: Jan Bakelants (BEL) - Ag2R La Mondiale
4: Jhonatan Restrepo (COL) - Team Katusha-Alpecin
 
The first sprint (1 of 2) has also been completed. Good to see Gerro and Haas both up there. Confidence riders IMO and a good start will do them both a world of good.

1: Laurens De Vreese (BEL) - Astana Pro Team
2: Nathan Haas (AUS) - Team Dimension Data
3: Simon Gerrans (AUS) - ORICA - SCOTT
 

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Vader said:
The stage has been shortened by 1 lap (approx 28km), due to the extreme heat (apparently it's 41 degrees on the road).
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Fair enough too. There's a fair bit more racing to go, no point grinding them into the tarmac this early.
 

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Vader said:
Gerrans won't be riding for stage honours. Not with Caleb Ewan on the team. He might ride for the podium, but not stage honours.
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Oh yeah, of course. Just so used to seeing him as the leader and main sprinter. Kind of weird having Caleb there as the main man on the sprints now.
 
Stirling today. First time in a long time it's not the finale'.

The peloton looked flat from the start (after yesterdays heat) but picked it up for that 1st sprint.

Orica obviously want to control it to a slow speed to keep Caleb & Gerro as fresh as possible. I'd expect Chaves or Impey to attack at some point today though.

Going to be hard to pick a clear few favourites today IMO. Depends on strategy for the remainder of the race & also how they pulled up after yesterday.
 

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GotTheGoodes said:
So looks like they'll end around 2:30pm as originally planned. Smart move shortening it. Not just for the riders but also all those people that made the trek up there probably don't want to wait it out in the heat for an extra hour.
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Can confirm it was ****ing hot. Left a bottle of water in the car, could have dipped a teabag in there and had a perfectly hot cup of tea.

Stage 1 was a great finish, Ewan probably would have wrapped it up a little sooner but had someone pull out in front of him.

Can also confirm the climb up to Lofty is not easy for a pleb like me. Stage 2 was well controlled around the Stirling circuit with Durbo again doing a lot of the pace making in the peloton. Porte just dominated Paracombe. Chavez got caught a few wheels back and could not get onto Porte's wheel as a result. Think Porte would have had him well and truly covered regardless.
 
Orange Agent said:
Chavez is not race fit but to be gapped like that by Porte would be a decent wake up call. Wasnt even a surprise attack or anything just rode everybody off his wheel like they were stuck in sand. A few GC teams would be taking note.
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Yeah, Richie just wanted it. He wasn't going to lose yesterday, it was written all over his face. Determined & focused. He's my fav rider & I reckon a good chance at a Giro or TDF GC at some stage the next few years. Has to get the team around him though.
 
GotTheGoodes said:
Caleb fired back today after what would've pretty much been his horror stage yesterday. The kid has some guts I reckon. Great performance again so far this year. Exciting.
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Wasn't the ideal positioning for him in the run in. Lost his main lead out man in Impey in the fall. Still forced his way to a position that he could slingshot out of and went for it. He seems able to hold his sprint for longer too.

On a completely unrelated note, managed to get a photo with Chavez post race today. Topped off a great holiday and I'm still here until Monday!
 

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