Tour Down Under Preview

The Tour Down Underneath begins on Tuesday. Right here’s a preview so I do know what time to set my alarm we will all see the phases this week and assess the probably contenders.

Stage 1 – Tuesday 16 January
The Tour Down Underneath excursions Tanunda. A tongue-twister to say, simpler to know. It is a close to copycat of final yr’s opening stage, one much less ascent of Menglers Hill and 5km shorter. Final yr’s race led to a dash end and Phil Bauhaus gained with stil. Anticipate one other dash.

Forecast end: 2.50pm / 05.20am CET / 04.20am GMT / D-1 11.20pm EST

Stage 2 – Wednesday 17 January
The Tour Down Underneath is an formidable label as a result of it’s not a tour of Australia, it’s not even the Tour of South Australia (certainly one of Australia’s six states). It’s only a tour of the Adelaide hills and vineyards. And that’s high-quality, but it surely does imply loads of acquainted roads because the race criss-crosses a small patch. Nonetheless they will discover “new” roads and after an uphill begin to Norton and onto Ashton, the subsequent set-piece second is Fox Creek Street. It is a sharp climb, listed as 2.6km at 6.2% which is entry-level selective, it’s received 1.5km at over 8% making it a great place to drop the sprinters and extra. Be aware the climb options twice on the profile above as a categorised climb and it’s then tackled a 3rd time with simply 8km to go. On the very least that is going to see the pure sprinters ejected and dejected but it surely could possibly be an early GC stage given the subsequent day permits for restoration.

Forecast end: 2.50pm / 05.20am CET / 04.20am GMT / D-1 11.20pm EST

Stage 3 – Thursday 18 January
A second uphill dash however a probable dash end. There’s the descent by way of Cudlee Creek and Kangaroo Creek, the standard hectic strategy to the left flip for Corksrew Street however not this time because the race continues down with some extra bends to take at pace earlier than a end in Campbelltown. With out the Corkscrew the descent will probably be nonetheless be nervous due to the self-reinforcing want for riders to be on the entrance as a way to keep away from hassle which means extra dangers to get and keep on the entrance.

Forecast end: 2.50pm / 05.20am CET / 04.20am GMT / D-1 11.20pm EST

Stage 4 – Friday 19 January
A possible dash end however Gemmell Hill is more durable than it appears to be like and when you like your metaphors, there’s an abattoir by the highway so we’ll see if it makes mincemeat of any sprinters. As ever on the TDU the proximity to the coast means everybody will probably be double-checking the climate on the day in case the wind will get up.

Forecast end: 2.50pm / 05.20am CET / 04.20am GMT / D-1 11.20pm EST

Stage 5 – Saturday 20 January
The basic Willunga stage, laps of the vineyards earlier than climbing Outdated Willunga hill twice, as soon as to roll by way of the end line, the second time because the summit end. Willunga Hill is the important thing, it’s 3km at a median if 7.5%, a gradual gradient and a large highway a lot of the manner and uncovered if there’s any wind. It’s a tactical climb, being on the best wheel issues because the pace is so excessive, the thought is to journey the slipstream of your rival after which strike out as late as attainable, however earlier than everybody else.

Forecast end: 2.30pm / 05.00am CET / 04.00am GMT / D-1 11.00pm EST

Stage 6 – Sunday 21 January

Mount Lofty to resolve issues. This climb was launched on the ultimate stage final yr the place it featured 5 instances, right here it’s used 3 times and so there’s much less climbing however nonetheless 2,300m of vertical achieve. Mount Lofty isn’t that mountainous nor lofty, it rises for about 1.5km, then ranges out and dips briefly earlier than kicking as much as the road once more, on common it’s 2km at 7% and all on a large highway.

Forecast end: 2.30pm / 05.00am CET / 04.00am GMT / D-1 11.00pm EST

Additional notes

No prologue however two summit finishes
Fox Creek Street is selective, it could possibly be a shock
The end instances used to range, now the weekday phases all have the identical time, then the weekend phases end earlier
The race makes use of a hub and spoke system for the phases with the riders and entourage staying in the identical lodge all week in Adelaide after which racing elsewhere outdoors. Riders wanting extra coaching can typically journey again to the lodge after a stage
With the downtown criterium carried out there’s no racing in Adelaide itself this yr
Santos? The sponsor is certainly one of Australia’s largest oil and gasoline corporations (h/t brent) , it started as South Australia Northern Territory Oil Search in Adelaide and has grown into a giant provider in Australia and Asia
There’s an opportunity of thunderstorms on the opening day, after this it’ll be heat and sunny
Time bonuses typically outline the ultimate consequence, 3-2-1 seconds on the intermediate factors, 10-6-4 seconds on the end line
UCI factors are 500 for the winner. 60 factors for a stage win, full breakdown right here.

The Contenders
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An extended listing so scroll to the chainrings when you’re in a rush…

Lyndon B. Johnson mentioned “the primary rule of politics is to discover ways to depend”, and whereas he meant votes he’d have some extent concerning the TDU too. It is a race that’s typically very shut and the place time bonuses and even countback can decide the winner. Ask Richie Porte who gained the Willunga summit end six instances however took the general twice. A great efficiency on Willunga is critical however not adequate, as mathematicians and others can say. This yr’s race options two summit finishes so twice the possibility to distance the sprinters and others who may rack up time bonuses earlier than the weekend.

The archetypal winner can dash for time bonuses and thrives on brief climbs. So on paper Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quickstep) is the right rider. Solely type is unknown, his large aim is Flanders and the Giro and so he’s more likely to be easing into the season and some pedal strokes behind those that have loved the total Aussie summer season. Nonetheless he’s the group’s best choice as they arrive with no sprinter and even at 90% he’s a competitor.

Jayco need a house consequence, and will get one with a stage win for Caleb Ewan. Simon Yates was second general final time and absent 2023’s winner Jay Vine he’s an apparent decide, a superb climber with good race craft and a really sturdy group behind him. Luke Plapp is the shape decide due to his double Australian championship wins this month however now positioning and attacking depend, there’s extra to grasp. The group may need a 3rd possibility in Chris Harper who stunned on the upside within the Australian championships and has been rustling KOMs within the Adelaide Hills at the moment however he’s the loyal helper to a tee so may use his wonderful type in service. They’re the group to beat.

UAE have a powerful group however once more type is unknown, Diego Ulissi is suited and has carried out effectively right here earlier than however a win is a giant ask, particularly after a latest household trauma. Isaac del Toro will probably be value watching already.

Ineos have Jhonathan Narvaez who can climb and dash effectively, possibly Leo Hayter on this position too. With Josh Tarling and Filippo Ganna there’s loads of help.

DSM Firmenich-PostNL have Paddy Bevin who could possibly be made for this race as he can dash effectively and handle brief climbs however is an rare winner at finest and possibly higher suited to guiding climber Oscar Onley to a great end, the Scot is a promising rider suited to those climbs.

Milan Vader (Visma-Lease A Bike) can end the place he left off, profitable the Tour of Guangxi on the finish of final season however that was constructed on one summit end, right here he’ll have it more durable piecing collectively a win by way of stage bonuses and marking the best riders on Willunga and Lofty. He’ll be helped by Johannes Staune-Mittet.

Jack Haig leads Bahrain however learn how to win? He’s a powerful rider with a giant engine however will certainly need to win sprints and phases outright when he’s extra suited to some longer, greater climbs. He’ll want the Lofty stage to show right into a slog.

Corbin Robust (IPT) began out as a monitor rider however his gentle construct means he’s adept at sprints on hilly programs and being from New Zealand means he’s extra more likely to be on summer season type. His problem goes to be hanging with the climbers on Willunga and Lofty, it’s a giant ask. The alternative for George Bennett, a prime climber however the path to victory is usually by way of a stage win and the time bonuses. Stephen Williams can do a each.

Movistar’s Ruben Guerreiro climbs effectively. There’s an Australian group with Michael Storer and Damian Howson, Storer is a superb climber however typically wins from afar reasonably than sniping dash wins whereas Howson is sweet at targetting a race and reaching a excessive GC end however diesel-style. Alpecin-Deceuninck are very a lot a sprinter’s group however Jason Osborne and Luca Vergallito are value watching due to their uncooked skills, the problem for them is to handle positioning going right into a climb. Astana carry 4 sturdy Italians every due a good win this yr – and the group wants it – however extra probably in March or April than mid-January.

Simon Yates

Plapp, Vader, Narvaez, Onley

Harper, Haig, Fisher-Black, Williams, Guerreiro, Alaphilippe

TV: it’s dwell on Seven for Australians (free streaming, e-mail enroll required) and VPN customers on the lookout for English protection. Eurosport may even English and varied European languages, and for French readers, it’s on L’Equipe TV too.

For these in Europe pondering of setting the alarm, it’s each a power and a weak spot of the TDU that it’s a reasonably predictable race. Whereas the pattern in recent times has seen riders take a flyer from far out to win many a race, the TDU is usually gained by sniping phases. This doesn’t make it simple to win but it surely does imply TV viewers can typically sit down with 15km to go and get 90% of the motion.

The publish Tour Down Underneath Preview first appeared on The Internal Ring.

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