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24 August 2006

Hot Aussie Racing - 2007 Tour Down Under

2007 Tour Down Under

The 2007 Tour Down Under is ready for the elite cycling world. With seven years of bringing in top Australian talents, the tour hopes to attract more riders and fans. They invite fans to "feel the rush" and, along with the stage race, plan to have a variety of events through out the week. The 717 kilometer race will take place in South Australia from 16 to 21 January, with a prologue and five stages, all starting and ending near the city of Adelaide.

The prologue, known as the "Down Under Classic", kicks off the six-day affair. The Down Under peloton will complete 25 laps on the short 2K Adelaide City Council Circuit. The cyclists will circle Rymill Park, in the East End of Adelaide. By the end of the stage, the riders will have ridden a total of 50K.

The first stage of 152K, from Mawson Lakes to Tanuda, includes two sprints and one chance to earn kind of the mountains points. At about 40K into the stage, riders will cross Mt Crawford Forest, the first battle for the climbers "maglia."

Stage two takes the riders from Mannum to Handorf. The stage, at 150K, will present more KOM opportunities but the fast men, such as Robbie McEwen and Stuart O'Grady, will have their chances to gain sprint points with two intermediate sprints on the way to the "historic German settlement town of Hahndorf"

Spin the Peloton into Orbit

Stages three and four will likely spin the peloton into orbit. Both stages, with climbs topping out in the latter half, offer opportunities for a rascally type rider to attack, alone or with a few newfound friends, and make a run to the line. If there is not a clear GC leader with a team to control then the overall honors will be decided here, more likely in Saturday's stage 4.

Stage three, traveling past "the long sandy beaches of Goolwa, Middleton, and Port Elliot," starts the riders from Stirling and finishes on The Esplanade in Victor Harbor, a popular holiday destination. A total of 128K, with the Kerby Hill coming at 87.2K, or 41K to go.

The 147K stage four will offer the last of the sprint and KOM points. Run around Willunga, the peloton will pass "white sandy beaches, clear blue ocean, flourishing vineyards and rolling hillsides" before the pain of the Old Willunga Hill (127.4K) kicks in.

The final stage of the 2007 Tour Down Under return-s the riders to Adelaide proper. The all out sprinters affair will consist of 20 laps through the city under "the view of Adelaide's city skyline."

Though only five stages and a prologue, the Tour Down Under is billed as "Australia's Premier Cycling Event." Past winners have come from European teams (Liberty Seguros, Ag2R and Crédit Agricole) as well as Australian teams. Past winners include such foreigners such as Luis León Sánchez (2005) and Mikel Astarloza (2003), and home riders like Simon Gerrans (2006) and Michael Rogers (2002).
- Sarah

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