Tour Down Under 2014 Race Routes Announced

I was pretty excited yesterday when I received an email from the TDU announcing the 2014 stages.

Again we are booked in to make the 10 or so hour trek from country Victoria to Adelaide for the Tour Down Under. It is probably my favourite time of the year. Next year marks our 11th year in a row.

For 8 of those years we have stayed in holiday apartments in Glenelg, right on the beach; and next year will be no different. It's perfect base for the duration of the tour.

The 2014 stages include the regulars; the prologue now called the Peoples Choice Classic, stage 3 finish in pretty Stirling, penultimate stage 5 finish on top of Willunga Hill and the final stage in the city. The race also returns for a finish in Victor Harbour as well as finishes in Campbelltown and Angaston.

There are some new routes and again the tricky climb up Corkscrew Hill introduced last year will be a feature.

All bodes for another exciting and successful Tour Down Under. And I can't wait!

Are you a TDU faithful?

Sightseeing before the TDU begins

Today with no cycling we spent the day exploring Hahndorf, did some shopping and ended up at the beautiful beach in Glenelg. A great day under the beautiful, blue Adelaide sky.

Hahndorf Sweet Shop

German Platter that my hubbie and his mate finished off

My lunch at Hahndorf Inn

 

 

 

 

Enjoying the beach at Glenelg

We ended the day with a BBQ at our holiday units where I managed a come behind table tennis win over our travelling companion. It was a sweet victory, but no doubt he will be looking for revenge in the days to come!

And so tomorrow brings the first stage of the 2013 from Prospect to Lobethal.We will be at the finish line, just not sure who we will see cross the line first!

Tour Down Under Classic 2013

image from here

Andre Greipel gave us a magical start to Tour Down Under proceedings with a powerful win in the Tour Down Under Classic tonight on the streets of Adelaide.

Really, I didn't know where to look.

At Jens Voigt powering away for half of the race out in front?

At Robbie McEwen seated directly opposite me in the Grand Stand?

Or at Andre Greipel thundering towards the finish line after a perfect lead out from his Lotto Belisol train?

Awesomeness. All round.

Loving being back in Adelaide! Loving the fact that Andre is in winning form and Simon Gerrans looks fit and ready to defend his 2012 TDU title.

Tomorrow we are planning to enjoy a touch of shopping, lunch at beautiful Hahndorf and then the beaches of Glenelg before heading off on Tuesday to stage one of the race from Prospect to Lobethal. 

Tour Down Under Time!

In better news (than yesterday), I have arrived in beautiful Adelaide for the Tour Down Under.

We packed the car with a chairs, cooler bags, hats, luggage and four kids and drove the ten hours yesterday arriving just in time for a quick dinner and to sit down and watch the tennis (Go Fed!). And today we plan on filling in the day beaching and shopping before heading down to the Classic in the East End of Adelaide.

It won't feel quite the same not being able to cheer Robbie (McEwen) on in the race he really made his own, but nevertheless will still hopefully be an exciting event and I can't wait!

Bring it on Adelaide!