Highlights from the 100th Tour de France

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The Tour de France has been raced and won for another year. This year's tour, the 100th edition, might have been a one horse race for the yellow jersey but it certainly didn't detract from the excitement.

Here are a few of my highlights:

1. As an Aussie, of course the number one highlight would be Simon Gerrans winning stage 3 and the Orica-Green Edge taking the win in the Team Time Trial on stage 4 elevating Gerrans to the yellow jersey position. An Aussie holding the leaders jersey is special, but an Aussie wearing the leaders jersey as a member of an Australian pro-cycling team is something else.

2. Nairo Quintana. The pint sized Colombian walks away from her first Tour de France with two jerseys! The white young riders jersey as well as coveted polka-dot King of the Mountain jersey. Quintana has proven his worth as a serious contender for overall honours in years to come.

3. The Green Jersey Competition. Although Sagan practically had this wrapped up early on with his aggressive attacks during the intermediate sprints the battle between Sagan, Cavendish, Greipel and Kittel was still exciting to watch. Kittel was the surprise packet of the sprinters proving that his stage 1 win was not due to luck but talent and speed taking a total of four stages. Some say a changing of the guard with Mark Cavendish having an understated tour, but I wouldn't be writing him off just yet especially considering he is going to have the likes of Alessandro Petacchi and former team mate Aussie Mark Renshaw set to join his lead out team in 2014.

4. The Alps. The anticipation when the riders reach the serious mountains of the French Alps is always huge and this year was no different. Would Froome and Team Sky be able to survive? Would Contador make his move? What did Movistar have planned? How would the little Colombian Quintana hold up on the big climbs? All questions were answered in spectacular fashion. Once again the Alps didn't disappoint. Especially exciting was the race for the podium with four or five riders vying for the minor places and indeed going down to the wire.

5. Chris Froome. He may have been the red hot favourite but it was for good reason as he and his Sky team mates crossed the line on the Champs Elysees victorious. Chris Froome proved he was the the best of the best. His remarkable attacks and show of speed with this trademark high cadence on the high climbs left no doubts that he was the best of the best and deserving of the yellow jersey. Team Sky was under pressure all tour with many doubting their ability to hold it together for Froome but they certainly had all the answers, in particular another Aussie Richie Porte. Porte was Froome's right-hand man with unwavering support for his Team Leader.

6. SBS Australia. Here in Australia free to air TV channel SBS is the home of cycling. They package the tour up in all its glory and serve it to us on a silver platter beautifully. And they are set to do so for another 10 years which makes this little Peloton lover very happy indeed.

Lowlights?
Of course there were a few disappointments along the way. Cadel Evans had a tour he would rather forget. It would seem that his efforts on a third place in this years Giro d'Italia took more out of the Aussie battler than he had hoped. Time will tell if Cadel's time in the peloton is up and whether TeeJay van Garderen should take up the team leaders position next year at BMC.
Contador too was not his usual self. He lacked the legs and punchy acceleration to make any impact unable to even hold on to a podium position. Make of that what you will, but I hope the Contador of old is back next year.
Stage 1 carnage. The most anticipated opening to this years tour with a visit for the first time to beautiful Corsica promised so much, but a mammoth crash not too far from the finish line saw to it that many of the sprinters were taken out of action. The major sprinting contenders were looking forward to taking out opening stage honours and spectators and fans alike were waiting for an edge-of-the-seat fast finish but it wasn't to be. However, ask Marcel Kittel and he would be more than pleased with the outcome!

So that's a wrap on this year's tour. Now I have scheduled in a few nights of catch up sleep, which after than I'm sure the post tour blues will kick in. Thank goodness there's only a few weeks until the final grand tour of the year, The Vuelta Espana!

What were your favourite moments of this years tour?

Stage 6 Tour Down Under 2013. Greipel! Again!

Another gorgeous day in Adelaide greeted the riders today for the last stage of this year's Tour Down Under. Blue skies, sunshine and a light wind made for great riding and spectator conditions.

We managed to score a position at around the 90m mark with a great view of the riders heading around the corner into the straight and then up onto the finish line in King William Street.

This is a great stage for getting a good close up of the riders as they head onto the circuit an hour or so before the race to warm up and have a chat. The atmosphere is always exciting and always offers fabulous opportunities for close up photo's of the riders.

I managed to have a little chat with the one and only Rupert Guinness (SMH sports journalist) looking bright as always and he was very gracious to have a little picture with me. Thanks Rupert!

(I'll post some photo's including that one next week in a wrap up post of the Tour.)

But back to the race.

As always a few riders broke away early, including the one and only Jens Voigt. But the peloton never let them far from their sights and by the last couple of laps they were all back together. Lotto were setting up for yet another picture perfect sprint for Andre Greipel.

As the riders rounded the corner for the straight Lotto was in great position with Greipel sitting in about third wheel ready to pounce when none other than Mark Renshaw, now riding for Team Blanco decided to throw a little spanner in the works, weaving through and jumping them.

Greipel had to go. Renshaw held on, for a few moments... but in the end Greipel's power and top end speed was too much and he crossed the line for yet another victory. This one marks his 100th career victory, 14 TDU stage wins and his third for this year's race. There's some stats for you.

What an exciting sprinter he is to watch in the flesh!

Renshaw did hold on for second with Boasson Hagen in third.

Overall Team Blanco was able to successfully defend Tom-Jelte Slagter's lead in the overall classification, no doubt a proud moment for young 'TJ'.

I will do a wrap up post next week but for now am just enjoying my last night in Adelaide for another year. What a fabulous city and fantastic race! We shall be back again next year, for sure.

(And for those of you who may be interested we did have a rematch of the table tennis tonight. And in a very tight encounter with the score see-sawing for much of the match I can report I came out on top. Sweet, sweet victory.)

Stage 5 Tour Down Under 2013 - Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!

You couldn't have scripted a better outcome for today's 5th stage of the Tour Down Under - if you were an Aussie that is!

We headed up early in the crisp morning air and arrived on top of the hill around 9:30am to find our spot. 25 meter mark of the finish line, and right in front of the big screen. Perfect! It really is a great day on top of the hill. You get to watch the race all day on the big screen and then of course see the riders as they make their way up for the first time and then the final climb to the line. And there is food, coffee, ice-cream, toilets - everything you need to keep the little tackers happy!


And the Queen stage where the riders tackle Old Willunga Hill including a hill top finish delievered everything and a little bit more. There were break aways, attacks and then just when you thought the break may just hold on the big boys pulled out all stops and the excitement began.

As the day went on the crowd swelled in anticipation for the riders and on the first lap up the hill the atmosphere was electric. But it was the final burst to the finish line that sent the crowd into a frenzy!

Simon Gerrans, as Aussie as you get, jumped from the peloton and stormed towards the line. It was a battle between himself and young dutch superstar (who?) Tom-Jelte Slagter but Gerrans had more fight to get over the line in first place with a tremendous roar from the crowd especially those in Gerry Ryan's & Orica Green-Edge's corporate grandstand overlooking the finish line.

Gerrans winning on Australia day was our version of a French man winning on Bastille Day during the Tour de France. Epic!

And let's not forget Slagter's effort in ripping the Ochre Jersey right of Geraint Thomas' back. Team Sky tried everything to protect the jersey but it was to no avail. This young dutch kid has gone from who? to wow! I look forward to watching him in action over the next few years. I think he's something special.

Again, I don't have any photo's to show just yet. But as soon as I rectify my technical issues I will post them.

Tomorrow is the final stage of this year's TDU. A mere formality for Slagter which will see his Team Blanco simply protect him for the entirety of the race keeping him out of any trouble so he can take the podium. As for the sprint, well that's most likely a formality too. Can anyone beat Greipel? I'm really don't think so! Go Greipel!

Stage 1 Tour Down Under 2013.Greipel!

It was planned and executed to perfection, and Andre Greipel finished it off brilliantly with another powerful sprint to the line taking Stage 1 of the Santos Tour Down Under.

The stage through the picturesque Adelaide Hills from Prospect to Lobethal was an exciting one. Young Uni SA rider Jordan Kerby broke away early to lead for over 100km of the race including through the first passing of the finish line. Then the attacks started with Jerome Pineau heading away followed closely by current world champion Philippe Gilbert. However once the final kilometers closed in the teams organised themselves and the peloton caught the leaders ready for a final bunch sprint.

It would be a simple, text book lead out by Lotto-Belisol that delivered Greipel to the line, for his 12th stage win at the Tour Down Under, equaling our own Robbie McEwen's record.

Personally I love to see Greipel winning. When he is let loose with the finish line in site his strength and power is remarkable, and very hard to beat. He is a colourful and genuine character and a favourite here Down Under.

Here are a few snap shots of stage 1.

Greipel!!!!!

 

 

 

Tomorrow Stage 2 takes us from Mt. Barker through to Rostrevor which will see the riders tackle one of Adelaide's steepest hill - Corkscrew Road. It will be the first time the steep ascent has been included in the Tour Down Under and will certainly throw a few spanners in the cogs for some of the riders!

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. 

Olympic Road Race Preview

This weekend London will become the sporting mecca of the world as it hosts the 2012 Olympic Games. One of the first events will be the Men's Road Race.

The 250km course set down for the race has been a topic of much discussion (you can see the course here). Many are divided on who this type of course will suit best, but even so, Mark Cavendish seems to be the undeniable favourite to win on his 'home' soil.

I am not so sure that it will be such a clear cut sprinting course. There is the much talked about 'Box Hill' to be navigated nine times, and the circuit is narrow and bumpy. There is serious doubt that it will end in a bunch sprint and if it does Cavendish will still have to contend with the likes of Sagan who may fair better at the end of the long lumpy race.

There is the other opinion that perhaps a break will survive with Aussie Simon Gerran's well suited to that scenario.

I believe though it won't be a small break that survives or a bunch sprint. I think there will be a split in the peloton and will come down to who is the strongest rider to survive the course and still take the sprint at the end. Or who has the guts and the legs to steal a break and 'go for gold'.


Aussie's are heading into the race with a good five man squad (did Matt White actually get something right? That's a post for another day), with Stuart O'Grady, Mick Rogers, Simon Gerrans, Cadel Evans and Matt Goss. The rider in for the best chance in my opinion is Simon Gerrans, providing he has pulled up okay after the TDF where he didn't have the best of times. He will need full strength in his legs and his cycling brain in tip top shape and with some good team work from the likes of Stuey, Mick and Evans, could well be in the hunt.

Unfortunatley, if it does end in a sprint finish I don't think Goss will have the legs to overcome the likes of Cavendish, Sagan or Greipel. But I don't mind being wrong either!

All in all I can't say who will win. It is too hard to call with too many factors in play. Even after narrowing it down to the likes of Cavendish, Gerrans, Sagan, Freire, Cancellara, Boonen, Hesjedal, there would still be another ten or so riders that are capable, in form and hungry enough to win.

Who's your pick for the race? And which Aussie do you think is our best chance?

Final Glory in Paris - Tour de France 2012 finale

Today is a mix of excitement and sadness. The end of another Tour de France.

I remember the 2005 Tour de France finale on the Champs Elysees well. I was five months pregnant and sat for hours on the cold stone of Rue de Rivoli. The atmosphere was amazing. It didn't matter that I had to walk five miles to the closest toilet, or that we were over1km from the finish line- I was there. It was amazing. The first time the peloton went around was an electric feeling, almost surreal and nothing like I had ever experienced.

I had come to see Robbie (McEwen) take the stage win, but even though that didn't eventuate with Alexandre Vinokourov escaping and stealing the stage, you still couldn't wipe the smile off my face. (At least an Aussie came second in Brad McGee).

And today here in 2012, I wish I was sitting on that fence yet again.

But I'm not. I'm here at home in Australia sitting with anticipation for an exciting finish to a fairly uneventful tour.

This stage will be anything but uneventful I hope. All the sprinters teams will be working to position their chosen ones in the best spot to deliver them over the line to glory on this hallowed ground.

Peter Sagan, Mark Cavendish, Matthew Goss, Andre Greipel will all by vying for that triumphant feeling.

I don't know who is going to win. My head says it will be a Cavendish / Greipel showdown but it is the Champs Elysees and anything can happen and I hope it does!


Who's your pick for final glory?