Stage 3 Tour Down Under 2013. Slagter!

Who? Yes that was my question when Tom-Jette Slagter crossed the line after a gallant sprint towards the line at today's stage from Mt. Barker to Stirling. Slagter is the dutch rider currently sporting the young rider's jersey for Team Blanco, a name that we are sure to hear more of. He held off a late charge from Australia's Matt Goss, Ocre Jersey and TDU leader Geraint Thomas and World Champ Philippe Gilbert.

I have to say the Stirling stage is one of my favourites. It is such a pretty little town and they put on a fabulous party for the race with lots of food stalls in a picturesque setting. We arrived early around 9am to get the shady spot at the 25m mark and it was well worth the early trek enjoying shade all day long. And with the riders passing by six times it was the perfect spot.


With Sky doing their job to keep Geraint in the leader's jersey there's no doubt it will be on for Saturday's climb up Willunga Hill, add in the fact that an Aussie will be wanting to take the win on Australia Day - that's going to be an exciting and most likely decisive one as usual.

Tomorrow is the Bupa Challenge ride which sees over 6,000 amateur cyclists take the road over various distances to ride the course like the pros. Well, maybe not like the pro's but at least on the same course as the pro's.

We will head out to Tununda to see the finish which will be another change for The Gorilla - Andre Greipel to take another sprint finish.

Until then here are some pics from today's stage...

Stage 2 Tour Down Under 2013. Thomas!

The inclusion of the infamous local climb of Corkscrew Road certainly added some spice and flavour to the Stage 2 of the Tour Down Under. I'm not sure how many punters would have selected Gerrant Thomas to win the stage at the start of the day, but the Brit dug deep to ride the climb of his life and to survive right through to Rostrevor.

We spent the morning down at Glenelg browsing the local shops and having some fresh local fish and chips on the foreshore to fill our tummies before heading off to Rostrever to see the finish.

Ultimately we would have loved to be up on Corkscrew Road but with four kids in tow the cons outweighed the pros, so it was to the finish we headed.

We arrived with about half an hour to go, set up at the 140m mark and wandered down to the big screen to watch the climb. The atmosphere was fantastic and once again Adelaide turned on spectacular weather. After the climb we had a few minutes to get back to the kids and stick our heads over the fence and peer down the long stretch of the finishing straight. It is one of my favourite sights seeing the riders enter the home stretch and today didn't disappoint with Gerrant pushing through sprinting to the line for his well earned win.

We heard the news of a crash in the main peloton and saw the remnants when a few scathed and dirty riders limped over the finish line.

The riders will need a good rest tonight as tomorrow's stage from Unley to Stirling is another tough one and with a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius predicted the heat will surely be on.

A morning at Glenelg

The locals at Glenelg

The end of the long finishing straight awaiting the riders

Watching Corkscrew climb on the big screen

Gerrant makes his move

And flies past us towards the line, head down, bum up!

The end is in sight for the others

World Champ Philippe Gilbert second left

Thank God it's over!

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!