One day you’re hot, the next day you’re relying on your teammates to push you to the finish line.
Not long ago, everyone was talking about how Philippe Gilbert was set to stamp his authority on the Santos Tour Down Under by soothing the vicious Corkscrew beast and defining the race’s destiny for 2013.
And while those “everyones” were enthusing about what damage Corkscrew might do to the General Classification, no one anticipated what could similarly happen on the subsequent descent into Rostrevor.
I’ve ridden that descent many times and it’s always been tricky, especially at the top where there are a couple of tight corners.
I know of a number of local riders who have come to grief too after a miscalculation.
But with the road recently resurfaced and no prospect of oncoming traffic, the threat of danger was never really talked about.
Anytime the word “CRASH” crackles over race radio, the heartbeat goes up rapidly.
Those words were soon followed by “riders down numbers 121 and 11”, the race numbers for Lampre-Merida’s Matthew Lloyd and BMC’s Philippe Gilbert – “maybe 15 riders, others down too.”
This was not meant to happen. The script had already been written, but it was happening and suddenly the TDU had been turned on its head.
We could only watch as Thomas powered away to a superb win but no further details were relayed as to who had crashed and how bad any injuries might have been.
As it turned out no one was seriously hurt.
FDJ rider Arnaud Courteille who it’s believed crashed first has broken a collarbone and is out of race, while two other riders went to hospital for precautionary x-rays.
Suddenly though there are now only 15 riders within 30 seconds of Thomas on General Classification.
Both Gilbert and defending champion Simon Gerrans lost more than two and a half minutes.
Normally that would mean game over for anyone else with GC ambitions but stage three is another day, and it won’t just be any day.
Don’t be surprised if this race turns on its head once more.
It’s forecast to be 38 degrees in Adelaide and the six laps around hilly Stirling are relentlessly undulating and energy sapping.
Interestingly, only one of the top 15 riders is Australian – Adam Hansen is 14th – so if the Europeans fail to cope with the heat and terrain, there could be more drama.
All it will take is for someone to not eat or drink properly, and like Simon Gerrans did on Corkscrew, (“he had an off-day”) suddenly they’re in trouble.
But could Adelaide’s role as host city of the Tour Down Under be in under threat?
Each January this story gets a run in the media that the Victorians want “our race” and given the endemic rivalry between South Australia and Victoria, it’s always a headline grabber and easy material for hungry talkback radio programs.
Usually there’s nothing much in the story, as the UCI love what Race Director Mike Turtur has done with the race over the past 15 years.
It really is a no-brainer for the South Australian Government but the contract for the Santos TDU runs out in 2015, so negotiations with the UCI will have to take place sometime soon.
Mike Turtur recently lost his position as UCI’s Oceania President to Tracey Gaudry, who is based in Victoria.
The SA Government is also broke and needs to find savings wherever it can.
Could that be the perfect storm that Victoria needs to “steal” the race?
I would say no.
Yes, it costs money but the Santos Tour Down Under makes money.
The SA Government also recently signed a marketing deal with the ASO who own the Tour de France and numerous other major cycling races.
Logistically, I’m not sure Melbourne can host a Tour Down Under as successfully as Adelaide.
Adelaide has all the terrain required literally on the fringes of the city. Melbourne is not blessed in this way.
With a new Tourism Minister just appointed this week – albeit one who’s a former cycling journalist – Minister Leon Bignell may have to get up to negotiating speed very quickly.
Common sense should prevail but as we’ve seen on many occasions over the years, in cycling politics you can never really be sure.
Fancy a wager on your favourite sport? Head on over to PlayUp for great odds and friendly customer service and pick a winner. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Australia's Jai Hindley has said he is "lost for words" after a shock stage victory at the Tour de France earned him the leader's…
Australia's Jai Hindley has said he is "lost for words" after a shock stage victory at the Tour de France earned him the leader's…
Tadej Pogacar has won a drama-packed Tour of Flanders, winning in a breakaway with Matieu van der Poel second, Mads Pedersen third and Wout…
Women are not allowed to compete in the Tour de France. However you choose to re-read that sentence, the fact remains: the most famous…
The jam-packed month-by-month quiz full of 2022 sports trivia!
Australian Grace Brown has won silver in the women's time trial, the first event at the world road cycling championships.
