Although it still has a day to run, the 2013 Tour Down Under can already be considered a great success.
Coming at a time when the cycling world was crying out for a distraction from the Lance Armstrong circus and the bumbling, scrambling, almost comedic responses coming from the UCI, the Tour Down Under has given all that have followed it memories that will last forever.
Following are five moments that will live long in my memory.
1 – Simon Gerrans and Old Willunga Hill
Let’s face it, until stage five – featuring Old Willunga Hill – Orica-GreenEdge had been struggling.
Last year’s Tour Down Under hero, Simon Gerrans, had high hopes going into this year’s race and actively collected time bonuses at the intermediate sprints throughout stage one, but by the end of stage two he was out of overall contention having struggled with asthma on the important Corkscrew road climb.
Matthew Goss managed second place on stage three, but when a crash brought down the Orica-GreenEdge lead out train in the final kilometre of stage four, it looked as if little could be salvaged from this year’s race.
Enter Old Willunga Hill.
With the team determined to stick it to the critics (who had all ready began to circle), they gathered their resources before the second ascent of the famous climb and catapulted their resurrected leader onto its slopes.
For the second year in a row, Simon Gerrans and Old Willunga came together, sparking a frenzy among the thousands of passionate fans that lined their way to the summit.
Movistar’s Javier Moreno looked to be riding away late on the climb, but the action was happening behind him. Gerrans had burst out of the anonymity of the pack and was bridging across, followed by Blanco’s Tom Slagter who had eyes on the general classification.
Gerrans reached Moreno’s back wheel but had little time to draw breath as Slagter sped past.
Gerrans was instantly on his wheel and reminiscent of his battle with Valverde last year, the pair carved their way up the mountain. Moreno was left languishing in their wake.
Jubilation rang out atop the climb as Gerrans sprinted around the last bend and the finish line came into view – his half bike length victory being the difference between an ordinary tour and a successful one for his team, while Slagter’s second was enough to give him the overall lead.
With two sensational finishes on Old Willunga in the last two years, surely the summit finish is here to stay.
2 – Sportsmanship after the stage four crash
A photograph was doing the rounds on the internet after the controversial crash that marred the end of stage four.
Blanco’s Graeme Brown had touched wheels and fallen, bringing with him a number of riders who ended up bouncing off the road and being tangled among a line of cars that were parked way too close to the action.
Battered and bruised, Brown slowly picked himself up, and with blood seeping through the rips in his torn and tattered jersey, tried to make his way to the finish line. Seeing his obvious discomfort, two fellow riders came to his aid.
The photograph, a portrait in compassion and mate-ship, shows Euskaltel Euskadi rider Jon Aberasturi Izaga and Australian road and time trial champion, Luke Durbridge, riding either side of the distressed Brown.
Each is pushing him to the line.
No one likes to see a crash and it is good to see such spirit exist within the peloton with neither team nor country allegiance standing in the way of sportsmanship. If it wasn’t for Gerrans’ performance on Old Willunga a day later, this would remain my lasting memory of this year’s Tour.
3 – Andre Greipel
Andre Greipel loves this race and the race loves him. Once accused of only winning ‘shit small races’ by former team mate Mark Cavendish, Greipel is now a superstar in his own right. While he owes a lot of his success to his lead out train – a fact he never forgets to mention when talking to the media – he has taken his sprinting to the next level.
He now takes on the world’s best and beats them regularly.
He has gone head to head with Cavendish on more than one occasion and beaten him and his three victories at last year’s Tour de France have given him the confidence and belief that, on his day, he is the best in the world.
The inclusion of Kiwi veteran Greg Henderson in his lead out train has completed the puzzle. Watching Lotto Belisol organise themselves for the sprint is like watching a well-oiled machine. It functions perfectly and the big Gorilla rarely lets them down.
It has been a pleasure to watch.
4 – Geraint Thomas
One of the early race highlights was Geraint Thomas sprinting past his breakaway companions to claim stage two.
The Welshman had performed brilliantly on the Corkscrew climb, establishing himself a small lead as he began the descent into Rostrevor. He was soon joined by a handful of riders and together they held off a larger group as they charged over the last few kilometres of the stage.
Using all his cunning, the Olympic track champion sat on the back of his group, barely pedalling as they approached the finishing straight.
Then, launching himself, as if from the top of the banking at a velodrome, he pedalled as only the very best track riders can, fast and furious, leaving the others floundering.
It was as comprehensive a victory as you will ever see.
5 – The crowds
Whether on Checker Hill, the Corkscrew or Old Willunga, at the start or the finish, or anywhere in between, the crowds have been fantastic.
They narrowed the roads on the climbs, wore crazy costumes, and encouraged the riders as only a frenzied crowd can. They bustled around the race starts, eager to see the riders sign on, and craned their necks at the finishing lines, often standing five or six deep to catch a glimpse of the winning sprint.
Cycling has arrived in this country and is here to stay. Our old heroes are fading, but a new and exciting era has just begun. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Tour Down Under. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable race to follow.
These are some of the memories that I will take away with me. I’d love to hear of yours.
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