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With a dramatic and surprising opening stage behind us, which saw UniSA’s Jack Bobridge walk away triumphant, our thoughts now turn to the second stage of the Tour Down Under.
Are we in for another day of surprise and suspense? Join The Roar from 1:30pm (AEDT) as we bring you live updates.
Beginning in the inner-city suburb of Unley, the peloton will travel 150.5 kilometres through the Adelaide Hills to the Stirling. While a short stage compared to some of the later World Tour races, the hilly parcours in combination with the ‘season opener’ status of the Tour Down Under will challenge the form and fitness of the peloton.
Two intermediate sprints and a Category Two rated King of the Mountains (KoM) point offer the breakaway an incentive to stay away until the 100 kilometre mark. At the least today’s winner of the KoM point is guaranteed to go level on points with Bobridge in the classification, although, after yesterday’s shock result the breakaway may also dare to believe in the improbable.
Once the race reaches Mylor the peloton will have two chances to study the ascent up to the finishing line in Stirling before battling it out a third time for the stage honours. A left-hand turn on to Strathalbyn Road will signal the beginning of the decisive climb during the second and final ascents.
The climb to the finishing line is inconsistent with a few short sections of flat and a short descent scattered in-between sections maxing out at a gradient of ten percent. If the stage and General Classification contenders remain together as happened last year then the final kilometre and ensuing sprint will be the decisive moment.
Successful late attacks are rare in Stirling due to the favourites often man-marking each other tightly and the science behind the different energy sources the body must use to sustain a winning effort from even as close as 500 metres out. Between equally capable explosive puncheurs or climbers the difference between victory and defeat will be superior positioning and knowing when to commence your sprint.
With both Diego Ulissi and Simon Gerrans absent from the race in 2015 only Cadel Evans remains from last year’s podium. While Evans will be ably supported by his countless years of experience and his BMC team mates, it is unlikely he will snatch the stage victory if he has to go toe-to-toe with a more explosive rider.
While not a stage for the likes of Giant Alpecin’s Marcel Kittel, today’s stage should suit all-terrain sprinters like Team Movistar’s J.J. Lobato, Etixx–Quick-Step’s Gianni Meersman, and Orica–GreenEDGE’s Daryl Impey. Although, the inclusion of the General Classification contenders in the contest will be sure to complicate matters for those just seeking the stage honours.
With the stage to Stirling won by foreign riders during the last two editions of the Tour Down Under, will the foreign brigade make it three from three? Should the sprinters be barged out of the way by the General Classification hopefuls keep an eye on Team Astana’s Luis Leon Sanchez during the finale.
Will Jack Bobridge still be in the Ochre Jersey by the conclusion of Stage Two of the 2015 Tour Down Under? Join The Roar from 1:30pm (AEDT) to discuss the race and follow all the action as it unfolds.
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