A nice little 135km growler of a day is set to start the 2013 World Tour off with a proper bang at the season-opening Tour Down Under. Join The Roar from 11:30am for live updates.
The Aussies will be champing at the bit for this one. The Europeans and Americans – many, in any case – will be a little less keen to suffer in the expected 30 degree heat over the lumpy route from Prospect to Lobethal.
The riders will head out past the Adelaide velodrome then straight to the hills of Golden Grove. No rest for the wicked around here, I’m afraid.
At first glance the hills that come early on don’t look much on the profile map, but at an average of somewhere in the region of 5% for more than 10km, they are hard enough to test the legs of the peloton, that’s for sure.
Those who’ve had their Weetbix will be looking to sneak off the front here to try to snatch the first and only King of the Mountains points of the day on offer, at the top of Checker Hill.
Might we see Andy Schleck and Philippe Gilbert have a blast? Hopefully, as it’ll be a shame for them to have come all this way just to sit in the pack!
Be great for the crowds too, though the Belgian rider from BMC Racing, who has his first outing in his rainbow jersey on the World Tour in 2013 today, is said to be in condition to go for a high spot on the overall, so he may want to keep his powder dry.
Then it’s onwards and indeed upwards most of the time towards Lobethal, which the riders will pass through twice before the final sprint for the line.
The three sprint points on offer come as the riders pass through Charleston, and again it’s possible someone from an early break will take those. The hills though won’t really stretch the peloton and we should expect to see it all come together, with Lotto-Belisol in particular chasing down any break hard.
The fans gathered in Lobethal should see a group sprint finish, with the usual suspects at the front. Watch out in particular for Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano), Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEDGE) and the in-form Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) here, as these sprinters like a tough finale.
Hang on to your hats folks, here we go!
Lee Rodgers
Expert
ah thanks Wilbur! sorry, missed that when i was typing away there!
Adam Semple
Expert
Excellent feed!
Aaron
Guest
Greipel shows everyone who's boss by winning Stage 1. Can greipel hang on on corkscrew road in tomorrow's Stage 2?
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Greipel takes the race lead, Demare 2nd, Renshaw 3rd, Simon Gerrans 4th. Keep watching here for more updates, and thanks for joining us for the live blog of the first stage of the 2013 Tour Down Under!
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Second is Andre Demare of FDJ, Renshaw 3rd of Blanco.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
The big German had about 8 bike lengths within seconds, then sat up and still won by 5. Textbook finish there from Lotto-Belisol. All gather now to congratulate Andre Greipel. Job done.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
And it's GREIPEL! He smashed it, absolutely smashed it. Very, very impressive.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Here we go, very close now. Henderson hits the friont.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Lotto reassert though. Four riders now for Lotto there, Greipel will be last in that line.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Sky back on the front though, they are riding very hard now.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
A perfect line for Lotto here, they certainly won't be able to blame the lead out if they lose this one, it's textbook.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Lotto now hit the front.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Sky now massing, they have 4 riders at the front.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Here comes Lotto... Boasson Hagan in 3rd.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Greipel and Goss seem to be having no trouble. It's Sky back on the front, but they';re a little split up. Lotto-Belisol however are still all lined up.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
My man for today, Marcel Kittel, is at the back!
Lee Rodgers
Expert
An Ag2r guy sneaks off the front, Biel Kadri. He's trying to stretch the pack but in truth he's going nowhere. The pack smells blood!
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Ah, Renshaw and Goss just behind Greipel.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Orica-GreenEDGE nowhere to be seen yet...
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Lotto look much more prepared here than Movistar, who have just 2 guys at the front. Lotto have all their guys lining up in line. 7km to go.