The Tour down Under 2013 (TDU) was a fantastic event and has come so far since starting 15 years ago. It was amazing to watch a packed weekend of cycling, talk to the crowd and note just how impressed everyone was.
This was my first visit to the TDU but having traveled to the Tour de France quite a few times I was struck by the ease of accessibility, the volume of world class cyclists involved, how ideal Adelaide is to host such an event and how much the crowds felt like they rivalled a typical Tour de France day.
I think the only thing missing was the Tour de France red devil who follows every stage, every year of the Tour de France!
However there were a few good Aussie versions including a full grown man in nappies, a man in a bear suit on one of the 40 degree days and multiple clowns running alongside the riders as they climbed the corkscrew!
On the downside it is unfortunately that the TDU clashes with both the Tour de San Luis in Argentina which took a good chunk of the world class riders and the Australian Open Tennis which took a chunk of the crowd.
Still, this is an event which is growing and looked truly world class when viewed from the heavy crowds on the side of the road in the McLaren Vale or the streets of Adelaide.
So here is what it is aspiring to – is it possible that the TDU will become the Australian ‘must’ event for cycling teams? Will the TDU become the Melbourne F1 for Grand Prix, or the Australian Open for Tennis – the downunder beginning to the top events of the season, and a favourite of the circuses that follow?
It is the first UCI event of the year but it seems it still has some distance to go to convince the rest of the world of its potential. Will it always suffer from the timezone, distance and rivalry with other Australian sports?
Cycling events like the Tour de France have so much history. In only 15 years, I think the TDU is doing ok but it would be great to see it up there with the Grand Tours!
Here is a statistical comparison of the two tours.
Tour Down Under v Tour de France
TDU First Year: 1999
Tour de France First Year: 1903
TDU Tour Length: 6 Days
Tour de France Tour Length: 21 Days
TDU Tour Length circa (km): 760
Tour de France Tour Length circa (km): 3500
TDU Riders: 133
Tour de France Riders: 198
TDU Teams: 19 (7 per team)
Tour de France Teams: 22 (9 per team)
TDU Total biggest crowd (est.): 780,000 (over 6 days)
Tour de France Total biggest crowd (est.): 10,000,000 (over 21 days)
TDU Biggest Day ever (est.): 150,000 (Day 5, 2013)
Tour de France Biggest Day ever (est.): 3,000,000 (Day 1, 2007)
[roargal]
Rightio
Guest
I have to commend the Aussie enthusiasm at anything that is flavour of the month but get over it. As excellent as the TDU is, it is no way comparable to a Grand Tour nor will it ever be one. Blame distance, lack of corporate support and present calendar placing but above all, lack of European heritage. Dream on people... this race is for training and early UCI point scoring but not for the big guns who don't need it and will earn enough points in other events throughout the season. 15 years is a good run but becoming boring... do introduce an interstate stages and may be a time trial instead of the meaningless first day criterium race. And do increase professionalism in its organisation - the Corkscrew crash fiasco was bad (open the road to realise 3 pros were stuck behind, and reclose in panic); pick knowleadgeable people and not just simpletons capable of cheering only Stuart O'Grady for want of other knowledge; have marshalls and guards who can distinguish a pro from a weekend warrior; stop the clown police riding the wave of a few minutes in an international event not knowing how to ride their MTB police bikes or going along their crowd control in a crass manner; even keep at bay those in the crowd coming along for no.other reason than the fact that it's a free event, only to spoil the fun and take the space of real enthusiasts; plus give broadcast rights to a serious enterprise and not the pathetic Channel 9, mismatching its tv schedule, prioritising Miss Congeniality or cricket. So, happy 15th.TDU and many more to come but stick to reality and not heroic and unfeasible comparisons.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
I think there has to be a stage finish in Sidney or Canberra for it to become a truly 'big' event, certainly in the eyes of many Europeans and Americans. That's not meant to bring any offense to people in Adelaide, just that a national tour really should embrace the nation, not just one area year after year. The riders take the race seriously because there are points on offer, but for others it's training. To become truly prestigious, doesn't the race need to widen its scope?
sheek
Roar Guru
While acknowledging Sean's comment that the riders like not having to move between stages, Peeeko also makes an excellent suggestion. We know that many stages of the TDF are set year in/year out. The race always finishes in Paris. Nevertheless, each year the route is changed slightly with some different stages. This makes each tour unique while retaining a sameness at the same time. There is enormous growth for the TDU & I guess it is how big do we wish to grow it? Adelaide has earned the right for the finish, while SA & Victoria should comprise most of the tour. However, the other states could be involved by holding the first one or two stages on a rotational basis.
samwood
Roar Rookie
The Tashkent Terror, havent heard his name for a while - he was a pretty amazing sprinter and that would make a pretty amazing team although I think the egos may be an issue! It could be a good idea having a single day to show off another part of Australia and show the TDU to wider audiences. Adelaide was pretty amazing during the tour, but it would be good to share the event a little. As for the world tour points table It has given Slatger a good jump in too - http://www.uciworldtour.com/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template3/layout.asp?MenuId=MTY3Mzc&LangId=1
Ryback
Guest
Personally I think the TDU should get back all the disgraced drug cheats and put them in one team; Lance, Contador, Vinokourov, Mayo, Jan Ullrich, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov and Richard Virenque (Floyd Landis and Michael Rasmussen can be alternates). A small dispensation from the UCI might be required but the limitless publicity would be worth the vilification it might receive from some quarters. Seriously though I think @peeeko has a good idea with moving it about Australia a little - perhaps just the first stage or the people's classic so the riders only have to do one transfer.
Sean Lee
Expert
With world tour points up for grabs it is less of a training run now than what it has been. In such a tight schedule there is really nowhere else it could slot in, plus it has become the grand finale of a summer of cycling in Australia, coming after the Bay Classic, the nationals and the Herald Sun Tour.
Sean Lee
Expert
The appeal of this race, especially to the riders, is that there are no transfers between stages. They can stay at the same hotel for the duration of the event.
Dylan Reynolds
Roar Rookie
It is a great event and part of the charm is definitely the accessibility. I think for it to increase it position of importance though they need to be able to shift it in the calendar - if possible. As it stands it is used as little more than a training run for the bigger names.
peeeko
Roar Guru
would it make more sense to make it a tour rather than just purely based around Adelaide, surely more australians would get involved if it passed through their city/town? adelaide - mt gambier- great ocean road - melbourne - thru the great dividing range and canberra to sydney?
sheek
Roar Guru
Obviously the TDF is the ultimate, but the TDU has room to grow. I think they've found the right part of the country to tour, some of the scenery in the back hills behind Adelaide & south-east corner are spectacular. Australia is a long way from the rest of the world, but I think we can produce a very good tour in years to come.