2014 Tour Down Under: Stage 6 live blog, updates

26th January, 2014

How exciting has this edition of the Tour Down Under been?

The crowds have been fantastic and Tour de France director, Christian Prudhomme, has called the race the ‘Tour de France of January”.

I think a big congratulations should also go out there for Aussie cycling fans who are embracing road cycling with such passion.

Yesterday’s thrilling finish up Willunga Hill saw Sky’s Ritchie Porte remind us just why he is one of our great riders.

The Tasmanian broke away from Cadel Evans and never looked like being beaten to the top.

Simon Gerrans rode a tactically good race and reached the line before rival Evans to take a one-second lead.

The Queen stage was certainly a fantastic day of racing and today’s final stage, a crit circuit through Adelaide will be exciting to watch too.

Riders will complete 18 laps of a 4.75km circuit, in total 85.5km.

There are three sprint points on laps six, 12 and 18.

The GC boys aren’t known for their crit capabilities, but do expect some exciting racing today and there just may be a few challenges for minor podium spots from the riders sitting in the top 10 of the GC standings.

Here are the fourth to tenth positions on the GC coming into the final stage:

4. Porte +10 (SKY)
5. Haas +27 (GRS)
6. Gesink +30 (BEL)
7. Impey +34 (OGE)
8. Hansen +37 (LTB)
9. Thomas +37 (SKY)
10. Slin +37 (KAT)

With time bonuses on offer on the sprint laps, certainly any of the riders sitting fifth to ninth in this group could attempt to wiggle themselves onto the podium.

The final lap and the stage, though, should belong to the sprinters.

It is hard to look past Lotto Belisol’s Andre Greipel to take another stage victory at the Tour Down Under. The German holds the record for the most stage wins at this race, with 15 victories.

Luckily for Marcel Kittel of Team Giant Shimano, there should be no crosswinds to split the peloton and we should see him go head to head with his compatriot.

Kittel broke Cavenidsh’s spell on the Champs Elysee last year at the Tour de France and is a very dangerous man in a sprint.

There’s also Australia’s young up and coming sprinting superstar, Caleb Ewan. The Tour Down Under has been a valuable learning experience for the young rider, who certainly hasn’t been overawed by the big stage in the past.

Garmin’s Steele von Hoff also likes to ride fast.

Just two weeks ago, von Hoff won his first Australian National Title, winning the Elite Men’s Criterium.

Of course, Orica-GreenEDGEwill be protecting their one-second lead and will be racing hard today.

Don’t be fooled into thinking today’s stage will be ceremonial procession.

There will be plenty of action on the streets of Adelaide this afternoon, so join me from 12.30pm AEST for live coverage of the final stage of the Tour Down Under

The Crowd Says:

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2014-01-26T04:10:13+00:00

2014 Tour Down Under: Stage 6 live blog, updates

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