Sunday night marked the start of the 17th Tour Down Under, a race that is simply a stunning success story.
Each year, well over half a million people flock to the side city and country roads, clamber up hill sides and cram onto balconies to watch the peloton pass by.
About 95,000 people were in Adelaide’s East End on Sunday night to see the now traditional opening night Classic, the curtain-raiser to the Tour proper which starts on Tuesday.
As races go, the People’s Choice Classic was nothing extraordinary. It was fast and furious, and Marcel Kittel justified his pre-race favouritism with a blistering sprint to claim back-to-back Classic wins.
As a side note it was the fourth straight year a German has won the Classic – Andre Greipel won in 2012 and 2013.
The Classic is always popular, especially with families. You can head to the East End in the early afternoon for a drink or some lunch then loll around in the parklands through which the 1.7 kilometres circuit runs, until it’s time to grab your piece of race ‘real estate’ by the fence.
An hour later it’s all over, with the live TV audience in the UK, Europe, North America, South East Asia, China and New Zealand tuning in to see images of South Australia’s beautiful capital city.
It’s a great night out and a terrific appetiser to the Tour Down Under.
In three years the Tour Down Under turns 20, an anniversary the race organisers probably never dreamt of when the plan to create the event was hatched in the mid 1990s.
Each year race director Mike Turtur strives to keep the TDU fresh by tweaking the race format. The introduction of a second climb up Old Willunga Hill was a significant alteration in 2012 and this year we have a second uphill finish – Torrens Hill Rd – albeit one that won’t be as decisive as Willunga.
In the past few years Turtur has also found new climbs to take the race over – such as Corkscrew (2013 and 2014) and this year, Checker Hill in the opposite direction to which it’s normally climbed.
The logistics that underpin the success of the Tour Down Under are also one of the reasons the format is so hard to change. The teams stay at one hotel in the Adelaide CBD. There’s a beautiful Tour Village across the road where the mechanics service the bikes in relative luxury. And, no stage starts or finishes more than two hours’ drive from Adelaide.
It’s all rather perfect, but it’s also relatively predictable, and there’s a great chance to do something really amazing.
The Tour Down Under has long modelled itself on being a mini Tour de France. Certainly in terms of organisation it’s as good as the Tour and ultimately that’s what everyone wants, good organisation.
But something else the Tour de France has is the Grand Depart.
Each year, countries from around Europe bid to host the opening few stages of Le Tour, and it’s always a massive success. Last year’s Grand Depart in Yorkshire and Cambridge drew nearly five million people to the roadside and pumped plenty more into the local economy.
This year, Utrecht in the Netherlands hosts a prologue and the opening road stage before the race heads towards France. So what’s to stop the Tour Down Under having its own Grand Depart?
Clearly it can’t be multiple stages in another country, but it could be the Classic in another city. Just imagine, 133 bike riders racing a loop around Circular Quay and Darling Harbour before finishing outside the Sydney Opera House. Maybe, they could even ride across the Harbour Bridge.
On the weekend before the traditional Tuesday start in Adelaide, why couldn’t another Australian city host the Grand Depart of the Tour Down Under? The Classic is usually held on Sunday, but if travel is an issue, run it on the Saturday.
Why not? The teams can still come to Adelaide to train as they do. It’s just a matter of getting the teams to the particular city and back again.
Yes, it sounds relatively expensive, but the city that successfully bids to host the TDU Grand Depart would meet all the costs, so there should be no problem. And a bid process would bring a few extra bucks into the South Australia’s economy, which can’t be a bad thing.
Sydney, as our most famous city, would probably want first dibs at a TDU Grand Depart, and with so many famous landmarks it seems an obvious choice. And if that were to happen, no doubt other cities would like to host a Grand Depart as well.
The beauty of it is that we don’t have to have another city host a Grand Depart every year. It could be every second year, or whenever the TDU organisers want it to. Some might say that by doing this Adelaide is taking a step towards losing the race, but surely as long as the South Australian Government and the UCI are happy, then there’s no risk.
While Sydney could host a magical Grand Depart, its geography isn’t as compact as Adelaide with the hills, beaches and city so close together. And Melbourne is in a similar position too.
Neither are as suitable as Adelaide.
The saying ‘if it ain’t broke’ is perfect for the Tour Down Under, but there’s nothing wrong with a bit of innovation. The TDU’s 20th anniversary is looming large, and it represents an opportunity to do something truly spectacular.
I’m sure Mike Turtur is already thinking about what he might be able to do.
Chris
Guest
Nice idea, but I would say why not do a grand tour using a regional area of SA. Imagine this "Grand Tour" kicking off on KI or somewhere around Port Lincoln. It truly is a magnificent event and watching it from Sydney makes me incredible proud of SA ;)
Yogi
Guest
Awesome idea. I don't see why it couldn't be taken further with the first two stages in another part of Australia followed by a rest day and then resumption in Radelaide.
LB
Guest
For us ordinary Aussies it sounds great to ride across the Bridge but I think you forget where these guys get to ride during the season. The Bridge does not compare to many of the places on the World Tour.
NaBUru38
Guest
I think that it should look like an Australian Classic.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
Hi Jarrod, as a South Australian I fully appreciate the parochialism of the locals particularly when it comes to losing events to other states. I think though there will come a time when people will realise that the Tour Down Under IS a South Australian event. South Australia is where it belongs. And South Australia is where it will stay. I know who owns the event and that's why I don't worry about the TDU disappearing should they decide that an interstate Grand Depart is an innovation they are keen on. IF the Govt went down this road the deal would be on its terms. We are only talking about one day, that day is of course not a part of the TDU. The thing about a Grand Depart is it's an innovation that won't cost the SA taxpayers any extra money, and will even create some income for the Govt through the bidding process. It doesn't even have to happen every year, but importantly it will give the race a whole new look.
Aljay
Guest
It would be fantastic for spectators, but the thought of climbing that hill again and again and again might be enough to cause a rider revolt.
Jarrod
Guest
The thing that seems to be overlooked every time this sort of discussion comes up is that, for better or worse, the event is owned by the South Australian government. I doubt that they'd want to sacrifice or dilute the benefit of their investment by sharing it with other states. The SA Tourism Commision is in the business of selling SA as a tourism destination, unlike RCS or ASO who are in the business of making a profit by selling the rights to sponsors and host cities. And regarding the predictability of the race and parcours, Anthony Tan's article on Cycling Central yesterday hit the nail on the head. I think that Mike Turtur and co. are stuck between a rock and a hard place in trying to find the balance between making the event demanding enough to be interesting and easy enough to coax the 'big names' to compete in their off-season.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
Good points Matthew, thanks for making them. I reckon ultimately the UCI will look at any proposal that is well funded and is not detrimental to the the teams. So, any idea is up for negotiation. Assuming there's something special planned for the 20th anniversary, there's still plenty of time to fully think out the logistics in terms of the politics and regulations.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
The People's Choice Classic might be the traditional curtain raiser for the Tour Down Under but since only the actual stage race is ranked as a World Tour race I would be inclined to think the teams have no obligation with the UCI to ride it or otherwise risk punishment under the World Tour's regulations. So if the People's Choice Classic were to remain the same outside of being hosted in another Australian city there would first need to be some serious consultation with the teams and their riders even before any sort of agreement is struck. I guess incorporating it in to the Tour Down Under 'proper' could be an option, but then you have to adjust the People's Choice Classic to things like the UCI's Stage Race regulations. Probably need to negotiate with the UCI about having a transfer\rest day though, since while the 2013 Tour de Pologne got a day to transfer from Northern Italy to Poland getting a non-traditional rest day is not exactly hassle free. As simple as getting a non-traditional third rest day may seem RCS Sport had quite the time getting that third rest day from the UCI for the 2014 Giro d'Italia.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Good comments. How good would a circuit race around Mount Panorama be!! Put the World Championshis there I say if Australia ever gets them again.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bobo, my answer to you. What ride wouldn't want to go across the Harbour Bridge for example, or race around Melbourne for a day? 1 transfer is not the end of the world.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
Good call. Time trials have often been discussed to help innovate the TDU and yes, if for instance the TT went uphill you could use road bikes and thus reduce costs etc. Don't rule it out I'd say.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Not exactly sure... Plenty of support from State Governments that's for sure. And either a route for landmarks, or a route that makes it look like a real Euro Classic
Scott Pryde
Expert
Exactly John. Racing across the Sydney Harbour Bridge? Can I have a list of Pro Cyclists that wouldn't want to do that?
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Time trials are possibly out of the question no matter what just due to the practically and costs associated with lugging such specialist equipment down to Australia and back, unless the teams are compensated. Although, if you can find and design a parcours which includes enough climbing that the riders and their teams would rather use their ordinary road bikes in the first place then it might be plausible.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
The Cadel Road Race is a great idea but the calendar is so crowded, finding more time for races would be hard. No doubt the Classic is a successful formula, but for the special occasion that the the 20th anniversary will be, it's worth doing something really spectacular.
Alex
Guest
Sorry but it works so well so don't change it. I would much rather see a series of 'classic' races in the week afterward that could include Sydney - the Cadel Evans race is one already. And I'm always amused at the crowd estimate for the TDU classic. 1.7km gives 3400m of fence (inside and out). Assuming you can fit 2 people per metre, that still means the crowd of 95000 was 13 people deep the whole way around. Which it clearly was not. Nevertheless I love that little circuit
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
The idea of a Grand Depart is to maximise the vision opportunities so it'd have to be the harbour in Sydney. If the TDF can lock down London for a day then anything is possible?
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
I agree re the convenience of the TDU. As I wrote, the race ain't broke and the riders love it. But why not try this as a onc -off? Given the race remains a World Tour event the teams will be obliged to send good riders here so no fear there. They will still stay in the same hotel for the lead up to the Tour and then the race week. Any flight is only a couple of hours, which is no huge demand and IF say the Grand Depart is raced on the Saturday there's an extra day to accommodate the required transfers before the real race starts on the Tuesday. My overall point is that the TDU should always be trying to innovate to stay fresh. It's too hard to do take the actual TDU any further than two hours drive from Adelaide, but the Classic, why not?
Aljay
Guest
A time-trial or criterium around The Rocks & Darling Harbour would be sensational. Sydney-siders are used to this area being locked down for special events so I think it would be ok and with the number of MAMILs in Sydney, the crowds would be enormous. The easiest place in Sydney to lock down for a street race is the Olympic site, but that’s a bit of a dog as far as visuals go. However, if we are talking about dream circuits, what about 10 laps around Mount Panaroma?