After a steaming opening stage to the 2017 Tour Down Under was won by Caleb Ewan, the riders will take little respite on a gruelling Stage 2 through the hills of Adelaide. Join The Roar for live coverage from 12:30pm (AEDT).
With the temperatures in South Australia cruising up towards 40 degrees, Ewan was able to hold off Danny Van Poppel and Sam Bennett in a thrilling sprint into Lyndoch after the route was shortened.
In stark contrast though, today’s stage is expected to be much cooler as some cloud cover and a cool front move over Adelaide.
The day kicks with the famous Stirling loop that covers a large chunk of the day as the riders take five laps of the mountainous circuit.
After that, the riders will sneak into the outskirts of the South Australian capital, but it’s a brief visit as they hit the hills again for the finish in a day dominated by undulating hill climbs and sharp descents.
The altitude stays between 300 and 500 metres for the majority of the day before a steep and rapid descent coming off the Northern Summit and into the aforementioned outskirts of Adelaide which all builds towards a hill finish at Paracombe.
It will be a massive challenge for a lot of the teams to maintain any kind of advantage or pace through the loop as the gradients rise up towards double figures in some parts. There’s always the chance of an early breakaway but it’s a big risk on a day like this.
A late break might be the way to go because the descent down the back of the Northern Summit is extremely fast. If a few riders can jump out within five kilometres of that drop, then they could build an advantage on the pack leading into the final ascent.
Despite a testing effort on Stage 1 and a win for Ewan and Orica-Scott, it will be tough for Ewan to remain in the leaders jersey after today.
The stage doesn’t quite suit him and he may be looking to just hang back in the safety of the pack, relax and stay fresh for the rest of the tour, especially with Esteban Chavez and Simon Gerrans on the team
Team Sky are a danger anywhere in the world and may be the ones to watch as they protect Sergio Henao. They love to control the peloton from out front, and they could be at the front for the whole day.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage from 12:30pm (AEDT).
Connor Bennett
Editor
So Porte takes the lead of the race now and the standings sit exactly the same as today's Stage results. He's BMC's main man and a big ride on the tour this week could have him in good stead for the Tour de France later in the year
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
RICHIE PORTE (BMC) WINS STAGE 2 Just superb from Porte. It was a real grind all day for the peleton, having to deal with the Stirling Loop and the harsh final climbs reaching double-figure gradients. The peleton looked a bit sloppy during the second half of the race with riders all over the place, but Porte held his own throughout, just staying put in the middle of the pack and saving his legs through the ascents. There were a couple of half jumps in the last few kilometres, but Porte timed his move perfectly, just skipping away off the front, holding two riders on his tail before accelerating away again inside the final kilometre. He opened up a big gap in no time and took the stage by 16 seconds in front of Gorka Izaguirre and Esteban Chaves
Connor Bennett
Editor
FINAL KILOMETRE Porter has really opened up a big gap here!! You can see the grimace on his face and he is absolutely grinding away here. He wants this so bad and the lead continues to grow. No one can keep up and no one has the energy or legs to give chase. The two chasing riders have dropped back, they're giving up as they sit down in the saddle. And it's Richie Porte who has to take this from here. The road flattens out a touch and he is cruising a long way out in front. He's out of sight of the rest of the pack now as he comes around the last few corners. RICHIE PORTE WINS STAGE 2!! The clock starts ticking back to the rest as the pack come through about 17 seconds back.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Richie Porte doesn't mind the Tour Down Under does he. Always seems to fire.
Connor Bennett
Editor
1km to go Big acceleration from the front to the pack on the climb really splits up the peleton. And Richie Porte has made a move off the front for BMC!! Porte isn't flying away but he's just blitzing the tiring legs of the rest of the pack and he's creating a gap here, kicking on ahead of the pack and no one can keep up!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
2km to go Peter Sagan making his first real movements of the day. A lot of looking back and looking around at everyone else. It looks as though everyone is just waiting for someone else to make a move.
Connor Bennett
Editor
2km to go More victims off the back as the climb continues to burn. A real mix of teams out front and no one really has any more than one or two riders together.
Connor Bennett
Editor
3km to go Here we go we have an attack!! It's a red Katusha jersey. No one is chasing at all and he's kind of just let up again. Maybe testing the waters? Anyway, he's gone and been brought back in within about 60 metres and that's the end of that little excitement.
Connor Bennett
Editor
4km to go Still no one jumping off the front. Maybe everyone is too tired from a pair of massive opening days to make the effort? Should be a thriller of a finish though with a big mix of styles still right in the mix.
Connor Bennett
Editor
5km to go And there goes Ewan. He's done here as he slips down through the pack and right off the back. He's down in the saddle and just ambling a long now. His day is done. Ag2r are making their presence felt up the front. Ettix-Quick Step have been quiet today but they're pushing up front as well as more and more riders slip off the back. Orica-Scott still have two wheels at the fron.
Connor Bennett
Editor
6km to go The riders are really hitting the toughest part of the climbs now. Orica positioning well as Ewan continues to sacrifice his legs for the greater good. Some riders beginning to drop off the back as the gradient increases and the main pack thins out
Connor Bennett
Editor
7km to go How about that. Ewan has jumped out in front now and he's leading the pack, doing all the work for Orica-Scott with Movistar just nestled in behind him.
Connor Bennett
Editor
8km to go Caleb Ewan remains comfortably in the middle of the pack. He doesn't need to work too hard at the moment as the peleton chugs along at workable rate. The climbers will look to kick in sooner rather than later here.
Connor Bennett
Editor
9km to go Katusha looking strong now as a lot of bodies start cramping up towards the front on the climb. About ten riders wide across the road and it's anyone's guess at the moment. Sky are still right out of it at the moment.
Connor Bennett
Editor
14km to go Movistar have assembled at the front of the peleton, so has Orica-Scott and they're looking like the two strongest teams at the moment among a pack of a disention.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Everyone looking very tentative
Connor Bennett
Editor
18km to go Everyone still shuffling about in the peleton. The movements will likely come in the final stretch with some very steep climbs, even hitting 13% gradients. The tired legs with falter there and it's a big chance for the climbers in the pack to take a big win.
Connor Bennett
Editor
20km to go Some flat roads now as the riders hit the outer suburbs of Adelaide briefly