Good to see that most stages offer a chance for both sprinters and punchers to win. Think that it offers more for guys like Gerrans or Gilbert rather than Schleck and De Gendt, but Stage 5 up Old Willunga Hill obviously key.
And RadioShack with a pretty strong squad as well. Not sure who will lead them. I guess Ben Hermans could have a good shot.
Last year final GC:
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) GreenEDGE 20:46:12
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar
3 Tiago Machado (Por) RadioShack-Nissan 0:00:08
4 Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky Procycling 0:00:14
5 Rohan Dennis (Aus) UNI SA - Australia
6 Jan Bakelants (Bel) RadioShack-Nissan 0:00:16
7 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling 0:00:18
8 Javier Moreno (Spa) Movistar 0:00:23
9 Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank 0:00:29
10 Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Katusha 0:00:32
If Andy will not race to win, i hope Shack will let Machado get those 8 seconds back! But we will have to wait until January 26.
Not nesserarily 26th if you looked at the new course
Stage 2 has Corckscrew climb before 7km of descent to the finish. 2.48km climb that has 3 distinct sections and has an average gradient of 9.5%. Biggest percenatges at 15 - 17% and last 700m go to 7-8%.
So definite chance for action here.
Edited by Alakagom on 14-01-2013 08:19
On the topic of De Gendt, my bet is we'll find him mostly in breakaways to avoid falls and build up fitness, maybe even grabbing KoM along the way.
But the GC? I don't think so...
MartijnVDD wrote:
On the topic of De Gendt, my bet is we'll find him mostly in breakaways to avoid falls and build up fitness, maybe even grabbing KoM along the way.
But the GC? I don't think so...
The GC can be decided by the breakaways. Getting bonus seconds in these will help you to get a top10 as the gaps aren`t that big normally. Might be different this season with the biggder difficulties on some stages.
Adrian182 wrote:
Is that a joke? Eurosport shows practically everything live and is free unlike Sky.
Going to be a bittersweet season for me as it's the first one i'll have to watch having hung up my wheels.
Gonna have to get my kicks through PCM betting
I see this is your first post Adrian, so welcome. You state that you have hung up your wheels. Are you saying that you were a professional cyclist in real life? If yes, then who?
last year's race fell into the hands of gerrans and valverde on stage 4 when the peleton splitted after climbing chequers.
the year before that also stage 4, cam meyer was in a break away and the final desent was very windy which was dangerous for the peleton hence cam winning and gaining a good time gap.
Watching that video is just so sad. I miss the sunny weather and the mountains. Damn flat Belgium, can only get into the mountains once a year on holiday, in France
Ian Butler wrote:
Watching that video is just so sad. I miss the sunny weather and the mountains. Damn flat Belgium, can only get into the mountains once a year on holiday, in France
I totally agree with you Edited by PCM rulezz on 16-01-2013 09:03
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
Alakagom wrote:
For anyone interested Corkscrew climb.
Should have some fireworks hopefully.
I have done the Corkscrew a few times and its a fun little climb, you can really grab your bike by the scruff of the neck and go for it. I might have to go to across to Adelaide and see a stage this year
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
