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2015 Tour Down Under (20 to 25 January)
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| roturn |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:16
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17th Santos Tour Down Under
The Tour Down Under starts as usual the WT season. And it seems as if it becomes more hilly with every year. Highlight once again should be the Willunga Hill stage with great atmosphere and the fight for every seconds. But we have two more uphill finishes. The already known 2nd stage in Stirling and a new finish in Paracombe with a tough last 1-2 kilometers.
With Gerrans and Jelte-Slagter the winners of the last 3 seasons won`t start. So we might get a new winner. Two Aussies are within the very best as Cadel Evans will end a successful career after the Tour Down Under, but is considered to go for the win here. Being only 1s down on Gerrans last season surely will give him another motivation to finish on the highest step of the podium. The other one is Richie Porte, who showed a good form by taking the Australian ITT Nationals.
But those two are obviously not the only favourites. Speaking about former winners we have to name Luis Leon Sanchez (2005) and Cameron Meyer (2011). Also Geraint Thomas, 3rd in 2014 could be an option, though having Porte in the same squad could mean, he won`t be allowed to go on his own.
More riders to be watched are Michael Rogers, Adam Hansen, Tom Dumoulin, Gianni Meersman, Nathan Haas, Jussi Veikkanen and U23 rider Jack Haig.
Sprint wise the field might be a bit weaker than usually. Still with Marcel Kittel we will see the fastest rider of the last 1-2 seasons. His main opponents are Giacomo Nizzolo, Mark Renshaw, Steele Von Hoff, Barry Markus and new National Road champion Heinrich Haussler. Rising star Caleb Ewan most likely won`t start in his home race.
The full startlist can be found here: https://www.procyc...-startlist
Follow the race on Twitter: https://twitter.c...rdownunder
Follow via the tour tracker: https://thetourtra....com/apps/
Edited by roturn on 15-01-2015 08:38
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:18
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Tour de France Champion
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Evans will be peaking hard here, hope for him he can do it and end his career on a high note.
Nice preview, can't believe the season is already starting again almost. |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:20
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World Champion
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Nice preview, will join the discussion tomorrow as it is late.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:22
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Directeur Sportif
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Not sure, how the exact lineup for UniSA will look like, but I guess riders like Neil Van der Ploeg or Mark O'Brien will get a shot there, too. Maybe also Scotson or Edmondson? Anyway, I expect Haig to be strong, even though I have my doubts if he will really Top-10 this race already this year. It's one of my only two predictions for this year though, so I have to stick to it 
Really looking forward to what Timmy Roe will do for Drapac here.
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| fjhoekie |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:28
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Will be interesting to see how strong certain riders are right now. Evans should be in top form, but the one I'm really looking at is Westra. Westra wants to ride another great Paris-Nice, and the team allows him to try... Hope he can show something in Australia.
Manager of Team Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska in the PCM.Daily Man-Game |
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| trekbmc |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:29
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Wouldn't say Veikkannen as a favourite, but I'm supporting him. 
Hoping Cadel can show something. It looks like a really good race though.
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:31
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Is Greipel injured? Feels odd to have a TdU without him at the start
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:32
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World Champion
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Good to see plenty of Kiwis in the mix, I'm expecting a decent show.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
5x x5
2x x2
2x x2 |
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| roturn |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:36
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Stromeon wrote:
Is Greipel injured? Feels odd to have a TdU without him at the start
He changed his race schedule. He starts the season a bit later to be mroe fresh for the classics and the Tour de France.
But indeed, feels weird to see him missing the race. He also said, that`s it`s a real pity as this is one of his favourite races. |
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:37
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I thought Budget Forklifts got a wildcard??? Maybe not??
And you'd think the Garmin would take Von Hoff with them and not make Uni SA take him instead
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Posted on 21-11-2024 20:00
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| Shonak |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:40
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Very, very nice preview roturn.
Doctor Pozzovivo to unleash some attacking fury up the Willunga Hill - that is, if he's in some nice early form. 
I imagine Moser could be the Ulissi of last year, who I remember particularly well from that race. At least the move to Slipstream should help him.
I'd like to see Geraint Thomas on top step, though I'd be nice if Cadel makes it. Gorka Izagirre to grab a stage win. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| roturn |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:40
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Jakstar22 wrote:
I thought Budget Forklifts got a wildcard??? Maybe not??
And you'd think the Garmin would take Von Hoff with them and not make Uni SA take him instead
Von Hoff is no longer with Garmin.
And Uni Sa is the only wildcard as always in this race I guess. Not sure if Budget was ever considered here?
@shonak: Haas is their favourite imo and he showed great form last year already. So I don`t expect Moser too strong here.
Edited by roturn on 11-01-2015 10:41
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:44
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roturn wrote:
Jakstar22 wrote:
I thought Budget Forklifts got a wildcard??? Maybe not??
And you'd think the Garmin would take Von Hoff with them and not make Uni SA take him instead
Von Hoff is no longer with Garmin.
And Uni Sa is the only wildcard as always in this race I guess. Not sure if Budget was ever considered here?
@shonak: Haas is their favourite imo and he showed great form last year already. So I don`t expect Moser too strong here.
Oh yeh thats right....hahaha
And they were considered because a few friends race with Budget and I am sponsored or was last year by Budget....so yeh. News travels around...But I guess they didn't get in...
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 11-01-2015 10:45
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roturn wrote:
Jakstar22 wrote:
I thought Budget Forklifts got a wildcard??? Maybe not??
And you'd think the Garmin would take Von Hoff with them and not make Uni SA take him instead
And Uni Sa is the only wildcard as always in this race I guess. Not sure if Budget was ever considered here?
Let's not forget Drapac though I never heard a thing about Budget applying for a wildcard here and i'm following the team on Facebook... so... 
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| Jakstar22 |
Posted on 11-01-2015 11:15
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tsmoha wrote:
roturn wrote:
Jakstar22 wrote:
I thought Budget Forklifts got a wildcard??? Maybe not??
And you'd think the Garmin would take Von Hoff with them and not make Uni SA take him instead
And Uni Sa is the only wildcard as always in this race I guess. Not sure if Budget was ever considered here?
Let's not forget Drapac though I never heard a thing about Budget applying for a wildcard here and i'm following the team on Facebook... so...
I don't think they were really telling anyone about it.... But yeh maybe I am wrong
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 11-01-2015 13:26
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Budget Forklifts are CT not PCT, so impossible for them to get a wildcard. Only PCT and National teams qualify for that.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 11-01-2015 16:28
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Geraint for the Overall win |
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| roturn |
Posted on 14-01-2015 07:11
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https://www.tourdo...down-under
The last two teams have announced their roster. Pretty interesting squads. As expected Bobridge, Van Der Ploeg and Edmondson are also riding for UniSA.
No real leader for Orica without Gerrans. Probably Meyer and Impey should be watched at the GC deciding stages.
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| roturn |
Posted on 14-01-2015 09:46
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Though it was Simon Geschke, who got hit actually. Craddock was on a ride with him but was able to go around the police car. Both stayed on their bikes though and are not injured.
Edited by roturn on 14-01-2015 09:46
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 14-01-2015 09:55
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He he, The cops obviously don't want him to win |
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