Tour Down Under

[dsriggs]

Greipel got left for dead today. He's fallen all the way back to 49th, 7:34 behind the leader.

[Wayno]

Well it's come and gone - and there's talk of more hill climbs in 2013. I wonder which routes they are considering? Perhaps a trek up Norton Summit Rd?

Tour Down Under to scale new heights

Organisers of the Tour Down Under are considering including more uphill roads in next year's race to give specialist climbers more of a chance. The race currently favours sprinters along the largely flat stretches of road, with some steep ascents through the Adelaide Hills and Barossa ranges.

Race director Mike Turtur wants the race to be evenly suited to both types of riders.

"There's something we've got in mind that might fit well for the race in terms of making it a better balanced race again so if we're able to implement this element it'll make it interesting again," he said.

The news is bound to please UniSA rider Rohan Dennis, who claimed both the King of the Mountain and Best Young Rider titles. The 21-year-old says his focus now switches to qualifying for the London Olympics.

"The past week was vital for me to get my name out there, and my long term goal is to become a professional on the road," he said.

Veteran commentator Phil Liggett says his future looks bright.

"He came really good at the national championships, he won both the Under-23 road and time trial titles. I think he could well be a world champion again after the track sessions in Melbourne which come at the end of March," he said.

"He's young, so he's going to have to fight, but I'm sure he'll make the Olympics."

[crawf]

The city looked pretty good in the aerial footage during Sundays race on Channel 9.

[Nathan]

The city looked pretty good in the aerial footage during Sundays race on Channel 9.

Agreed, although it would have been nice if the ACC allowed the grassed areas a bit more water before the race (there was a few nice green areas, but a few dusty yellowed areas as well, particularly around the University ovals)

[Maximus]

Well it's come and gone - and there's talk of more hill climbs in 2013. I wonder which routes they are considering? Perhaps a trek up Norton Summit Rd?

Tour Down Under to scale new heights

Organisers of the Tour Down Under are considering including more uphill roads in next year's race to give specialist climbers more of a chance. The race currently favours sprinters along the largely flat stretches of road, with some steep ascents through the Adelaide Hills and Barossa ranges.

I'll definitely be interested to see what changes are made. I think the biggest obstacle to using hills near the city is the logistics, as per this article:

Downhill dash in the plans to add finishing touch to future tours
Rupert Guinness
January 23, 2012

THE prospect of the Tour Down Under having a spectacular stage finish in Adelaide with the field racing down from the city's biggest climb - Greenhill Road - was one of several suggestions being considered by race organisers as they plan future routes.

Race director Mike Turtur said that the idea was one of many that were on the table in a bid to tweak the race course every year.

This year, the biggest change was to include a summit finish on Old Willunga Hill for the first time in the 14-year history of the World Tour race.

However, what changes are able to be included for next year's edition will not be known until next month at the earliest after the race organisation have received expressions of interests from towns and regions outside Adelaide that want to host stage starts and finishes.

Several riders have suggested that the Tour Down Under include more selective landmarks in the route to make it more decisive. Australian rider Michael Rogers (Sky), who placed fourth overall at 14 seconds to Australian race winner Simon Gerrans (GreenEDGE), would like a time trial.

Turtur said the idea of a finish in Adelaide with the route including the five-kilometre descent from Greenhill Road had been in their suggestion book for some time. ''We have already looked at those things,'' Turtur said. ''Logistically, it is a bit of a management issue because once you come back into suburbia, there is either [a need for] full barriers or monitoring of every driveway, back street, cat and dog and everything else.''

Turtur is not convinced that a time trial should be added to the race. He said it would bring added costs for timing equipment and extended road closures. And while some races allow for the use of standard road bikes in time trials rather than aerodynamic ones, Turtur is against compromising the discipline.

''I have never considered a time trial without the right equipment,'' he said. ''World Tour is World Tour, and if they do it they should be able to use the equipment they use in every other major tour. I think it is a bit Mickey Mouse when you say, 'Do a time trial, but you can use your normal road bike.'

''Depending on how far, who and when it is, it can be all over red rover as soon as it begins. That could happen here. It is dangerous in my view.''

Also, a very complimentary tourist-focussed write-up of the event here:

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/activity/a ... 1qivf.html

[Wayno]

Also, a very complimentary tourist-focussed write-up of the event here:

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/activity/a ... 1qivf.html

thanks Maximus - that's a good read. including this opening statement:

It's heaven for MAMILs and it can't be faulted. Sorry, Melbourne, but Adelaide is home to an event that's damn near perfect, writes Simon Morris.

The TDU is definitely a winner, but there's still room for improvement. Many of my interstate friends did not even know the event was happening last week (i know coz i emailed them about it - sent some of my pikkies to brag about the great time to be had). Most of these same people take an interest in the Tour De France so i'd mark them as prospective tourists who just haven't realised they can be part of it all - SA is just a 1-2 hour flight away. I think the event can grow and achieve 800,000 spectator mark (current level is ~760,000) with 1000s more coming from interstate and overseas.

[ghs]

The timing of the tour down under is not that great. The Australian Tennis open which
is probably Australia's largest sporting event is on at the same time.

[Wayno]

Something SA needs is a strong cycling event strategy. It probably exists but i've searched and could not find it. I did find an old SA strategy document (covering 2006-2010 published here) but it's more about public cycling than sporting.

I stumbled across Victoria's strategy covering 2011-2015 and it's a highly sports event focused document ==>

http://www.tourism.vic.gov.au/images/st ... 0final.pdf

. They already have many internationally recognised cycling events, and are working madly to improve & expand their cycling event infrastructure. A milestone they hope to achieve in 2012 is becoming 'UCI recognised' which basically proves they can host a TDU-like event. They cite SA & NZ as being their toughest competitors.

[victorious80]

Not sure if these figures are accurate, but according to the two links below, the Tour Down Under (8 day event) had a greater attendance than the Australian Open this year (14 day event).

I think this really gives an indication as to the popularity and scale of this event!

Aus Open 2012 attendance was 686,006 (http://www.thesportscampus.com/20120129 ... sing-notes)

Tour Down Under 2012 estimated attendance was 750,000 (http://www.news.com.au/an-estimated-750 ... 6250813150)

Of course there are some differences between the events, such as the TDU being free to watch, but this is very impressive none-the-less!

[Vee]

These attendance estimates are huge.

The Tour Down Under is a fabulous event - unique, international, well organized and with wide appeal. Comments and feedback in forums and social media showed the positive publicity (local, national and international) social and economic benefits to our state.

The estimated audience is huge by comparison with many other events in Australia. It's a source of frustration that the Channel 9 coverage was the only blot - they refused to give the race the scheduling it deserved, showing race highlights close to midnight (highly criticised in social media) and only showing the final two days live.

The participation beyond the audience level extends this event and increases its appeal eg the Community bike challenge and various impromptu local bike rides with cycling personalities. The event should have had more coverage in TV sports bulletins interstate. I would much prefer SBS coverage to have continued.

South Australia has a proud reputation in creating and organizing major events eg. Tour Down Under, Festival of Arts, Fringe Festival, WOMADelaide, Clipsal 500, Cabaret Festival, Feast, Tasting Australia etc etc.

The Tour Down Under is just one of the events illustrated in this YouTube video of our major events showing South Australia -a brilliant blend.
http://bit.ly/xzDdyv

[Maximus]

thanks Maximus - that's a good read. including this opening statement:

It's heaven for MAMILs and it can't be faulted. Sorry, Melbourne, but Adelaide is home to an event that's damn near perfect, writes Simon Morris.

I did wonder whether that was a not-so-subtle dig at Melbourne, seeing as the article was in the Sydney Morning Herald (but would probably also appear in The Age).

The TDU is definitely a winner, but there's still room for improvement. Many of my interstate friends did not even know the event was happening last week

Definitely agree with you, Wayno. I'm 'on the ground' here in Canberra and socialise with a lot of cycling folk, but many just don't know that the event is on. Or, if they do, they don't realise that there's the opportunity to ride one of the stages. Of course, it's certainly true that the event gets lost in TV sports news when the tennis and cricket are also on at the same time.

[Ben]

Not sure if these figures are accurate, but according to the two links below, the Tour Down Under (8 day event) had a greater attendance than the Australian Open this year (14 day event).

I think this really gives an indication as to the popularity and scale of this event!

Aus Open 2012 attendance was 686,006 (http://www.thesportscampus.com/20120129 ... sing-notes)

Tour Down Under 2012 estimated attendance was 750,000 (http://www.news.com.au/an-estimated-750 ... 6250813150)

Of course there are some differences between the events, such as the TDU being free to watch, but this is very impressive none-the-less!

I wouldn't look too much into this. TDU = Free and unlimited places; Australian Open = $ massivley expensive and limited spaces

[mattblack]

The TDU is seen as the largest free sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere. Not a bad effort. Cant see there being more than 1 UCI event in Australia at one time, Melbourne's a bit late jumping on this bandwagon as they were with the F1 GP. There are already quite a busy schedule on the international calander for the major teams and riders.

[jk1237]

apparently the TDU is getting hardly any exposure or publicity outside of SA, but its encouraging that a lot of lycra people from bike clubs in Syd and Melb are coming over for the Community ride. Next year we need a few big name riders to really generate interest Oz wide, and maybe a possible shift to late March or early April. January is good, but we are guaranteed 2-3 days over 35 degrees atleast which isnt a concern for me, but maybe for others

[metro]

apparently the TDU is getting hardly any exposure or publicity outside of SA

need to put it on bus stops in Sydney and Melbourne. "One of the worlds greatest cycling events.. ONLY IN ADELAIDE!"

could do it for the Fringe as well, "worlds best fringe festival right here in Australia.. ONLY IN ADELAIDE!"