Our festival programming is here! 🎉 Get amongst Adelaide’s buzzing atmosphere, take in the City of Adelaide Tour Village, experience the race from the regions or give the kids a day they won’t forget 🙌 Explore our full program ⬇️ #TourDownUnder tourdownunder.com.au/festival?utm_c…
PREVIEW | Tour Down Under 2024 stage 1 - Caleb Ewan and Sam Welsford big favourites to win opening big sprint of the year
CyclingMonday, 15 January 2024 at 18:59
Preview. Stage 1 of the Tour Down Under will be a fresh display of the peloton with a new image in 2024, and we should see a bunch sprint to decide the opening day of the Australian race.
The race begins in Tanunda with a 144-kilometer day. This one features three laps of a large circuit which includes the slight ascent to Mengler's Hill, however as the riders come down back into town they will organize to a bunch sprint.
Stage 1: Tanunda - Tanunda, 144 kilometers
With 45-kilometer laps, the first stage is not all easy but it's not tough business either. Most of the riders will be on their first competitive day in months and won't be looking to take many risks or tests themselves too much. As usually is the case, this should be a calm day on Australian roads. Menglers Hill is not too hard, a slight rise into 5% which summits with 13.5 kilometers to go. There will be some fight for positioning however as a steep descent follows, but the final kilometers are flat.
Flat and not too technical. There will be a 90-degree turn around the 1-kilometer mark however that, alongside a slight turn right after will be just about it. The finishing straight is still long so it won't be tackled with urgency by some. The finishing straight has a slight gradient but a bunch sprint is hard to avoid.
The Weather
Map Tour Down Under 2024 stage 1
Temperatures way above the 30 degrees will make for a tough day of racing, regardless of the rhythm. It will be stormy weather, rain could fall despite the brutal heat, and although the wind will be calmer than previous days, we've got a northeastern breeze. Hence, we've got a headwind sprint, whilst throughout the day direction changes constantly change.
The Favourites
Caleb Ewan - Ill on the rnu-up to the race, but this is not as key for a pure sprint. The stage will not be too hard, it's all about the sprint and Ewan has the speed. Recently a winner of the Australian criterium nationals, he is also with great motivation due to his new team. The headwind sprint is what does it for me however, without much technique necessary and in such conditions, he can strike.
Sam Welsford - Welsford is a very inconsistent sprinter, however that may have been the consequence of not having a good leadout in the past. The Australian now races for BORA - hansgrohe, and will have the support of Ryan Mullen and Danny van Poppel. Of course, the first time is always hard to be ideal, however if he follows the right wheels, he can finish it off.
Phil Bauhaus - Bauhaus is a strong sprinter and has been on the rise. Slowly, Bahrain have put more focus into supporting him, and slowly he's been in the mix among the best sprinters. Relatively consistent, there would be little surprise if the German managed to take the first triumph of 2024 already here.
INEOS - The true question is who they will support in the run-up for the sprinters. Filippo Ganna and Elia Viviani are both preparing for track races, they are close friends and they can both leadout each other. Logic would say Ganna will do the deed for his compatriot. However I'd argue that the British team has better chances supporting Ganna in this sprint, although he may have better chances later in the week.
Then we've got a few other fast men who've got chances of netting the first ochre jersey. Biniam Girmay for example on his day packs a serious sprint, although he may also benefit from some climbing. Max Kanter, Corbin Strong, Ivan García Cortina, Dan McLay, Alvaro Hodeg, Casper Pedersen, Mathias Vacek and Emils Liepins.
Prediction Tour Down Under 2024 stage 1:
*** Caleb Ewan, Sam Welsford
** Phil Bauhaus, Filippo Ganna
* Elia Viviani, Biniam Girmay, Max Kanter, Corbin Strong, Ivan García Cortina, Dan McLay
Pick: Caleb Ewan
Preview written by Rúben Silva.
claps 0visitors 1518
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Fortunately and as you point out, more than one strategy is possible and worth trying and I’m sure all concerned riders are well informed and counselled on this subject and don’t need such basic personal advice through media from an outsider.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- The main SPOTY award is "decided" by public vote but the BBC "expert panel" decide who you can choose from, that choice has an equal split of genders and is focussed on the sports BBC show and a disabled athlete. Oh yea the ubiquitous "Pub Games" candidate there too, Darts and Snooker are not sports. The other awards are decided by the "Expert Panel" again it's about the sports BBC show, cycling has had it. Cav got his for his years and achievements in the sport, not just that 35th TDF win. Unless the BBC get access to Pro Cycling it will never feature "adequately" on SPOTYslappers6621-12-2024
- Ahhh..... you have to understand the "strange" diversity concepts of the BBCslappers6621-12-2024
- Avoiding him is a good strategy, you get more wins and then you can compete in the TDF relatively relaxed. Pit yourself against Pogi and not only there will be no wins, it will be considerable mental setbackabstractengineer21-12-2024
- If you hold onto then, you blowup in a minute and then you finish 5 minutes down like Ben O'Connorabstractengineer21-12-2024
- Based on what argument?Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Agreed except the length of climbs, pretty sure you can stretch that to about a km unless we’re talking about half a dozen in quick succession.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Lot of contradictory information floating around world cup contenders, someone should do some tidying up.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- A bit much to suggest that Pogacar is better than MvdP on most terrains. The only terrain Pogacar is clearly better is long climbs, on any other terrain they are pretty even except flat cobbles and short and steep climbs (max a few 100 mtrs) where MvdP is clearly better than Pogacar.Velovibes21-12-2024
- The likelihood of RE improving enough at this point to outclass TP or JV is less than zero.verve82521-12-2024