From the 21st to the 26th of January we have got the first men's World Tour event of the year. In Australia, the Tour Down Under is every single season the first big race of the year and we preview stage 2.
Stage 2 starts and finishes in Tanunda and it will include several ascents of Menglers Hill. Whilst not brutal, this ascent allows opportunities for attack or to drop some sprinters, but a bunch sprint is still expected in the straight line final kilometers.
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It's a very short stage, so that should contribute to the chances of the fast men that for the most part will have a quick and calm ride. The stage is a 3-lap circuit and mostly on non-technical roads. The ascent, Menglers Hill, is 2.8 kilometers long at 6.6% and finishes with 22.5 kilometers to go.
There may be some attacks, there may be some teams pushing as not all sprinters can handle such an effort too well. It can be a finale with interesting dynamics but ultimately the final kilometers are a flat and completely straight line which means any attack or small group will struggle. 0 technical features, so leadouts can leave it late to push to the front.
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Prediction 2025 Tour Down Under stage 2:
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Don't just watch the action, be part of it! 🚲 From children to adults, there's a ride for every level of cyclist 🙌 Join the ride: https://t.co/S7UhhJpJmR#TourDownUnder @SantosLtd pic.twitter.com/gsq8T7ADmf
— Santos Tour Down Under 🚴🚴♀️ (@tourdownunder) January 8, 2025
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