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 5.
The most famous climb in Australia is back once again for the queen stage that follows a traditional format. Starting in McLaren Vale, the peloton will ride around the area until they climb up the Old Willunga Hill twice. Early in the day they will ascent the Wickham hill and actually go down the final ascent which should see some crazy speeds.
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However most of the day will be flat, and in the penultimate climb there are never serious moves. It's all about saving the legs to the final climb and then deliver some impressive watt bombs. It's one where the climbers are better suited but it's not overly difficult and some puncheurs can also handle the more constant pace as it's not too long.
The climb is 3.3 kilometers long at over 7%, it's tough enough to make some difference and in this race every second counts. The climb is constant and towards the end it features a few bends. In some years a late attack succeeds, but we can't discard the possibility of a small group sprint to the line.
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Prediction 2025 Tour Down Under stage 5:
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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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