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The 2023 season will, some say, begin at the Tour Down Under and both female and male pelotons will travel down to Australia for some early-year good weather and a prestigious race that distributes many points aswell.
The men's Tour Down Under will be back after being cancelled twice due to Covid-19 restrictions, and will take place in the Adelaide region from the 17th to 22nd of January 2023.
The race will come directly after the women's Tour Down Under. It will be a race for the puncheurs and classics riders to fight for the overall classification, with climbers in the mix aswell. It will be a very open race specially taking into consideration the early season form which will severely differ between riders.
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Prologue: Adelaide - Adelaide, 5.5Km
To begin with immediately, the riders have a 5.5-kilometer prologue in Adelaide which will set the first differences and make for an exciting day of racing. The route will be just north of the center of the Aussie city. It's a fast prologue, it features a few corners but none will truly be tight. It isn't exactly perfect for the purists because of that, however we shouldn't see any major surprises.
Stage 1: Tanunda - Tanunda, 149,9Km
Stage 1 into Tanunda will be one for the sprinters surely, however it features a five-lap circuit with a 4.5Km; 3.7% ascent that could make it somewhat difficult for the pure sprinters if there is intention to accelerate the pace. Stage 1 of the Tour Down Under into Tanunda will be one for the sprinters surely however the 2023 edition has seen quite some changes in it's route and this day is a great example of it.
It isn't a stage that will be too difficult, and is actually rather simple, but interesting. It's a short 150-kilometer day that starts and ends in the city of Tanunda and sees a four-lap circuit which will decide the outcome of the stage. This features a climb, however it shouldn't prevent the fast men from fighting for the win.
The main climb of the circuit is Menglers Hill. 4.5 kilometers at 3.7% gradient, it isn't a hard ascent however at the same time it can't be shrugged off. If some teams are willing to push the pace the peloton can certainly string out, and with some riders on their January form, it wouldn't be a surprise to see quite a few lose contact. It won't break the peloton however, it summits with 13.5 kilometers to go. Some sprinters may be out of breath by the top, but there is the chance to recover. There will be a fast descent and a very straightforward run-up to the finish, it won't be a technical finish.
Stage 2: Brighton - Victor Harbor, 154.8Km
Stage 2 of the Tour Down Under, into Victor Harbor won't be too different from the previous day, open for both classics riders, rouleurs and sprinters to succeed depending on what race scenario develops. It is a bit more difficult day to predict, immediately starting with an uphill ramp which may see some riders form a strong breakaway. It's a hilly day with some unpredictability as the riders head back into the sea. With 68 kilometers to go they will find a 3 kilometer climb at 6.8% however the legs will be saved towards the end of the stage.
It will be in Nettle Hill that the outcome of the stage can be played out. Not a brutal climb, it's 2 kilometers at 7.7% and summits with 22 kilometers to go. What will happen here is unknown but as the race lacks a queen stage attacks are very viable here, both on the ascent and right after. The toughest ramps come towards the end, and what follows is a rolling plateau before a finale that has very little of flat.
A fast descent will follow, then 3 kilometers at 2.9% that provide further springboard for attacks which finishes with 10 kilometers to go only. The road into Victor Harbor is then simple with no meaningful technical features. The finale is flat, but you can't expect any serious leadout if it does come to a sprint.
Stage 3: Norwood - Campbelltown, 116.8Km
Stage 3 of the Tour Down Under will see a finale in Campbelltown. It is a hilly day that can be very important for the overall classification as the riders face the Corkscrew climb. It is a very short stage from Norwood to Campbelltown, at only 116 kilometers. It starts off climbing right away with 9.7 kilometers at 4.1% which may trigger attacks. A rolling and short day, it isn't to discard that some riders with GC ambitions may try to surprise, the terrain is not too bad for such kind of raid specially at this time of year.
This may be termed the queen stage, as it features the famous ascent of the steep Corkscrew road - 2.4Km at 9%. This will be a critical point of the race for the overall classification, it's steep gradients and switchbacks being more than enough for serious attacks to pop. Close to the finish, this may even be the toughest moment of the race and one where the GC riders will have to ride their very best performance.
The climb finishes with only six kilometers to the finish and the riders will very quickly reach the finish, as they encounter nothing but a fast and somewhat tricky descent, straight into the finish line where the leader's jersey may change hands.
Stage 4: Port Willinga - Willunga Township, 133.2Km
Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under will finish in Willunga, however without the ascent of the famous climb. It's a small day on the saddle through the McLaren Vale and one where it won't be easy for anyone to stay away, due to it's very simple and calm roads. Climbs will also be absent, however the finale into the famous town won't be too easy.
The sprinters are expected to come to the front, however this is a very interesting finale. The toughest grades of the day come at the finishing straight, as the organizers placed the finish line at the base of the climb to Old Willunga Hill.
There are no corners to take into consideration, however it is a 2.5 kilometer slight rise up, and the final around 500 meters see the gradients go up to 5%. Will it prevent a sprint? No, I wouldn't count on that. However the GC riders will get involved in the fight for bonifications, and within the sprinters so will be able to handle this terrain better than others that is certain.
Stage 5: Unley - Mount Lofty, 112.5Km
The final of racing at the Tour Down Under will be from Unley to Mount Lofty, with an uphill start, very short distances and explosive circuit climbs. It will be a day where chaos can rule and aggressive racing can benefit, to possibly turn the GC on it's head. Besides the uphill start, the riders will ride a four-lap circuit that concludes at the top of Mount Lofty, a 8.1-kilometer long ascent that averages 3%.
There are only 112.5 kilometers on the menu, it's a very short day on the bike and the GC gaps won't be too big, dozens of riders will be within striking distance and this is a very dangerous day, and a hard one to control if that is necessary. It is essentially a five-lap stage that each times reaches the summit of Mount Lofty.
The roads inbetween climbs always have a slight up or downhill tilt making it hard to organize and ride a consistent pace. The climb itself is 8.4 kilometers at 3% but is very inconsistent. Gradients above 10% will be present in the final 2.5 kilometers which average around 6%. Saving the legs can be worth it here as there is ground to launch an offensive, and the race will end atop the mountain in a beautiful way.
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