Tour Down Under

[OnSong]

UniSA team manager Dave Sanders says the time gap is around four-five minutes with about 40 km to ride. Green EDGE and SKY are driving the peloton. Sanders says the wind is as bad as he has ever known it as the STDU.

[OnSong]

The riders in the break again: Eduard Vorganov (RUS) - Katusha Team, Martin Kohler (SUI) - BMC Racing Team, Marcello Pavarin (ITA) - Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team, Rohan Dennis (AUS - SA) - UniSA Australia.

[OnSong]

Close finish coming up. Should suit Greipel.

[OnSong]

Will Clarke having a dip. 250m lead with 5km to go

[OnSong]

Rained back in now. Lol. More attacks to come

[OnSong]

Been a crash. Not sure what the hell is going on, less than 1km to go

[OnSong]

Greipel gets in, Pettacci second I think.

[Bum Crack]

Do you reckon these blokes are fit?

[OnSong]

Do you reckon these blokes are fit?

150km in 40 degree heat and a headwind. Wowee.

[Bum Crack]

Do you reckon these blokes are fit?

150km in 40 degree heat and a headwind. Wowee.

I was being sarcastic. They are freaks.

[Brodlach]

Head wind must have been terrible, finished 40 minutes after schedule

[am Bays]

10 s separates 1st to 128, 8th to 128th all on the same time.

[brod]

Close finish coming up. Should suit Greipel.

Nice call...got one for tomorrow

[OnSong]

All the action of the Santos Tour Down Under descends on the Adelaide Hills today for Colemans Group Stage 2.

Events South Australia General Manager Hitaf Rasheed said Lobethal would host a stage start for the first time in the race's 14 year history before the riders battle it out on a 148km ride through the hills to Stirling.

"The stage will end with three laps around Stirling before what will no doubt be a thrilling uphill finish in the leafy Hills' town," Ms Rasheed said. "Yesterday's official opening stage from Prospect to Clare attracted a crowd of 95,000 people, and we're expecting another big crowd to cheer on the riders as they start out today from Lobethal, with thousands more gathering at Stirling to witness them cross the finish line."

"I urge locals and visitors alike to make the most of this celebration of cycling and head to the Hills for Colemans Group Stage 2, where they can enjoy the region's renowned food, wine and hospitality and enjoy the festivities in the region including Lobethal's GreenEDGE-inspired street displays as part of the Santos Best Dressed Town Competition.

"South Australia's breathtaking scenery will be on show and this is not only an incredible chance for spectators to see the world's cycling superstars in action, but also a great chance to enjoy the wonderful towns which make the Adelaide Hills so unique.

"After the race, the party continues in Adelaide with the Unley Gourmet Gala on King William Road, featuring great local food, wine and entertainment and I encourage everyone to get along," Ms Rasheed said.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Stage 1
Stage One Winner: Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol)
Spectators: 95,000
Santos Best Dressed Town: Penwortham

[OnSong]

Close finish coming up. Should suit Greipel.

Nice call...got one for tomorrow

You've got one or are you asking me?

[pig_skin]

All the action of the Santos Tour Down Under descends on the Adelaide Hills today for Colemans Group Stage 2.

Events South Australia General Manager Hitaf Rasheed said Lobethal would host a stage start for the first time in the race's 14 year history before the riders battle it out on a 148km ride through the hills to Stirling.

"The stage will end with three laps around Stirling before what will no doubt be a thrilling uphill finish in the leafy Hills' town," Ms Rasheed said. "Yesterday's official opening stage from Prospect to Clare attracted a crowd of 95,000 people, and we're expecting another big crowd to cheer on the riders as they start out today from Lobethal, with thousands more gathering at Stirling to witness them cross the finish line."

"I urge locals and visitors alike to make the most of this celebration of cycling and head to the Hills for Colemans Group Stage 2, where they can enjoy the region's renowned food, wine and hospitality and enjoy the festivities in the region including Lobethal's GreenEDGE-inspired street displays as part of the Santos Best Dressed Town Competition.

"South Australia's breathtaking scenery will be on show and this is not only an incredible chance for spectators to see the world's cycling superstars in action, but also a great chance to enjoy the wonderful towns which make the Adelaide Hills so unique.

"After the race, the party continues in Adelaide with the Unley Gourmet Gala on King William Road, featuring great local food, wine and entertainment and I encourage everyone to get along," Ms Rasheed said.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Stage 1
Stage One Winner: Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol)
Spectators: 95,000
Santos Best Dressed Town: Penwortham

there is also graded crits from 4:30pm tonight followed by womens crit then the rendetion.. see some good racing at the street party tonight..

[Swamp Donkey]

Just a quick question as I'm not really up to the goings on here, but I was under the impression that the city sprint that was held on Sunday night did not count for overall standings..is that right. If it doesn't than how did Griepel lead by 4 seconds overnight when he won by half a wheel length yesterday? cheers

[cripple]

Time bonus for finishing first as far as I am aware.

[am Bays]

Sunday night was a criterium race, a warm up so to speak, so it doesn't count in teh overall standings.

Yesterday teh first 126 riders all finished on teh same time 4:33:40 but Greipel, Pettachi and the otehr first 8 across the line all got time bonuses for finishing in the first 8 paces. Greipel 10 sec bones, Pettachi six second bonus etc.

One of the rules of cycling is the all riders in a bunch finish get the same time as the first rider in that bunch over the line as long as theor is no clear gap between the bunch. Also if their is a crash in the last 3 km riders incolved in that crash get the same time as the main peleton. this is designed to protect innocent riders who get caught up in crash and for safety reasons.

[Swamp Donkey]

Sunday night was a criterium race, a warm up so to speak, so it doesn't count in teh overall standings.

Yesterday teh first 126 riders all finished on teh same time 4:33:40 but Greipel, Pettachi and the otehr first 8 across the line all got time bonuses for finishing in the first 8 paces. Greipel 10 sec bones, Pettachi six second bonus etc.

One of the rules of cycling is the all riders in a bunch finish get the same time as the first rider in that bunch over the line as long as theor is no clear gap between the bunch. Also if their is a crash in the last 3 km riders incolved in that crash get the same time as the main peleton. this is designed to protect innocent riders who get caught up in crash and for safety reasons.

Are these bonuses used for the TDF?