Santos Tour Down Under Stage 1 :: Greipel Again!

André Greipel took his second victory of the year and his 12th Santos Tour Down Under stage win. Greipel's result today has seen him equal Robbie McEwen as the rider with the most stage victories in the history of the event.

The ride of the day has to go to Jordan Kerby (UniSA-Australia) at only 20 years old. He lasted out there for 100km and snagged up all the KOM points to now lead the Skoda King of the Mountain classification.

“At the start of my first WorldTour race, I was pretty excited,” said Kerby. “UniSA always try to be aggressive at the Tour Down Under. It was great to have Dave Sanders (Team Manager) telling me from the car to not overdo it. Once I got seven minutes lead, I tried to ride tempo.”

“Now I’m the king of the mountains,” Kerby said. “But it’s a very big challenge to keep the jersey with what’s coming up. I’ll give it a try though!”

Word on the street is that Philippe Gilbert is here to win the overall race to get some points in the bag for BMC and to take the pressure off the team for the earlier part of the season. We saw a glimpse of this ambition with him taking one of the time bonuses at the end of the stage with Simon Gerrans doing the same. They both sit seven seconds back from Greipel on GC.

Tomorrow’s stage is a great one to get out for a ride and watch on the roadside. The place to be will be on Corkscrew Road. The guys from Shimano will be hosting a party on the hill so there’s sure to be some atmosphere up there. Rumor has it that Matty Lloyd will be gunning for the win. The Corkscrew is a relatively short and steep climb with a 7km descent, so there is bound to be some splits in the field and a small bunch running towards the finish.

Click here for stage 1 full results and race report.

: Rolling through the Adelaide Hills before the start of the race.

: I’ve always said that I’d rather be at the Tour Down Under than any other race in the world. No transfers, a buzzing city, nice weather, and phenomenal riding to various parts of the race. What’s not to love?

: Jens Voigt (Radioshack Leopard) as always very casual as he prepares for stage 1 in Prospect.

: Saxo-Tinkoff rider relaxing before the start of the first stage of the 2013 TdU

: Rainbow stripes of the current World Champion, Phillipe Gilbert (Team BMC).

: Jordon Kerby (Team Uni SA) on a solo breakaway near Millbrook. Consequently, he was awarded the Most Competitive Rider award for his efforts.

: Peloton passing Millbrook Reservoir.

: Jerome Pineau (Omega Pharma - Quickstep) attempting a solo breakaway during the first lap around Lobethal.

: Peloton passing vineyards in Lobethal.

: Andre Greipel celebrates his first World Tour win of the 2013 season (second if you include Sunday’s criterium which is not officially a stage of the TDU).

: Radioshack Leopard rider, Jesse Sergent, reflecting stage 1 with fellow team member, Andy Schleck

[rrsumm raceid=904]

Justin

Nice to sit back and watch the last couple of hours on Gem. I think we may have finally found a former Aussie pro who can translate their racing nous into informed, entertaining and articulate commentary. Robbie M take a bow.
- JBS
  
  Agree. Keenan and McGorry with special comments from Robbie sounds good to me.
Chamac’h

Sorry, Jérome Pineau, not “Jermone”…
Barry

Lucky you to get out for sunny miles pre-race. I’m looking at frost and something around 0′c right now but have to put in some miles! |Gotta say that Gilberts bike looks beautiful…and is that Bagdonas in the Lithuanian champions kit? looks great!
http://twitter.com/patrickxsmith Patrick Smith

Classy win by Greipel. I liked Robbie’s comment that he ‘won by a street’! Was this the same place that Cameron Meyer won at a couple of years ago?
- Smutters
  
  He won in strathalbym, about 40 odd kms away
  - http://twitter.com/patrickxsmith Patrick Smith
    
    Thanks Smutters, the roads looked familiar, but my memory was off.
http://twitter.com/theftique Dan Fighera

The image of Millbrook Reservoir is the exact location of my image that I submitted for WYMTM12! Good to see you’re enjoying your time in Adelaide Wade.
http://twitter.com/theftique Dan Fighera

The image of Millbrook Reservoir is the exact location of my image that I submitted for WYMTM12! Good to see you’re enjoying your time in Adelaide Wade.
Paolo

Glad to see Gilbert is showing classy world champion sock height. Wonder what Steele van Hoff is thinking of the lesson in speed Greipel gave him today.
- Notso Swift
  
  He is thinking how he may have been whipped by the Gorilla, but at least he is not Goss and he held his own with the rest of them over the climbs
Scott

Absolutely stunning photography…take a bow.
Ben from Adelaide

Thanks For showing us how amazing South Australia really is.. this is my home town, and the roads i ride, and even i get glassy eyes looking at your pics. PS, i saw you guys cruising the CT kits in town today while i was working.. bring on tomorrow, so i can join you.!!
Ben from Adelaide

Thanks For showing us how amazing South Australia really is.. this is my home town, and the roads i ride, and even i get glassy eyes looking at your pics. PS, i saw you guys cruising the CT kits in town today while i was working.. bring on tomorrow, so i can join you.!!
Sean Doyle

Those legs. Probably the most impressive I’ve ever seen on a cyclist (Fosters are way too big).
- OverIt
  
  Yeah, He looks like a real athlete for sure. What a powerhouse!!
PhotosofchickspleaseVeeral

Nice start my man……keep them coming..!
Craig

Have to say Wade, the new CT kit would go well with some of Cadel’s old black and green Diadoras that you use to love so much! :)
http://twitter.com/BPriestie Brad Priest

Some great shots again Veeral.

Really don’t get the BLANCO kit, is their intention to ‘Intentionally Left Blank’?

Are there other team sponsors, are they leaving sponsor areas blank because of this?

Surely the shoulders could have the GIANT logo at the very least?
shiny power

I think Greipel’s jersey is too short!
- MadBlack
  
  It’s a skin suit, I believe. Is that the pee hole??? Anyone know? Weird.
shiny power

I think Greipel’s jersey is too short!
Notso Swift

Photo of PhilGil’s shoes is one of the best there, unique, conveys an underlying tension you feel when you are ready to get out there and do this, but are forced to sit and try and relax, all thoughts that evaporate as soon as you actually start.You can imagine he is slouched in his chair tapping his leg with his hand. Nice one.

(The shoes themselves are ugly!)
Rob

Notice that Giro seems to have parted ways with Rabobank/Blanco. Renshaw wont be sporting the Giro aero-road helmet this year. Does Giro have something similar for the sprinters? Maybe a spaceship shell cover instead?
- Rob
  
  * I meant “Does Bell have something similar for the sprinters?”
- Rob
  
  * I meant “Does Bell have something similar for the sprinters?”
  - JBS
    
    Probably, same company after all.
MCPC

Any thoughts on where GreenEdge and Matt Goss were or should have been?