Photography by Con Chronis & Cor Vos

10 things we’ll take from the 2015 Santos Tour Down Under

by Matt de Neef

The Santos Tour Down Under is over for another year with Rohan Dennis (BMC) having been crowned the victor after a spirited week of riding. Here, in no particular order, are 10 things we'll take from the race; the first WorldTour race of the 2015 season.

The TDU mightn’t have the Tour de San Luis’ long summit finishes, but it’s no less exciting

Even though the Tour Down Under is a WorldTour race, the UCI 2.1 Tour de San Luis in Argentina — held at the same time — is arguably the race of choice for the big-name stars at this time of year.

The Tour de San Luis is certainly more reminiscent of the longer stage races on the calendar, thanks to a time trial and several long mountain climbs — neither of which the Tour Down Under has. But that doesn’t mean the racing at TDU hasn’t been exciting.

The Torrens Hill Road climb on stage 3 was less than two kilometres long, but that was enough to create a thrilling finale featuring the big names of the race. Rohan Dennis’ come-from-behind attack was thrilling to watch and, ultimately, it was the move that won the race overall.

The race’s queen stage, featuring two ascents of Willunga Hill, was equally dramatic. That particularly climb might only be 3.5km from top to bottom, but few would question the excitement the race produced on Saturday. Porte’s ballsy attack was no surprise — he had to go if he wanted to win the TDU — but it was no less thrilling for the fact we knew it was coming.

Jack Bobridge is back

He’s had a couple of ordinary seasons in the WorldTour — he admits that himself — but after returning to Australia to race at the Continental level with Budget Forklifts, Jack Bobridge is back.

Ahead of his tilt at the hour record next week Bobridge was keen to be selected in the UniSA-Australia national team for the Tour Down Under, in order to get in a good final hit-out. He was selected, had a good hit-out and then some.

Bobridge didn’t just win the opening stage, after surviving in the day-long breakaway, he went on to wear the ochre leader’s jersey for two days. He also got himself into another two impressive breakaways, the last of which, a gutsy long-range tilt at the Willunga KOM on stage 5, saw him secure the KOM jersey.

Bobridge helped lead UniSA-Australia to its best showing at the Tour Down Under in years while building some great form in the process. Getting into several long breakaways was probably a perfect lead-in to the hour record attempt on Saturday. Looking further ahead, it’s hard to see Bobridge not featuring heavily at the National Road Series events he takes part in this season.

Bonus seconds continue to decide the TDU

The Tour Down Under is a race that’s normally decided by just a handful of seconds and the 2015 edition was no exception, with Rohan Dennis winning the race by just two seconds. Simon Gerrans won by one second over Cadel Evans last year and in 2012 Gerrans won on a countback after finishing on the same time as Alejandro Valverde.

The issue of bonus seconds is always a contentious one in bike racing and Richie Porte might feel like he’s fallen foul of the system this year. If there had been no time bonuses on offer, Porte would likely have won the race overall. But time bonuses were available, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The benefit of having time bonuses on offer at stage finishes and intermediate sprints is that it encourages more aggressive and therefore more exciting racing. Rather than sitting in and riding for time, GC contenders are encouraged to go for stage wins and contest the intermediate sprints. That can only be a good thing for the fans.

Cycling can be a brutal sport

If you’ve watched any amount of bike racing you’ll know that crashes are part and parcel of the sport. They’re an occupational hazard that all professionals will fall foul of at some point — a handful of times a year in all likelihood.

Even knowing that, it’s still horrible to see a pile-up occur, particularly when the riders are nudging 70km/h in a final sprint. Stage 4 of this year’s Tour Down Under saw one such crash, with spectacular results. Bikes, parts of bikes and bodies went flying all directions.

Four abandoned the race that night as a result of the crash, including Drapac’s Travis Meyer who was reportedly back in great form after a horrible crash in training late last year.

It’s a beautiful sport, but it sure can be brutal too.

Rohan Dennis is the real deal

We’ve always known that Dennis was going to be a world-class time-trialist, and his win in the Tour of Alberta a few years back showed he’s no slouch at defending a GC lead either. But last week, Dennis, riding in the shadow of his soon-to-be-retired teammate Cadel Evans, showed another string to his bow.

Dennis has never been a terrible climber but to see him outclimb Evans, Domenico Pozzovivo and everyone else in the race except Richie Porte, shows that Dennis is a more well-rounded rider than we might have given him credit for.

Sure, the climbs of the Tour Down Under might only be short, and sure, the likes of Alberto Contador, Chris Froome and Joaquim Rodriguez weren’t in attendance, but Dennis’ performance still shouldn’t be sneezed at. Combine Dennis’ exceptional time-trialling ability with a few more years’ spent developing his climbing and Rohan Dennis could be a real contender in the longer stage races, if not the Grand Tours.

As Richie Porte alluded to at the end of stage 5, Dennis has another quality that makes him a great future prospect: just like a certain Tour de France-winning teammate, Rohan Dennis is a fighter.

Cadel Evans will be missed, but Aussie cycling is in phenomenal hands

You only needed to be at the Australian Road Nationals or the TDU in the last two years to see just how much support Cadel Evans enjoys on home soil. For many Australians, Evans is likely the only Aussie cyclist they could name, and for fans of the sport, Evans has played a nearly unequalled role in putting Australian road cycling on the map.

There’s little doubt Cadel will be missed when he hangs up his bike after the race named in his honour next Sunday. But the news is far from bad. Thankfully there’s an incredible crop of young Australian talent rising through ranks and ensuring Australia continues to punch well above its weight on the world scene.

Rohan Dennis and Richie Porte are the obvious names that come to mind. Much too has been written about the promise of Jack Haig and Robert Power, and that’s not to take anything away from Alex Edmondson and Miles Scotson. All four rode in the UniSA-Australia team this week and will only be stronger for the experience.

Beyond the riders of this week’s TDU there’s also the likes of Caleb Ewan, about whom much has been written and prophesied in recent years. The future of Australian road cycling is more than bright.

Live on-board camera vision can’t come soon enough

In the past 12 months we’ve grown accustomed to seeing great footage from on-board cameras, albeit after the racing has finished. The footage Jeremy Roy has been posting from the Tour Down Under is a perfect case in point.

But the next step, and one that’s being worked on at the moment, is being able to use on-board cameras as part of a live broadcast. There are still some technological hurdles to overcome but it seems inevitable that we’ll get there shortly. Hell, motorsport has been doing it for years.

Being able to watch the final stages of a race from inside the race will add another dimension to the viewing experience. Bring it on.

Steele von Hoff proves he’s still WorldTour worthy

What better way to respond to being dropped by a WorldTour team than by winning a bunch of races straight away? Steele von Hoff not only won the Australian criterium title for the second year running in early January, he came out on stage 4 of the Tour Down Under last week and took a thrilling sprint victory in the UniSA-Australia colours.

Unlike last year, where von Hoff was only able to wear the green and gold bands of the national champion in a couple of crits, he’ll get plenty of opportunities in 2015. Von Hoff is riding for the Continental team NFTO which will spend much of its year racing the British criterium circuit.

If von Hoff’s early-season form is anything to go by, the former boiler-maker should have a great year. And if he does, there’s no reason he can’t make the leap back up to the WorldTour in 2016. There’s little doubt he’s got the talent to do so.

Wouter Wippert is destined for a big 2015

I wrote this list before the final stage of the Tour Down Under and it was clear by then that Wouter Wippert was on the cusp of something big. His week began with a third place in the People’s Choice Classic criterium and when he followed that up with third on stage 4, victory didn’t seem far away.

It’s been a great week for Wouter Wippert with two third-places and now a win. It’s going to be a big year for the Dutchman.

Sure enough, on the final stage of the TDU, Wippert timed his sprint perfectly and took the biggest win of his career.

Wippert had a great year in 2014, claiming eight of Drapac’s 11 UCI victories, and he’s started 2015 in menacing fashion and will likely take many more scalps as the year progresses.

UniSA outperformed almost every other team in the race

UniSA-Australia’s raison d’être at the Tour Down Under is normally to get in the breakaway each day — to be visible throughout the race — and to give younger riders on the team some experience riding at a WorldTour level. Riders on the team report being given little respect within the peloton and the WorldTour teams are less likely to let the national team riders move freely around the bunch.

But when Jack Bobridge won the opening stage, things changed. No longer was UniSA-Australia making up the numbers; it was leading the bike race.

Sure, the team’s two stage wins at the race came courtesy of proven WorldTour riders in Bobridge and Steele von Hoff. And sure, there’s an argument to suggest that the national team should be used to give emerging riders a feel for racing at the WorldTour level, rather than supporting more experienced riders whose teams aren’t in attendance.

But there’s little doubt von Hoff and Bobridge earned the spots on their team. More than that, there’s something thrilling about seeing an underdog team win a couple of stages, lead the bike race and outshine almost all of the WorldTour squads in attendance. Chapeau.

***
What did you take out of this year’s race? What will you remember the 2015 Santos Tour Down Under for?

Tags: 2015 Santos Tour Down Under

Dave Christenson

The Australians are on song because it’s summer, I think that has to be why most of the Euros were off the mark, that coupled with the fact that a lot of the Australians were in fine form having targeted the national champs. Really it was a case of who was the fastest Australian this year at TDU. Porte is flying at the moment but will he be good at the big objectives when it really counts? Regardless, was a good race to watch…was cool to see Porte ride everyone off his wheel.
http://www.parrabuddy.blogspot.com skippy mc carthy

Those that attend the World Tour races in Europe enjoy bringing home the ” Fleche ” ! What part of encouraging ” Visitors ” , has the TDU forgotten ?

How dod i find the par courses in Europe ? I followed the ” Fleche ” ! Here i am told you can get a cell phone app.! Got to have a mobiler though ! Thought there was a law against riding with a ‘phone ?

We want ” Drivers ” to NOT BE Distracted , yet TDU wants cyclists to stand at the side of the road searching for a signal & directions ?

Won’t see me again until there are ” fleche “!

SO WHO CARES ?

Not me 1
- jules
  
  gary?
jules

nice list. I’m guessing UniSA got more respect this year though.
Bracksy

Number 1 thing to take from this year’s TDU (and previous year’s) is that it is in no way a tour DOWN UNDER. This is simply a tour of South Australia around Adelaide (what a joke). They may as well make it a one day race which starts somewhere and ends on Willunga Hill (as this is the only finish that looks exciting).
- Sean Doyle
  
  It’s not meant to be the tour of Australia. It was never started that way and never was promoted that way. If you want a week long tour in your home state, go to the government and convince them that they should back it as a promotion to tourism because that is precisely what the SA govt. did.
  
  I do have the opposite opinion for the Aussie Road Champs but that’s for a different day.
- Malbo
  
  Life is actually good,Bracksy,get excited.
- Dave
  
  Build a bridge.
- Matt
  
  Mate it is a tour and it is down under. Simple as that. It was never meant to be a tour of Australia and has never tried to be. It gets bigger every year and is great for the state. If you don’t like it don’t watch it. Part of the reason its popular is because the riders stay in the same place all week and can ride to and/or from most stages. Try doing that in Melbourne.
  - Dave
    
    And being based in one place is what makes it one of the best races in the world for spectators too.
    
    It’s about time that a sign was put up on the A8 for eastbound travellers after Bordertown that reads “Welcome to Victoria, Australia’s #1 whine region.”
    
    If making the race more national has to be done to secure its future, selling the first stage of the race to Canberra or Sydney (not Victoria which is too busy with the Melbourne Open tennis in the TDU week) could be an option. The riders and staff could be flown out on the morning of the race and flown back in time for dinner, with all the team support vehicles dragged there and back on trucks running overnight.
- MattF
  
  The joke is on you Bracksy. The Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula are a cycling nirvana which many interstate and overseas cyclo tourists have discovered as a result of the TDU. You are obviously jealous. Best that the ignorant and parochial stay at home.
  - Michele
    
    I’m biased MattF, but I agree with you 100%. I live 25 minutes - by bike - from Glenelg [20 mins from Henley Beach], and I am less than 5 minutes on the bike from the Adelaide Hills.
- Michele
  
  I agree with Dave … build a bridge.
  
  Everyone else has basically explained why it can rightfully be called a Tour Down Under. But here’s some further points you might like to consider:
  
  - It took The Tour de France 100 years before it had raced in every region of that country [2013 = Corsica]. What should they call that race?
  
  - Where does Paris-Roubaix start? To paraphrase you .. P-R ‘is in now way a race between Paris and Roubaix].
  
  - Fair to say that Liège-Bastogne-Liège should be called Liège-Bastogne-Ans.
  
  - Go check out a map of Lombardy. When was the last time that race went to Bormio, Chiavenna or Varzi??
  
  Finally, you show me where the race gets promoted as a Tour of Australia, and I will happily stand corrected. Because South Australia is ‘Down Under’ and therefore the race’s name is appropriate.
  - Dave
    
    I’m surprised that there are Victorians arcing up about this. Shouldn’t they deal with the Werribee-Warnambool and next weekend’s Cadel Evans Rural Secondary Roads Race before criticising other race names?
    
    Even the Road part-of-the-World Championships are misnamed. Only four out of the world’s seven continents have hosted them, and a few of them have taken place on purpose-built motor racing circuits instead of real roads.
    - http://whatspossible.com.au/ Scott Barrow
      
      Yes this is indeed a bit funny. Especially the Cadel race. Beautiful roads? Most of it I’m not so sure. Does it even touch the Great Ocean Road? No. Does it matter? Not really.
      
      Lets hope for crosswinds (decent chance at times), from a spectator drama and tactics perspective.
- rich
  
  Great atmosphere, well organised and exciting finishes, not sure what else you’re looking for? Been the last two years (from Vic) and love riding around the Adelaide hills, based from the same spot. Well done Adelaide and all involved.
Simon

What did I take out of it? Just that Wouter Wippert has currently the best name in cycling. I can attest to this as being of certain age I’m continually passed by wipperts and wippertesses (poetic licence with spelling taken.) Seriously this race is no longer a training race but serious stuff. Also Adelaide does it again. Congrats.
- Dave
  
  There should be a 3-up sprint race between Wippert, Steele von Hoff and Winner Anacona to decide who has the best name in cycling.
  - Simon
    
    With Darwin Atapuma an honourable fourth. Udo Bolts could award the prizes.
    - Dave
      
      The winner could enter a car race against Will Power and Scott Speed.
      - Terrence
        
        Dominico Pozzovivo might not be the *best* name but it’s surely the most fun to say (or yell!)
        
        Dave
        
        Good bloke too, was very happy to sign stuff and pose for photos last Sunday night.
    - Robert Merkel
      
      Ryder Hesjedal, surely?
- Aj
  
  I vote for Sam Spokes. Thought it was a made up result first time I read him in the win column.
  - Dave
    
    Should team up with Axel Merckx.
http://whatspossible.com.au/ Scott Barrow

Honest question. Does Porte and his team get a fail mark on race tactics? He reacted slowly to Dennis attacking near the end of stage 3 (concerned about Cadel but seemingly riding infront of him), and then he cuts it too fine on Willunga hill to get ahead. Hindsight I know, but is that what good tactics are about? Especially considering the recent history of very tight time differences on the GC table.
- Dave
  
  It looked like they were trying to defend third place, not win the race.
  
  Race tactics would not seem to be Sky’s strong point, as we’ve discussed in these comment threads many times. BMC though … nicely played with almost nailing the 1-2 strategy.
  - http://whatspossible.com.au/ Scott Barrow
    
    Yeah. Without trying, and not considering myself for be an expert or have inside information, thats the feeling I have got over the last few years. Metronomic, well organised, physical robots yes, but what happens when someone else can match their output? Seemingly, they have little art to what they do. Sport science is not the pinnacle of performance development. In particular I’ve seen Porte “not respond” a few times. But at the end of the year he could easily make me sound like a fool. We’ll see.
    - Dave
      
      And that’s why I’d like to see two-way radio and power meters banned during races.
      
      A more limited radio system (allowing a rider to hear Tour Radio and press a locator button to summon help from their team) would still be a good idea, but coaching from the team car should be banned.
- Andy B
  
  Agreed, Peter Kennaugh looked to be in great form but seemingly spent a lot of energy for no reason..
Dave

I think selecting Steele von Hoff and Jack Bobridge for UniSA was a good move by the CA selectors. SvH had just been one of the losers in the contraction of the WorldTour from 18 teams to 17 and deserved the chance to show the world teams what they were missing, while Bobridge would probably have suffered the same fate if he had attempted to stay at WorldTour level instead of partially focusing on the track.

Selecting Haig and Edmonson was a bit more borderline - they had just signed contracts with Orica for 2016, albeit only just before the race and probably after the selectors had a rough idea of the UniSA squad, and didn’t need to be exposed to the international teams. I disagreed with Caleb Ewan’s selection last year for exactly the same reason, he had signed an Orica contract a few MONTHS before the TDU and Edmonson should have taken his place.
Neil

Fantastic race, great spectacle, every stage was almost a one day race in itself.
With Wippert, I think Drapac as a team showed how much stronger they are this year in tactics and confidence. Instead of chancing their arm in the breakaway every day they were prepared to back their riders to deliver. Great to see.
UniSA was strong and I agree that you can’t fault the performance of Bobridge or Von Hoff.
But:
I really would love to see the top riders in the NRS recognised and given the chance rather than guys who need a tune up before the hour record, guys looking for a World Tour team, or track riders looking for a hitout before the Nats. Sure NvdP was there, but the rest were guys in the ‘system’, track (Edmonson, Scotson, Bobridge) or road (Power, Haig). If I was an NRS rider would I feel as though I could ‘earn’ a place in the UniSA team based on performance. Probably not.
Dagwash

Great race - pity about 9s coverage. Give it back to SBS
- RayG
  
  Every stage was live. What more do you need to be satisfied?
  - Dave
    
    Eliminating the buffoon who knows nothing much about cycling and started out as a football commentator? Oh wait, Nine are just copying that from SBS cycling broadcasts being ruined by Mike Tomalaris.
    - Biblos
      
      and Les Murray, OMG.
  - Robert Merkel
    
    I know they’re a commercial network but boy those ad breaks were annoyingly long and frequent. And Tim Gilbert is annoyingly ill-prepared for his hosting job. FFS, learn enough to ve able to ask the right questions of the expert commentators.
    
    Oh, and Phil and Paul are past it; Matt Keenan, Scott McGrory or Rochelle Gilmore, with Robbie McEwen would be good IMO.
    - My_Oath
      
      “Matt Keenan, Scott McGrory or Rochelle Gilmore, with Robbie McEwen”
      
      Pretty much a dream team right there.
      - Dave
        
        Sounds good, but for a couple of issues:
        
        1. Keeno needs to put the green and gold pom poms away and learn a bit of professional detachment.
        
        2. Rochelle Gilmore has too many conflicting interests to allow her to call women’s races until she divests herself of her stake in competing teams.
        
        3. Needs a competent anchor for the show.
        
        Robert Merkel
        
        I was suggesting Gilmore to call the men’s TDU.
        
        As for the anchor/hosting role, don’t care - could be Eddie f*****g McGuire for all it matters, as long as they can top and tail competently (which Mike Tomalaris does perfectly adequately, BTW - it’s when he attempts to express an expert opinion he sometimes falls down) and they take the time to read their briefing notes.
- Dave
  
  No thanks, I like being able to see more than 20 minutes a day.
RideWithPassion

Here are my toughts about Santos Tour Down Under
http://ridewithpassion.eu/ultimo-chilometro/santos-tour-down-under/
Allez Rouleur

Been to Australia twice, sadly never got to Adelaide. Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, Cairns, big ol’ Reef, but never Adelaide, darnit.

Oh, and the podium girl dresses are very nice. Classy, but also pretty nice with open back.
Allez Rouleur

What happened to the guy who caught his hand in a wheel during the big crash? I’ve always feared having that happen in a crash and losing a finger.

Evans is a classy, humble guy. Wish more PRO athletes were like him. I hope he can retire in comfort and not have to smack anyone for touching his lion. (I think most of us would go bonkers after awhile if forced to live in the spotlight).