Santos Women’s TDU course — a race for the mountain queens
THE course for this year’s Santos Women’s Tour Down Under marks a radical departure from previous years.
This year’s Santos Women’s Tour Down Under marks a radical departure from previous years. It’s the longest and toughest tour yet and has some of the sprinters waving the white flag for overall honours before the race has even begun. The hill-climb specialists, however, are licking their lips and looking to stages 2 and 3 as potential race-winning routes.
For the first time, the Women’s TDU has been given a UCI 2.1 classification — one step below WorldTour status — which means more of the world’s top teams will be racing.
Some 102 riders from 17 teams and 17 nations will line up, including Marlies Mejias, the sport’s first Cuban professional; Shayna Powless, the first Native American woman to race in the pro peloton; 2016 TDU winner Katrin Garfoot and 2017 TDU winner Amanda Spratt.
Thursday: Stage 1 — Gumeracha to Gumeracha
Stage 1 takes the riders 115km from Gumeracha through Mt Pleasant, Mt Torrens, Lobethal and back to Gumeracha over an undulating course.
The route is unlikely to split the field, but will test the legs.
“I wanted to make sure Stage 1 gives the riders a chance to see how the other riders are going,” race director Kimberley Conte says.
Riders who indulged in too many mince pies at Christmas will struggle when the race hits Cyanide Climb (named just for this race) near Mount Torrens, which boasts an 11 per cent gradient. But with a mid-race sprint for points on offer through Gumeracha on the first loop the key sprinters will be shepherded over the climbs.
While the sprinters will hang on, two climbs up Cyanide — the second ascent for Subaru Queen of the Mountain points — could deaden their legs, handing an opportunity to a fast-finishing all-rounder such Tiffany Cromwell or Rosella Ratto. The major contenders for overall honours will keep their powder dry.
Where to watch: Cyanide climb, Terlinga Rd, Mount Torrens, (plenty of parking); Gumeracha, which is putting on a community fair, kids’ activities and come’n’try sports activities.
Sprint: Gumeracha Oval
Subaru Queen of the Mountain: Cyanide Climb, Mt Torrens
Start: Gumeracha, 11am
Finish: Gumeracha, 2.22pm approx.
Friday: Stage 2 — Lyndoch to Mengler’s Hill
Stage 2 is the Queen Stage — and it’s possible that the overall winner might emerge by the end of the day. At 102 kilometres, the stage isn’t long, and two climbs of the Whispering Wall (with Subaru Queen of the Mountain points at 37km) won’t split the field for long because sprint points are on offer at the 79km mark in Greenock.
But the key players in this four-day drama will animate the race in a big way in the final 12km.
“Stage 2 is not too difficult until they turn onto Bethany Rd (just out of Tanunda),” says Conte. “Then it really does start to climb — and it’s one of those climbs, even at that point, that makes you feel like you’re towing a mattress.”
And then the riders will hit Mengler’s Hill: exposed to the sun and wind, and steep at 14 per cent. A hilltop finish will ensure that the climbers leave nothing in the tank. The Queens of the Mountain will engage in a battle royale with Carlee Taylor, Amanda Spratt, Eri Yonamine and Katrin Garfoot all out to crush each other and take the Santos Blue Leader’s Jersey.
Line the road for this one — it’ll be a stage to remember.
Sprint: Murray Rd, Greenock
Subaru Queen of the Mountain: Whispering Wall; Mengler’s Hill Rd, Mengler’s Hill
Start: Lyndoch, 10.30am
Finish: Mengler’s Hill, 1.25pm approx.
Saturday: Stage 3 — Bend Motorsport Park to Hahndorf
When the flag drops on the 122.4km Stage 3 the riders will do two laps of the new motor racing circuit at The Bend then head onto the Dukes Hwy, through Tailem Bend and out into “red dirt” country.
“This area really epitomises Australia,” says Conte.
But the wide open plains around Monarto and Callington can be windy — a team that plans an attack when crosswinds strike could split the field.
Just past Echunga look for a race-winning move on Dolman Rd.
“Anyone who breaks away at that point stands a chance of potentially staying away,” says Conte.
A strong rider who can time trial and has a punchy climb, like Audrey Cordon-Ragot or Shannon Malseed, could hold off the field through to Biggs Flat, but once the race hits Sawmill Gully the climbing starts and the legs will burn.
It’s a tough climb up, maxing out at 12 per cent, a descent, then climb again for a final 400m that Conte describes as “a little wall”.
If the general classification riders are still fighting for dominance, the final 15km could see fireworks — and even the most plucky breakaway rider might be gobbled up.
Sprint: Old Princes Hwy at Junction, Nairne
Subaru Queen of the Mountain: Comet Mine Climb, Tischer Rd, Hahndorf
Start: The Bend Motorsport Park, 10.30am
Finish: Von Doussa Rd, Hahndorf, 2.15pm approx.
Sunday: Stage 4 — Adelaide Parklands
The sprinters get their day and the crowds will be massive thanks to a Women’s TDU/People’s Choice Classic double header. The women will ride 20 laps of the East End Parklands street circuit, with sprint on offer at laps 4, 8, 12 and 16 for the southaustralia.com Green Jersey. This is a familiar course, but the race is longer this year. Keep an eye on Chloe Hosking, Kimberley Wells and Adelaide’s own Annette Edmondson.
“The sprinters haven’t had a whole lot of opportunity this year, so we’ve given them the opportunity to shine and show what they have,” says Conte.
But the sprinters and their teams will need to cover moves by breakaway riders — a bid for a podium position by a general classification rider needs to be guarded against.
Line the fences see the winner of the Santos Women’s Tour Down Under raise her arms in victory.
Distance: 46km
Start: Wakefield Rd, city, 5.20pm
Finish: Wakefield Rd, city, 6.20pm