The Coffee Ride: Battered Marco back and looking for change of luck, Elia Viviani the flavour of Adelaide at Tour Down Under

Everyone loves a comeback story and Austrian Marco Haller has one to show and tell at this week’s Tour Down Under. Plus Elia Valiani proves the flavour of Adelaide and Mitchelton-Scott boss MIA. All in today’s serve of the Coffee Ride.

• Bevin’s above: Kiwi leaves world’s best in his wake
• Next stage will decide winner: Porte
• Armchair guide to TDU

EVERYONE loves a comeback story and Austrian Marco Haller has one to show and tell at this week’s Tour Down Under.

The Katusha-Alpecin rider had 36 stitches and 190 days without a race last year after being hit by a car while out training.

A car reportedly went through a stop sign and the impact destroyed his bike and almost his career.

Team Katusha rider Marco Haller after his crash just before the finish line during stage two of the Tour Down Under near Angaston. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Haller attends to the spilt claret after the crash. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Haller had already overcome two viral infections before the incident and four bouts of surgery meaning 2018 was basically a write off.

But he launched his new season at the Bay Crits in Melbourne, won his first race, and is now in Adelaide for the TDU.

On Wednesday he sent a scare through the Katusha camp when he crashed heavily at the finish in Angaston but he escaped with a sore - but not broken - collarbone and blood nose. Here’s hoping that’s it for 2019.

HERE’S CHEERS TO VIVIANI

WE THINK we’ve uncovered the reason Elia Viviani was able to handle the heat so well to win Stage 1 in Port Adelaide on Tuesday.

One of our reporters was at the Belgian Beer Cafe Oostende on Ebenezer Street where Viviani’s team Deceuninck–Quick-Step held a meet and greet upstairs on Monday night.

And according to our man on the ground, only one Deceuninck–Quick-Step rider allowed himself a cold beer - you guessed it, Viviani.

I’LL HAVE A PIZZA THAT

VIVIANI must be the flavour of the month in Adelaide.

His perfect 2019 UCI WorldTour Stage 1 win in Port Adelaide was greeted by what was traditionally an Italian dish for the common people in the 18th century.

Tour Down Under Stage 1 winner Elia Viviani with the pizza Viviani from the Port Pizza Bar. Picture: Bicisport

Port Pizza Bar’s co-owner Rob Misale and manager Tony Timpano did what Italians do best to break ice (or bread) when they offered the famished sprint gun a meal.

Viviani couldn’t resist a traditional fresh margherita pizza which he thoroughly enjoyed after donning the leader’s ochre jersey on St Vincent Street.

Viviani enjoyed a few slices backstage before the podium presentation before fronting a media that were hungry for his first words after his sprint to the finish line in inferno-like conditions.

Misale said he was now thinking about adding the pizza “Viviani” to the menu to honour the Italian.

SHAYNE MISSING THE 21ST

MITCHELTON-Scott’s general manager Shayne Bannan is a notable absentee from the 21st Santos Tour Down Under.

The boss of Australia’s first UCI WorldTour team has been at every race since the team made its debut in 2012 which saw Simon Gerrans’ earn a dream start at their home race when he claimed GC honours.

The team has won four of the past seven editions of the race with Bannan in Adelaide including 2018, when Daryl Impey from South African claimed the main prize.

According to the team Bannan was here for the national championships but has returned to Italy.

TWEET OF THE DAY

It has been great looking after @richie_porte so far this @tourdownunder. Tomorrow a hard stage! https://t.co/3W05m7lL6L

— Koen de Kort (@koendekort) January 16, 2019