The Tour Down Under’s 10 burning questions, must-see highlights, betting, TV and more

Cycling writer Reece Homfray looks at the 10 burning questions - including the leading chances - going into this year’s Tour Down Under, while highlighting all the must-see action, every team and rider, betting, TV coverage and more.

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Advertiser.com.au cycling writer Reece Homfray looks at the 10 burning questions going into this year’s Tour Down Under as well as the must-see action, betting, TV coverage and more.

10 BURNING QUESTIONS ....

1. Can Daryl Impey go back to back?

The simple answer is yes. No one has ever done it before but Impey is primed. There is only one true uphill stage finish this year - Willunga - where last year he managed to finish second behind Richie Porte. The race returns to Uraidla but with a different finish, and Corkscrew is back on the agenda, but the course is no harder than last year. But is Mitchelton-Scott more concerned with Impey going back-to-back or the team going back-to-back? Based on what we saw at nationals, Cameron Meyer is flying so if he is still in the mix and feels good on the final day, rivals won’t want to let him out of sight.

Daryl Impey is attempting to become the first rider in TDU history to win back-to-back titles. Picture: Daniel Kalisz (Getty)

2. Who are Impey’s biggest threats?

The most obvious threat is Richie Porte who comes into the race having skipped the national championships and with a new team (Trek-Segafredo). Porte won the race in 2017 and is almost unbeatable on Willunga so will be right in the mix. The bookies’ favourite is in fact Michael Woods who was third in the road race at worlds last year and has strong support with EF Education First. Jay McCarthy (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Nathan Haas (Katusha) have both finished top five here before, Rohan Dennis (Bahrain-Merida) is a former winner, Chris Hamilton (Sunweb) and Ben O’Connor (Dimension Data) can both climb as can Kiwi George Bennett (Jumbo-Visma) so it should be a monster showdown on the final day.

He has a new team but can Richie Porte win the stage on Willunga Hill for the sixth year in a row? Picture: Daniel Kalisz (Getty)

3. Can Porte conquer Willunga again?

If he does it will be six in a row and there’s no reason why it can’t happen. Each year for the past five, Porte has launched from almost the same spot inside the final 2km and the remnants of the peloton have been unable to go with him. His form is relatively unknown - but it was unknown in 2017 when he spent the Christmas/New Year break in the UK on the ergo trainer and still came out and won the TDU overall. “New team, new motivation” Porte said when arriving in Adelaide this week so he’s the man to beat once again on the famous climb. An ominous sign was his Strava on Thursday which showed he set the fourth fastest time ever up the Corkscrew on a training ride.

Caleb Ewan and Peter Sagan cross paths in last year's Tour Down Under. The two will again go head-to-head on the sprint stages in Adelaide. Picture: Dan Peled (AAP).

4. How many stages for Caleb Ewan?

Two years ago Ewan won four stages and the Classic then found things harder last year but still managed to win in Stirling which was a tricky uphill kick to the line. This year he comes to the TDU with a new team (Lotto-Soudal) and a new lead-out which may take time to gel but they’re no stranger to having a gun sprinter having looked after Andre Greipel for years. Ewan will be eyeing off the Classic on Sunday, Stage 1 and 2 into Port Adelaide and Angaston and Stage 5 at Strathalbyn. One victory will be a pass mark, two against the likes of Sagan, Viviani, Ulissi and Haussler will be a bonus.

5. Is Rohan Dennis a contender?

The answer to that question is twofold. Firstly Dennis returns to the TDU having won the race in 2015, with a new team, Bahrain-Merida, following the collapse of BMC last year. The team also has Domenico Pozzovivo, a veteran climber who by all reports has GC ambitions as well so Dennis’ fortunes may depend on how the team plays its cards. Secondly, Dennis hasn’t had a big hit-out this season. He skipped the road race at nationals last weekend to prepare for the time trial where he finished second behind Luke Durbridge. He knows the race, knows the roads, but whether he has the legs or the team to win so early in the season remains to be seen.

Rohan Dennis comes into the race as the time trial world champion. Picture: Sarah Reed.

6. Can Team Sky crack the code?

The closest the biggest and most powerful team in world cycling has been to the top step of the TDU podium was Geraint Thomas with third back in 2013. That was also the last time Team Sky even won a stage at the race when Thomas conquered the Corkscrew to win Stage 2. Since then they’ve been largely unsighted but Wout Poels might change that this year. The 31-year-old who has been a key lieutenant at the Tour de France and won Liege-Bastogne-Liege is making his TDU debut and could be eyeing a stage win at least.

7. Will Willunga decide the jersey?

The boldest decision in the race’s history was to move the queen stage finish to the top of Willunga Hill in 2012. Second to that is this year’s change which will see the stage finish on top of the hill and on the final day. The CBD criterium on the Sunday became a predictable procession and had to be replaced for the good of the race. Now it means the race for the ochre jersey will go right down to the final pedal stroke. The hill will determine the jersey. The leader going in will know they must either win the stage or limit the damage, and the chasing pack will know exactly how much time they must make up to take it off his shoulders. The move is to be applauded and will again be well supported.

Cycling fans have come to expect the unexpected from Peter Sagan, knowing that nothing is impossible. Picture: Kelly Barnes (AAP).

8. What to expect from Peter Sagan?

In two words, the unexpected. Who would have thought Sagan would get over Norton Summit with the leaders last year? And who would have thought Sagan would still be at the front over the big dippers leading into Uraidla - and win the stage. Sagan is far more than just a sprinter and while all eyes will be on him in the Classic and first two stages, he will have his eye on the Corkscrew on Stage 4 as well. He finished second three times at the TDU in 2017, then last year won the Classic to go with Uraidla and the sprinter’s jersey so he will mean business.

9. What will UniSA do?

Animate the race as always and I’d be watching Chris Harper. Expect him to go in a breakaway at some stage and his climbing is WorldTour standard so don’t be surprised to see him gunning for top five over the Corkscrew and Willunga on the final day. Neil Van Der Ploeg has raced here before so knows what’s required, Nick White is fresh from an under-23 road race national title and Ayden Toovey and Dylan Sunderland are two young guns eager to impress WorldTour teams so they will be aggressive and more than hold their own on the GC stages.

10. Will the heat affect the race?

With a heatwave set to sweep the stage for the first few days of the race, it’s more difficult to shorten the stages when there is no circuit finish like we’ve had in Lyndoch in previous years. There are however contingency plans in place and teams will meet this weekend with the peloton’s rider representative and race officials to form a common-sense approach. Naturally the heat should favour the Aussie riders who have been training here for months but last year was a scorcher for the stage to Uraidla and it didn’t stop Slovakian Peter Sagan from putting everyone else to the sword. One bloke who won’t mind the heat is defending champion Daryl Impey who spends his off-season in South Africa.

DON’T MISS THIS ...

Sunday - Down Under Classic

Get your spot on the finish line early to see who takes the first win of the international season. Last year it was Peter Sagan, the year before Caleb Ewan. The race has a new afternoon timeslot this year due to live TV so if you can’t make it to the track catch it on the box. The bunch sprint on Bartels Road is a beauty.

Tuesday - The finish into Port Adelaide

The Port hosted a stage start last year and this year has been rewarded with a stage finish after the bunch travels 129km on a revised route from North Adelaide to Paracombe and back. Expect another bunch sprint where Ewan, Sagan and Viviani will be lining up to take the ochre jersey on the opening day.

Thursday - Circuit around Uraidla

The race finishes in Uraidla for the second year in a row but this time spectators are treated to seven laps of a circuit around Carey Gully, Summertown and Piccadilly. The stage is tailor made for a breakaway to stay away if the bunch leaves its run too late, but the undulating run to the finish could also shed some of the GC hopefuls. Seven laps is terrific bang for buck if you’re prepared to venture out on course.

Friday - Corkscrew

The most explosive climb of the race, famously conquered by two Tour de France winners in Cadel Evans and Geraint Thomas, it will leave its mark on the GC chase again this year. The 3.5km climb comes just 6km before the finish meaning whoever is first over the top will have a frightening descent to the line in Campbelltown. If you’re tossing up between lining the climb or getting to the finish, I’d be finding a good spot on Corkscre Road.

Cadel Evans on his way to conquering Corkscrew Road and winning Stage 3 of the TDU in 2014. Picture: Sarah Reed.

Sunday - Willunga Hill

The most famous climb on the tour that has been moved to the final day, thousands of fans will line the road up Willunga Hill to see whether Richie Porte can make it six stage wins in a row. But the race within the race is the battle for the ochre jersey. Porte was first over the line last year but narrowly missed the overall title as Daryl Impey managed to hang on for second with a tremendously determined ride. Expect plenty of fireworks again.

BETTING

Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes

$3 Richie Porte

$5.50 Daryl Impey

$6 Michael Woods

$7.50 Wout Poels

$13 Jay McCarthy

$15 Rohan Dennis

$19 Nathan Haas

$23 Peter Sagan

The peloton makes its way around Snapper Point last year. Picture Sarah Reed

TV GUIDE

Down Under Classic

Live on 7Mate from 4pm

Stage 1

Live on Channel 7 from 11.30am

Stage 2

Live on Channel 7 from 11.30am

Stage 3

Live on Channel 7 from 11.30am

Stage 4

Live on Channel 7 from 11.30am

Stage 5

Live on 7Mate from 11.30am

Stage 6

Live on Channel 7 from 10.30am