Top 10 reasons why the Santos Tour Down Under has been the best thing for SA following recent devastating bushfires
From cyclists rallying together in support of bushfire relief, to Stuart O’Grady taking the race into the future, and Richie Porte’s second crown. This year’s Tour Down Under had everything. Here are the Top 10 moments.
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Australia Day 2020 is the perfect setting for the grand finale of the Santos Tour Down Under as the Willunga Hill finish provides the perfect backdrop for arguably the most successful race in its 22 years of existence.
Women taking centre stage at the Tour Down Under has turned this cycling festival into a huge party which is showcasing the best of SA through its resilience.
Trek-Segafredo’s Richie Porte is aiming for another title but South Africa’s Daryl Impey wants that consecutive hat-trick for Mitchelton-Scott.
Here’s our top 10 of the 2020 Tour Down Under before showtime hits the old Willunga Hill.
1. PORTE POWER
Australian Richie Porte lit up the 22nd edition of the TDU when he showed just how powerful he is by savaging the Paracombe climb to win Stage 3.
The Trek-Segafredo rider repeated the dose on Sunday to finish second in Stage 6, which was enough to secure his second overall TDU title.
He also is just a delightful human being.
2. MAMA MIA SOS
The cycling fraternity’s love for fellow competitors under duress was evident.
Three women members of FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope stuck in flooded Dubai without bikes for four days, and landing in Adelaide just 13 hours before Stage 1 of the women’s TDU, could have been an issue, but it wasn’t.
Mechanics from rival teams worked overnight to put the bikes together so they could race. Bravo.
3. SPARTACUS RULES
Fabian Cancellara, aka ‘Spartacus’, came and conquered his first TDU to support incoming race director Stuart O’Grady.
He was also the special guest of the race.
Never before has the TDU had a legend that was comfortable talking to everyone – critics, punters, fans and ‘normal’ beings at anytime of the day or night.
4. RUTH WINDS UP A WINNER
Trek-Segafredo’s Ruth Winder became the first ‘foreign’ TDU champion, after Simona Frapporti won the final stage of the women’s Tour Down Under.
The US national road champion dethroned three-time champion Amanda Spratt from Mitchelton-Scott.
5. THE EMPATHY FOR OUR PEOPLE
Bushfires devastation.
The amount of goodwill from all of the teams and their riders at this race as they raised thousands of dollars via signed jerseys, team bike giveaways and shaving heads, among other ideas, for charity was nothing short of brilliant.
Their empathy touched many and brought tears to the eyes of those in need.
6. POCKET ROCKET
Caleb Ewan, Lotto Soudal’s incredible Australian speed gun, is just awesome to watch in full flight.
At just 165cm, Ewan packs a punch, is fearsome and explosive.
He claimed Sunday’s Classic and two stages of this year’s TDU.
7. WATCH OUT FOR THIS GUY
Watch out for SA’s Jarrad Drizners after the reigning national road series champion showed he deserves to be among the WorldTour peloton with a brilliant display for UniSA.
Drizners will tomorrow depart for the US to start his contract with development team Hagens Berman Axeon, which is run by Axel Merckx, son of cycling legend Eddy Merckx.
8. TAKING THE TDU TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Stuart O’Grady – a change of guard at the TDU.
The incoming race director’s jovial character, ability to mix it with riders, team bosses, critics and fans is destined to ensure the race does have his stamp on it from next year.
Mike Turtur laid the foundation and O’Grady is bound to make it better.
His first job, surely, is to scrap the theme song.
9. MADS PEDERSEN THE WORLD CHAMP
To bring the reigning world road champion to the race is an achievement in itself, but to see him working his backside off to bring Trek-Segafredo teammate Richie Porte home safely in every stage was something else.
10. THE FORMULA ONE ERA
South Australia’s John Allert taking charge of the Bahrain McLaren team rounds out the list.
The joint venture with the top end automotive giant is bound to change the face of cycling forever.
New WorldTour team Israel Start Up Nation has partnered with Williams F1 team.
Team INEOS has partnered with Mercedes-AMG Petronas team.
Watch this space.
Originally published as Top 10 reasons why the Santos Tour Down Under has been the best thing for SA following recent devastating bushfires
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