Rohan Dennis column: I feel for Tour Down Under leader Paddy Bevin after gutsy effort to get back on bike after crash
You never like to see anyone go down in a crash and especially the guy who is leading the race, writes world time trial champion and Bahrain-Merida rider Rohan Dennis in his exclusive column as he tips an exciting finish to this year’s event.
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You never like to see anyone go down in a crash and especially the guy who is leading the race.
It happened with about 10km to go on the way to Strathalbyn on Saturday and was directly behind me so I was very lucky to miss it.
What happened was Quick-Step came to the front and turned left just a bit too early, not purposely, they were just trying to get in front.
But the bunch turned and squeezed and braked and it was a domino effect backwards. It was really close to the front so it was lucky there weren’t more riders go down because we were moving and all very close together.
I feel for Paddy Bevin. The same thing happened to me in the Eneco Tour a couple of years ago and I couldn’t get back on to the bunch with 20 or 30km to go because I was three minutes behind.
It’s very demoralising and I ended up going home.
From the way Paddy was looking it didn’t look great, like he may not start on Sunday but that’s only me speculating.
It looked like he went down pretty hard and if he bounces back from that, it will be massive.
It was a big effort for him just to get back onto the peloton at the finish.
When you crash there’s a fair bit of adrenaline to get back on, and if it ends up being that he’s fractured something then even then you’re still going all in, you’re wearing a jersey you don’t want to lose it so it’s a whole combination of factors driving you to the finish.
🤕 @PaddyBevin rolls home to claim Ochre once again on @southaustralia .com Stage 5 🔶 #TourDownUnder pic.twitter.com/3VNn0jnS0J
— Santos Tour Down Under 🚴🚴â€â™€ï¸ (@tourdownunder) January 19, 2019
It was a stressful day in the wind beginning in Glenelg.
I thought that would be the case, people were talking about crosswinds and Mitchelton-SCOTT director Matt White said only 30 people would get to the finish and that made everyone think their team was going to go all-in in the crosswinds.
It didn’t really come to that. There were some crosswinds but really only for a kilometre or two, not enough to really split it.
It then went to a headwind or tailwind and everyone was ready for it so when it split, everyone was ready to chase.
So now it all comes down to what happens on Willunga on Sunday — the first time the Tour Down Under has ever finished on the top of the hill.
I’m in a pack 26 seconds behind Bevin and 19 seconds behind Daryl Impey.
That’s too far for me unless I have an absolute ripper.
But for Richie Porte, it’s possible but it’s on the limit.
If it’s a headwind again, which I’ve heard it probably will be, that makes it harder to make a gap because it’s easier for other guys to sit on.
I’d like to try to get a top 10 at this stage but I’ll have to get a podium on Stage 6 and get some bonus seconds to do so.
We’ll see how it all plays out.
I’ve had good days on Willunga in the past and I’ve got good legs, it’s just a matter of being at the front at the start of the climb and not wasting energy moving up on the hill.
It should be a great day for the fans who turn out to watch.
Originally published as Rohan Dennis column: I feel for Tour Down Under leader Paddy Bevin after gutsy effort to get back on bike after crash