Santos Tour Down Under director Mike Turtur to tinker but Old Willunga Hill climb to stay the same

RICHIE Porte claimed if the TDU added one more Old Willunga Hill climb to its course he would have been crowned GC champion on Sunday.

Sky Racing's Richie Porte celebrates after winning stage 5 of the 2014 Tour Down Under. Picture: Ma...

RICHIE Porte claimed if the Santos Tour Down Under added one more Old Willunga Hill climb to its course he would have been crowned GC champion on Sunday.

Porte's statement, although tongue-in-cheek, is probably correct after Tasmania's Sky gun won a thrilling stage five when he dropped the breakaway on the Old Willunga Hill the second time on Saturday afternoon.

Porte and BMC Racing's Cadel Evans would have possibly been the two riders fighting for the stage win and overall honours if there was another climb at Willunga.

But a third climb at Old Willunga is not going to happen in future for Sky's Giro D'Italia greatest hope.

Race director Mike Turtur says next year's race route will have an element of surprise but stage five's Old Willunga Hill double climb will remain as is.

"I tell you what, they all looked a bit shaky to me (up Old Willunga Hill) the second time up,'' Turtur said.

"I thought they were on the rivet (riding at maximum power) when they got to the top.

"I paid close attention to their faces and I think a third time up, it would be a little bit over the top for this race in January."

But as the last of the Tour Down Under's UCI WorldTour teams left Adelaide on Tuesday, Turtur reflected on the best ever Australian race.

Turtur said the organisation would also review the final stage of the race after Orica-GreenEDGE's Simon Gerrans was crowned champion following Lotto-Belisol's Andre Greipel tore up the tarmac to claim a record 16th stage on Sunday.

The new Adelaide street circuit which took in the west side of Victoria Square, Flinders St and Bartels Rd - motorsport's Clipsal 500 Brock Straight - proved to be popular for fans but it was difficult for WorldTour teams logistically.

"It was a good (final stage) course but we'll have a look at that,'' Turtur said.

"It was difficult for the team staff because there wasn't a lot of room at the top end (Bartels Road) but we'll have a debrief and see where we'll go from there.
"It was a good circuit and it was a great final for the race.

But I think the balance of the race with the combination of climbers and sprinters is where we want it."

Turtur said the new 2015 six stage race route would be unveiled in June.

He declared councils were already lobbying to secure some of the races favourite stage routes.