Strong, patriotic crowd turns up for first official day of Tour Down Under at Barossa Valley

A STRONG and largely patriotic crowd turned out for the first day of official Tour Down Under racing.

MANY came from the city and some came from the other side of the world, but it was the Tour Down Under fans who came from just down the road who most embraced the cycling spectacle of the opening stage in the Barossa Valley on Tuesday.

A strong and largely patriotic crowd turned out for the first day of official racing, which kicked off in Nuriootpa and finished in Angaston after a gusty hill climb near Tanunda.

For fans who made the trip from Adelaide and as far away as Brisbane and Switzerland, it was a special treat to see Australia's own Simon Gerrans beat German sprint king Andre Greipel across the finish line in first place.

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Official figures from race organisers reveal 88,000 people lined Barossa Valley streets ringing cowbells, waving signs and wearing lyrca with pride.

They say they are "pleased" with the turnout, given that last week's Eden Valley bushfire threatened to cancel the stage.

Maegen Klingner, 13, was among thousands of fans who lined the street at the King of the Mountain on Menglers Hill.

She watched the riders whiz past from the perfect vantage point - her house.

Like many people yesterday, Ms Klinger - who was evacuated from her family home twice last week - paid special tribute to the CFS volunteers who continue to fight the Eden Valley bushfire.

"We're got friends in Eden Valley who got really close to the fire so I thought I should make a sign to say thank you," she said.

"While the fire was going (I thought) where are the firemen and women going to eat, go to the toilet and sleep?"

Just down the road, the Hutchinson family got into the Australian spirit, dressing up their Bethany home with a "five dollar op-shop" green and gold Kermit the Frog a top of an old bike. As Brett O'Connell was getting ready to "fire up the barbecue" he said he wanted to thank the CFS volunteers for all their hard work.

"Luck was on our side (but) all credit to the CFS - they've done a great job," he said.

The journey to South Australia from Brisbane was a special one for breast cancer survivor Neroli Janetzki, 54.

She's in the state especially for the Tour Down Under - the number one event on her "bucket list" in the five years she battled the disease and endured a single mastectomy and reconstruction

Now in remission, the avid cyclist has finally made it to the event she always dreamt of attending.

"I've loved the whole atmosphere. I had goosebumps," she said, as the cyclists rode past.

"It (South Australia) is so different to Queensland, with the rolling vineyards and the hay bails were just spectacular."

Ms Janetzki said she believed the state's regions were just as beautiful as the European countryside that features so strongly in the famous Tour de France.

"We can match that easily," she said.

From even further afield, keen riders Manuela Jordi and Heinz Jernen made the trip from Switzerland to see the race as it continues to gain momentum across the world.

Like the thousands of other fans, they positioned themselves in prime position on Menglers Hill, a few kilometres from finish line.

"We really like the region and the people," Ms Jordi said.

Early in the day, dozens of tourists and locals lined Murray Street in Tanunda to glimpse their idols.

Weary cyclists, who rode up from Adelaide, refuelled at the street's Barossa Wurst Haus and Bakery.

Owner Amanda Cundy said they would sell 500 of their popular German rolls.

"They're just great - they've got sauerkraut, mustard and kransky - you can't get any better," she said.

Katie Greenfield, of Busselton, was among thousands of riders who made the trek up to the Tanunda main street and surrounds.

"Our friend's two mates pulled out so we made it a girl's trip instead of a guy's trip," she said.

"I love the atmosphere. You get to see the riders you see in the Tour de France up close and in action."

And while the Tour Down Under is all about the race, it's also about the food, wine and company.

The Gogoll family, of Bethany, could almost touch the riders from their makeshift trestle table, set with cheese, biscuits and local wine

David Gogoll, the pastor at nearby Bethany Lutheran Church, had made a special bike sculpture - using his brother's 60-year-old bike and green-and-gold streamers - to bring a little colour to the front of his home.

Mr Gogoll - like many others yesterday - said he was glad the event went ahead as planned and that any cancellation because of the bushfires would have been "really disappointing".

"It (the fire) was hardly in the Barossa Valley, it was really on the edge," he said.

Town Down Under race director Mike Turtur said he was pleased with the strong turnout "given everything that had gone on in the week prior".

"(We were) more than happy with the crowd … there was a big group on Menglers Hill, (it was) very impressive in Angaston and there was a big crowd in little old Bethany," he said.

"It was a great start from Simon Gerrans … and a real solid ride by Andre Greipel."

Mr Turtur said he expected another large crowd today.

"I suspect it will be another big day. The weather's looking good, too," he said.

Today's route will take the riders from Prospect to Stirling.

The 150km route will begin on Prospect Rd near the Town Hall at 11am before finishing in Stirling just before 3pm.