Tour Down Under Stage 3 preview: Target now on back of Caleb Ewan’s ochre jersey

AUSTRALIAN hope Caleb Ewan managed to put a huge target on his back on Stage 2 after Mitchelton-Scott delivered what it promised ahead of this year’s Tour Down Under. Can his team keep him in ochre after a scorching ride to Victor Harbor?

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MITCHELTON-Scott’s Australian hope Caleb Ewan on Wednesday managed to put a huge target on his back after the team delivered what it promised before the 20th edition of the Tour Down Under pedalled off on Tuesday.

The Australian team wanted to clean up with stage wins obviously suited to sprint gun Ewan but now he’s wearing ochre after German Andre Greipel had it for just 24 hours.

Ewan winning a seventh stage at the race is sure to give the favoured teams which are hoping to produce an overall winner much to ponder overnight after the stage was shortened by 26km due to the heat.

KOM

SOME of the peloton will hate this one. Penny’s Hill Road at The Range has a steady 7.6 per cent gradient and comes into play at the 38km mark. Once again the riders that haven’t recovered properly from the 37C heat during stage 2 will suffer the most after a steady climb from Oakley Road at McLaren Flat. Nicholas Dlamani from Dimension Data is in the box seat to retain the polka dot jersey.

Education First-Drapac rider William Clarke and Team Dimension Data rider Nicholas Dlamini on a day one breakaway. Picture: AFP PHOTO / BRENTON EDWARDS

SPRINT

IT’s a matter of who wants it most with the first sprint at South Road, Myponga sure to have some of the men who want to breakaway in an effort to make the peloton extra nervous — or get the TV accolades for being at the front. The second prime sprint at Inman Valley with 32.2km to go before the finish line is almost certain to see teams thinking of strategies to get safely down to the Victor Harbor finish line. Expect Will Clarke from EducationFirst-Drapac to again set the stage on fire with a breakaway.

FINISH

IT’S always one of the trickiest ones with good bike handling and an excellent line leading into The Esplanade, Victor Harbor needed. Once the leaders enter Victoria Street within 100m they must negotiate two very sharp turns. Then they must get their angles right for the final 600m which in the past has been chaotic probably because fatigue blurs sensible decision making. A true sprinters paradise — if their teams do the job in holding the peloton together.

BEST VIEWING

WITH a predicted 41C for Adelaide and perhaps a little cooler at seaside town Glenelg, fans can get to see the best of both worlds at the seaside. Glenelg is a hotspot favourite for locals and tourists and is never disappointing.

Victor Harbor is expected to draw not only Tour Down Under riders and officials but plenty of holiday makers that love heading south for January. McLaren Vale and McLaren Flat will also be perfect vantage points as the race winds past the beautiful vineyards in the Fleurieu zone.

Originally published as Tour Down Under Stage 3 preview: Target now on back of Caleb Ewan’s ochre jersey