Tour Down Under 2025

[AUbicycles]

First big race of the season... who is going down... and what are your predictions?

This year I won't be at the tour. Always a really busy time (behind the lens) and I am always exhausted after, but love the food, locations and company.

[foo on patrol]

Not going but some friends are, I don't know the list of riders in it.

Foo

[MichaelB]

I’ll be doing the Epic ride (1st time in a while) as it’s the start of a series of precursors to a mate and I’s plans to do a final hurrah trip OS cycling.

If we can do this, then it’s a week at Bright/Mt Beauty later in the year before booking tickets for 2026/7

Have seen a few Jayco jerseys around in the hills, but little else so far

[elantra]

Riders who will be in Adelaide include a few European and Canadian National Champions, and also some quite legendary names (Geraint Thomas and Michal Kwiatkowski), and last year’s winner (Stephen Williams)
Local riders will include Luke Plapp, Jay Vine and Sam Welsford.
Source and more details of participants in the Men’s and Women’s events :

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO2412/ ... ay%20Vine.

[MichaelB]

Spotted a couple of Ineos riders whilstr we were climbing Mt Lofty yesterday - could tell they were pros as kit was new & full set, bikes matched and they were skinny AF.

[elantra]

Spotted a couple of Ineos riders whilstr we were climbing Mt Lofty yesterday - could tell they were pros as kit was new & full set, bikes matched and they were skinny AF.

Yes I guess that they need to get acclimatised to Adelaide weather and riding on the correct side of the road

[foo on patrol]

Jay Vine had been training in my area up till Saturday I think it was.

Foo

[MichaelB]

Preliminary startlists are here :

9th Santos Women's Tour Down Under (2.WWT) : https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/sa ... /startlist

Only 3 stages ?

25th Tour Down Under (2.UWT) : https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/to ... /startlist

Jayco Alula team list :
11 PLAPP Luke
12 DURBRIDGE Luke
13 HARPER Chris
14 HEPBURN Michael
15 O'BRIEN Kelland
16 SCHMID Mauro
17 STEWART Campbell

Like their jerseys this year !

[Stovepipe]

What do they need to do to attract top international talent? 25yrs in already

[g-boaf]

What do they need to do to attract top international talent? 25yrs in already

Drag the Australian continent closer to Europe?

[warthog1]

From mid Winter in Europe to mid Summer in Aust. I see that as a reason plenty of Northern Hemisphere riders don't attend.

[timbo]

As has been noted on a couple of cycling websites, No Caleb Ewan at the Tour Down Under, or for that matter, not listed on Jayco AlUla's website at all. A transfer looming, perhaps?

[foo on patrol]

As has been noted on a couple of cycling websites, No Caleb Ewan at the Tour Down Under, or for that matter, not listed on Jayco AlUla's website at all. A transfer looming, perhaps?

I was a huge supporter of Ewan but after watching him for the last 18mths, he hasn't got the head space right anymore and should give the Pro ranks away and just ride Club/Local based rides. A shame because he still has a few years left in him for riding at Pro level but if the head space isn't right, then he shouldn't be stuffing Teams around, let those younger up and coming riders that have the instinct do it.

Foo

[MichaelB]

As has been noted on a couple of cycling websites, No Caleb Ewan at the Tour Down Under, or for that matter, not listed on Jayco AlUla's website at all. A transfer looming, perhaps?

A partial snip from Escape Collective

Jayco AlUla general manager Brent Copeland declined the opportunity to comment when contacted by Escape, but something certainly seems amiss between Ewan and his team. It is the second time in three years Ewan and an employer have been at loggerheads.

Sources closely connected in Australian pro cycling told Escape Collective that the current issue arose last year, when Astana Qazaqstan approached Jayco AlUla about buying out Ewan’s contract for 2025 and slotting the sprinter in to replace the retiring Mark Cavendish.

The deal ultimately collapsed, but not before Jayco was close to signing a replacement; with the transfer off and the maximum number of riders under contract for 2025, Jayco couldn’t sign another rider unless a spot opened up.

Multiple sources have suggested to Escape the possibility of legal proceedings between Ewan and Jayco AlUla. The team is expected to make an official statement about Ewan’s position in the near future.

hmmmmmmm

[warthog1]

Thanks Michael. He aint happy there, it would appear he wants out. Prob explains poor results but don't know how that goes for his level of professionalism.

[AUbicycles]

Many of the teams have January training camps which compete time-wise with the tour down under so big name riders can be tied up in training, media and sponsor duties.

For spring classic GC riders and grand tour GC riders it is very early in the season so the racing form is not there and still easier for teams to treat it as an orientation and testing ground for young / new riders.

[MichaelB]

Thanks Michael. He aint happy there, it would appear he wants out. Prob explains poor results but don't know how that goes for his level of professionalism.

Read something else over the weekend that he wanted out of Jayco (reasons unknown) and being released was part of the rumoured Astana xfer, but when that fell through, Jayco refused to take him back. No details as to why he wanted out though.

[warthog1]

^^thanks Michael

[elantra]

Heartwarming short video featuring Pro cyclist Ryan Mullen discussing his introduction to Aussie hospitality on Kangaroo Island.
He’s here of course for the TDU.

https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/n ... 59e4e47d7a

He has a great Irish accent - listen to his pronunciation of “Europe”

[foo on patrol]

Thanks Michael. He aint happy there, it would appear he wants out. Prob explains poor results but don't know how that goes for his level of professionalism.

Read something else over the weekend that he wanted out of Jayco (reasons unknown) and being released was part of the rumoured Astana xfer, but when that fell through, Jayco refused to take him back. No details as to why he wanted out though.

I feel that he needs to take responibility for his results and not conveying his thoughts to the riders in the Team on how he wanted to be positioned for sprints because I watched a few finishes last year where the Team had him positioned well and then he got himself into a bad spot due to his own riding.

He is still young enough too feature in sprint and placings but he needs to put his own head into gear and stop pigtitting around looking for excuses for his lack of results. I do feel that since his last fall some years back, that his confidence has taken a hit but I'm sure that there are people in the Team Management that he can work with for overcoming those insecurities about instinct in the tight bunch finishes.

Foo

[MichaelB]

.... and stop pigtitting around .....
Foo

First time I've heard that one !!

[foo on patrol]

.... and stop pigtitting around .....
Foo

First time I've heard that one !!

Jebus, it's been around for as long as I can remember.

Foo

[MichaelB]

Fitness prep for TdU 'Epic Ride' going OK. Weight coming down (not enough), fitness going up (slowly), but big issue will be heat and making sure I drink & eat enough.

The Knotts Hill climb (2.7km (AT) 7.9% with max at 14%) at the 73.5km mark (with over 1,200+m of elevation gain already under the belt) will be hard work, especially if hot. Hopefully will get there by 10:30 in the morning, so fingers crossed.

With the riding I've been doing, have really noticed that being too fat and older, that steep climbs are really friggin hard .

Meh, just will have to pace myself and pray to the weather gods !!

[Retrobyte]

With the riding I've been doing, have really noticed that being too fat and older, that steep climbs are really friggin hard .

I hear you! Often I imagine how Mr Purple would feel if he was climbing Cootha while wearing a backpack with a 30kg dumbbell in it

[MichaelB]

With the riding I've been doing, have really noticed that being too fat and older, that steep climbs are really friggin hard .

I hear you! Often I imagine how Mr Purple would feel if he was climbing Cootha while wearing a backpack with a 30kg dumbbell in it

Or towing me on a rope ....