Live coverage
Cancer Council Classic 2012
January 15, 2012, Adelaide East, Australia, Adelaide, Australia, Road - NE
And we're live in Adelaide, welcome to our coverage for the Down Under Classic. If you want to tweet to us write to @janeaubrey or @al_hinds and use the hashtag #tdu.
Renshaw has been widely tipped in the media as an outright favourite for the race, but with the quality of the field in this year's race there are just so many possible winners.
We're still around 10 minutes away from the official start of the race. Earlier today we had the team presentation for the race.
Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggett did a great job of giving every team some air time it must be said.
Big news for today is that Luke Durbridge (GreenEdge) crashed on the way to the event, and is out of the Classic. Nygaard said that they still expect him to be riding the stage race start for Tuesday.
Absolutely briliant evening weather in Adelaide. Really have nothing to complain about from my commentary box. Perfect vantage point complete with dorky white hat.
Greipel spotted wearing a skin suit. Someone's serious about winning this evening.
We're about to kick off. National Anthem has been sung. Excitement is palpable.
Adam Hansen also spotted wearing a skin suit. Really guys?
Bang! We're off!
GreenEdge lead the peloton early. Sedate pace.
Lap 1 just completed. Nothing to report - that must have been part of the extended team presentation.
There's an attack. 6 or 7 riders making it off the front. Doesn't look too serious though just yet.
And as I say that they're back together.
FDJ rider going solo.
Sprint prime to come. Group of five is now well established: Includes Dennis (UniSA), Coutillard (FDJ), Caruso (Katusha)
Gutierrez (Movistar) was also there. He takes the sprint solo.
Gutierrez will be an asset to this break if they want to try and stay away.
Break back together. Two riders now off the front.
Peloton back together.
Things are changing all the time it's hard to keep up with the race situation.
Another move. Will this one gets some leeway from the peloton. At the moment Lotto-Belisol and GreenEdge seem content to ride tempo.
Bernard Sulzberger, Haas, and four others have a reasonable gap.
Simon Gerrans is riding in his Australian road champion jersey. That's interesting - I guess officially this isn't a criterium.
Haas takes the second sprint prime. Good to see Haas showing himself in a WorldTour race. He told us just before the race that he was never going to be satisfied just being at the top tier of the sport - he wanted results. Well there we go.
19 laps to go. Nearly halfway through the race.
Nathan Haas (Garmin), Sulzberger, McCarthy (UniSA), Burghardt (BMC), Bonnet (FDJ), Montaguti (Ag2R), Machado (RadioShack) and 2 others.
They have a 10-20 second gap.
Break is working really well together. 30 minutes in. No reason why these guys couldn't stay away.
Official gap is 21 seconds.
Burghardt has punctured. He'll be able to rejoin the break.
16 laps to go. Prime coming up.
Gap slightly down to 16 seconds.
Ouch. Pain on the faces of the break as they hit the slight uphill on the back end of the course.
Rabobank leading the chase. They aren't represented in the break. Obviously believe in Mark Renshaw.
Haas picks up another sprint. That's 1000 Euros for Haas.
A reminder - the sprint was Haas, Montaguti, and Salvaggi.
Burghardt meanwhile has rejoined the front of the race after his puncture. He did after taking his lap out.
Gap is down to around 10 seconds.
Machado is doing a huge amount of work on the front. He wants this break to succeed. There are a few passengers in there though.
12 laps to go. They are absolutely flying.
Still so much energy in this break. Bell for the final sprint prime.
Winding up.
Haas takes number three. This guys a little bit too quick. 1500 Euros now for Haas. Not bad for a day's work.
Vaughters has picked up a bargain in this young man that's for sure.
A rider just threw a bottle into one of the officials. By accident no doubt.
After the prime the break has been swallowed by the bunch.
GreenEdge leading the peloton setting up a bit of a train.
Gerrans leads ahead of the GreenEdge sprinters.
Front of the race is very crowded now. Lots of teams lining themselves up. Cameron Meyer and Gerrans trading turns and are keeping things strung out.
Rabobank have now swamped GreenEdge, looking a lot more organised at the front.
Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) is driving it now.
Rojas has punctured. Don't know if he'll be coming back on.
Andre Greipel looks very comfy in the front 10.
Pace has just gone mental.
Lapping sub two minutes. 60+ kilometres per hour speeds being clocked.
Not long to go now. Complete shambles at the front. Noone has control.
A little over 3 kilometres to go.
Brown is going to be the lead-out man for Renshaw. Matthews in front of him.
Lotto-Belisol want this though. Still plenty of numbers for them at the front.
Sky just appeared out of nowhere. Lampre-ISD, Sky and Lotto all fighting for control.
There's the bell. Lotto-Belisol.
Andre Greipel win.s
Amazing sprint for the German. He made Boasson Hagen look like a slouch.
1:03:16 is a record time for the Down Under Classic as well.
Haussler third.
Thanks for joining us today! Bring on the Tour Down Under.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
‘A bit of an eye-opener’ – First WorldTour season ticked off for Cameron Scott
Bahrain Victorious rider cranks up training for Tour Down Under at Tour of Bright -
Magnus White featured in 'Lives Worth Remembering' film series
Life of young US champion serves as inspiration for family non-profit's film, video teaser now available -
Mathieu Van der Poel 'not going to leave Tour de France early' for Paris Olympics
World Champion to choose between MTB and Tour de France as either-or decision
-
Spanish cycling marks 20th anniversary of death of climbing genius José María Jiménez
‘El Chava’ had short-lived, brilliant career crowned by victory on first-ever ascent of Angliru -
Ineos Grenadiers shake up management for 2024 after departure of Ellingworth
Steve Cummings new director of racing, Scott Drawer new performance director and John Allert named as CEO -
UAE Team Emirates announce plan to go net-zero by 2030 at COP28
CEO Mauro Gianetti says team offset a 2022 footprint of almost 225 tonnes of CO2
-
Rolling Volta ao Algarve TT offers early warm-up for Tour de France contenders
Remco Evenepoel expected to return to race he won in 2020 and 2022, Wout van Aert's participation also possible -
'If family life doesn't suffer I'll continue for longer' – Ellen van Dijk on return from childbirth
Dutchwoman eyes Olympic medal at Paris 2024, doesn't rule out another go at the hour record -
Wout van Aert's coach: 'Cyclocross was a goal but not now'
Belgian to use a limited cyclocross campaign starting this Saturday to prepare for the spring Classics