What Stuart O'Grady says...
Checker Hill never gets any easier. It's a really steep climb and it's very early in the race. Many people will be trying to conserve energy as it's the first proper climb. A lot of guys haven't raced yet this year so the heart rate will be going and it hurts a lot.
It's quite a lumpy ride out to Lobethal. We've done some reconnaissance and it's a lot harder than what it looks on paper. It could be a real little surprise package that day. The final 10km of the circuit is really, really tough. Especially as it's the first main race of the year a lot of guys won't have much racing under the belt. It could come as a real shock to the system and come out with a surprise result.
There are plenty of opportunities for attacks and I don't think it's going to come down to a big bunch sprint. It's tough enough to split the field. Even the final sprint to the line is a slight drag uphill. For the first race of the year it's going to really hurt.
Profile
Image ©: Santos Tour Down Under
-
'I'm going to make a sort of comeback' - Marcel Kittel returns to pro racing as sprint coach for Unibet Rose Rockets in bid to boost Grand Tour ambitions
After retiring in 2019, the German sprint ace will help the get the most out of new signing Dylan Groenewegen, as the squad aim for a 2026 Tour de France wildcard. -
No doubts - Cameron Mason poised for cyclocross World Cup breakthrough with strength, progression and newfound confidence
'The numbers are clearly better, I'm healthier and definitely happier, so it does make sense that that has gone into the results' says British Champion, aiming to add World Cup elite victory to palmares -
Tadej Pogačar's final challenges: Paris-Roubaix – Mission impossible?
Can the 'new Cannibal' ever add the cobbled Classic to his palmarès, and how would he go about beating Mathieu van der Poel? -
Jannik Steimle and Jonas Gregaard add names to retirement class of 2025 after 11-year pro careers with 'chaos, stress, joy, and heartbreaks'
Dane competed in all three Grand Tours across three teams and follows Elia Viviani as second Lotto rider to end career
