January 18, Stage 2: Stirling - Paracombe 148.5km
Map and profile
Tour Down Under: Stage 2 preview
Four-time Tour Down Under stage winner Baden Cooke says...
"Everyone knows the Stirling loop, it's solid but not crazy hard and will be a lot less hard being at the start of the stage. Those small climbs are somewhat decisive when the stage finishes in Stirling but won't be so important at the start. Usually you see a breakaway of three of four guys and then the peloton will slow down a little bit then obviously, as the stage comes through Norton Summit 50km from the finish you will see the speed ramp up as the main bunch chases the breakaway. The finish up in Paracombe is going to be solid but it's not out of reach for guys like Sagan, Simon Gerrans or Alejandro Valverde.
"I think Norton Summit is a bit too far out to go for a rider to make a move there. You might see someone jump there but I don't think they can hold on to the finish, It would be very difficult to hang on from there. It probably wouldn't be a bad tactic to send someone away but I don't think it would stay away. The WorldTour racing is just too organised and most of the leaders will stay with their teams and wait for the finish.
"UniSA have always had a home ground advantage, they know the roads and they are always willing to have a crack. Sometimes the WorldTour teams fall into riding like a WorldTour event, letting a break go and then chasing them before the finish. UniSA isn't locked into that way of doing things and my recommendation to them would be to keep doing what you're doing, look at the course very closely and keep on having a crack as anything is possible. If something out of the norm happens, it's likely to have that team in it."
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
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Stefan Kung builds momentum for Flanders with podium at Dwars door Vlaanderen
'Visma had the numbers' said Groupama-FDJ rider -
SD Worx try to avoid further Demi Vollering transfer drama by going silent
Danny Stam only willing to answer 'sporting' questions after disappointing Dwars door Vlaanderen - 'Cannot happen in Flanders' -
‘We continued the plan’ – Matteo Jorgenson steps up for Visma after Van Aert crash
Dwars door Vlaanderen victory puts North American in frame to lead at Tour of Flanders -
Crash between Soudal-Quickstep team car, medical car from men's race stops women's Dwars door Vlaanderen
Officials safely resume race after a 15-minute halt, remove Knokteberg-Trieu and Hotond from route