The Cycle-City/Felt team relaxing before the start to stage nine in George Town.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Tour marshalls study the stage nine race route in the Signature Café in George Town (note the walls).
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Stand up those still in contention for the Scody Cup: Richard Lang (standing) and the Budget Forklift team prior to stage nine.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
The Tour descends into a valley near Lilydale with Mt.Arthur in the background.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Ethan Kimmince (124) and James Hepburn (88) in the peloton as it rolls through on stage nine.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
EA Sports virtual racing: James McDulling (BOC Gas-Tall Timbers) in the peloton on stage nine.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Nick Morgan (Recab Cycling) from Tasmania in the peloton on stage nine.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Local boy Ben Grenda (Praties) follows Budget Forklift's Peter Herzig and Blair Windsor on the climb out of Lilydale.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Michael Smith (Lawson Homes) out of the saddle on the climb out of Lilydale.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Bernard Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) will take a fifty second lead into the final stage criterium in Westbury.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
The peloton make their way towards Scottsdale from George Town on the 91.8 kilometre stage nine.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
A breakaway group approach Lilydale with a one minute advantage over the peloton.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
The lead group in single file nearing the township of Lilydale.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
The peloton had bridged the gap to the leaders on the climb out of Lilydale.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Peter McDonald (Drapac Porsche) on the climb out of Lilydale.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Fly V Australia teammates Bernard Sulzberger and Ben Day ride the long drag out of Lilydale.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Matt Wilson (Jayo/VIS) was the first over the top of the climb out of Lebrina.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Peter McDonald (Drapac Porsche) leads the chasing peloton over the climb out of Lebrina.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
New Zealand's Brett Tivers (Prime Estate Buyers Agent) gets over the short but steep climb out of Lebrina.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Ethan Kimmince (BOC Gas-Tall Timbers) out of the saddle during the climb out of Lebrina.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Sam Spokes (National Junior Road Team) feels the strain of the climb out of Lebrina.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Matt Wilson (Jayco/VIS) opened up a gap on the rest on the descent over the top of the climb at Lebrina.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Matt Wilson (Jayco/VIS) descends towards Scottsdale with a narrow lead over a chasing pack.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Bernard Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) takes out stage nine into Scottsdale.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Tour leader Bernard Sulzberger (Fly V Australia) won the penultimate stage of the tour after bridging a gap to Jayco/VIS's Matt Wilson in the closing kilometres.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Shortis Cycle & Tri Avanti Plus riders Mitchell Pearson (left) and Brendan Brooks recover after a difficult stage nine of the tour.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
The stage nine podium (l-r): Matt Wilson (2nd, Jayco/VIS), Bernard Sulzberger (1st, Fly V Australia), and Luke Durbridge (3rd, Jayco/AIS).
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Nathan Haas (DiscoverTasmania.com/TIS) has taken out the Tall Timbers King of the Mountains competition of the Tour.
(Image credit: Shane Goss)
Not content with leading the Tour of Tasmania, Bernard Sulzberger stamped his authority on the event in the penultimate stage, winning the George Town to Scottsdale race in classic style.
After keeping himself safe in the morning stage from Launceston to George Town, Sulzberger had some unfinished business to achieve. Sulzberger emulated the performance of his younger brother Wes, who won the same stage in the 2006 Tour of Tasmania.
Three times this week he had finished in second place - twice to his Fly V Australia teammate Jonathon Cantwell - but he wasn’t going to let this one slip by.
Sulzberger didn’t feature in any of the early intermediate sprints or hill climbs, allowing the likes of William Clarke (Praties), Nathan Hass (Discover Tasmania.com/TIS) and luckless British Champion Kristian House some success.
Clarke was later rewarded by winning the daily Most Aggressive rider award, while Hass wrapped up the Tall Timbers King of the Mountain Championship, which will be formally presented to him after Sunday’s final stage at Westbury.
But as has been the case all week, the Fly V team was driving the peloton and when they decided it was time to reel the leaders in, the gap disappeared quickly.
Team manager Henk Vogels has ruled the team with absolute efficiency. Sulzberger’s Scottsdale win was the team’s fourth stage victory of the tour and the team will be favourites to add one more on Sunday.
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Second home to Sulzberger – but a clear bike length behind – was former Australian road champion Matt Wilson, who had attempted an unsuccessful solo breakaway 20 kilometres from the finish. Third was West Australian Luke Durbridge, who earlier this week won the Spreyton to Mole Creek stage.
Sulzberger’s main challenger, current national road champion, Peter McDonald was fourth in the stage but moved up to second in general classification, although the 39 second deficit he carries into the last stage should see him stay in that position.
My best guess would be that social media has accelerated the glorification and fetishization of the Alpe d’Huez atmosphere, and more and more people are heading up with the primary focus of seeking out the hot-spots where the music is loudest, and the costumes are wildest.
