Stage 5: Snapper Point - Willunga, 149 km
January 23
Always a popular day for fans and riders, the fifth stage from Snapper Point to Willunga encapsulates the best of the Tour Down Under - stunning scenery around the Fleurieu Peninsula, big crowds and solid racing.
The stage is essentially two circuit races placed together, with a coastal loop accompanied by a hilly loop that includes two ascents of Old Willunga Hill, where traditionally the peloton splits and the overall victor usually confirmed or decided.
While opportunists used to benefit from the climb, in recent years the sprinters have maintained enough pace up the 4km hill to stay within contact of the leaders and catch any breaks before contesting a fast finale.
It's a fairly dead flat parcours until the two passes of the climb, although the prevailing westerly winds can help make life difficult for riders and aid the chances of a break getting away. It promises excitement every year and 2010 shouldn't be any different.
Team Milram's Luke Roberts says:
Two years ago I rode with Allan Davis in the UniSA team and we won it going over Willunga Hill once. I waited with Allan - I just rode the tempo he could handle - and I think there were 15 or 20 guys who went over in front of us. Our team rode Allan back on along the top but unfortunately Greipel stayed with us as there were about 20 guys who made up our group.
If Davis and Greipel are both in the second group this year, it will be interesting to see how Allan's form is and whether he can go over twice in the group. The same applies to André.
It depends on how it's raced; normally, if you go over Willunga once you come in there [to the hill] like a sprint finish and it's just a case of going hard from the bottom. Some guys could be intimidated by going over it twice - they could come in and ride it fairly easily the first time. Our team won't be doing that - we want to come in there giving it everything.
The year Pat Jonker won Ben Day won the stage after he slipped away late in the day. There's often a lot of wind in that stage and after Willunga Hill, with everyone fighting to come back to a group, everyone's seeing red in the last 10 kilometres and looking for the finish line, it's a tough last five kilometres - there's wind and a slow drag uphill.
If someone's really got something left then there's a good chance to go away there but you've really got to have quite a bit left in the tank to be able to do it. If you attack and don't have the legs, there's not much chance of staying in the group after that.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Most Popular
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
2025 Tour of the Alps includes 14,700m of climbing in just 739km and five days of racing
Route revealed in front of Christian Prudhomme and UCI President David Lappartient -
The 2025 UCI calendar could have a major gap as two February races are in doubt
Tour Colombia facing budget hurdles, could face cancellation, adding to potential absence of Volta a Valenciana -
Maxim Van Gils' contract battle with Lotto Dstny pushes pro cycling towards a football-style transfer market system
'Soon, a contract will no longer mean anything' team managers tells RTBF -
American Criterium Cup juggles eight-race US calendar for fourth edition in 2025
Racing begins June 6 at Saint Francis Tulsa Tough, with remaining schedule zig-zagging across central US