2019 Tour Down Under - stage 4 preview
Unley-Campbelltown, 129.2km
"We've used this stage before, and it's the first guaranteed day for the GC riders to hit the front," Matt White, head sports director at Mitchelton-Scott, explains. "We've had that approach, the final climb and then the descent a number of times, and it's incredibly important in terms of the overall battle. The Corkscrew climb is longer and harder than Willunga Hill, and you can have a situation in which one rider goes clear, takes five seconds at the top of the climb and is able to survive until the finish if they know the descent well enough or are willing to take risks.
"You could also see a larger group of around 10 contesting a reduced sprint, but the pure sprinters won't survive the climb. It might even be too hard for Peter Sagan. By the finish we'll see who is really in contention to win the overall. If you lose time on this stage, then your race is over because Corkscrew has the potential to be more selective than Willunga."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Most Popular
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Criterium racer Michael Hernandez first Orlando police officer to take down suspected shooter Thursday night
REIGN Storm Racing team captain began new job with Orlando Police Department this spring -
'You never know what next year brings' – Primoz Roglič not letting Pogačar's dominance douse Tour de France dream
'I always, obviously like to win' said Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider, schedule for 2025 yet to be mapped out -
What's coming on Cyclingnews this November
From cycling shows and season-ending criteriums to deep dives into WorldTour salaries and WADA's prohibited list -
Hunt starts the Black Friday madness early with up to 35% off selected road wheelsets
UK wheel brand Hunt brings its 'Biggest Sale of the Year' so grab a 'wheelie' good deal while you can