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We're here at Port Willunga just past the sprint point at Snapper Point.
Stage Five Maclaren Vale to Willunga Hill. Promises to be an epic day.
We caught up with Mike Turtur a little earlier in the week to get his thoughts
on this penultimate stage of the Santos Tour Down Under
Mike, what are your thoughts? Okay Stage Five is
developed in the iconic stage of the race because the hilltop finish in Willunga
that we introduced two years ago has really worked extremely well.A decisive day
where the race can be won or lost on this second to last day and the circuit
along the beach of Aldinga and down through Maclaren Vale
and so on, spectators just really support the race. You know
dress up their houses and all that. So it is a real carnival atmosphere
and this year will be no exception. It will be a big day at the top of Willunga,
it always is with the two laps and who ever wins there really deserves the
victory and possibly could win the race overall.
On this particular stage there is a number of flat sections
that the riders go and there is also the hill sections. Yeah you are
right it is not just all for the climbers today. There are sprint points at
Snapper Point, so you know yes it is a climber's day but the all rounders
have something out here too because before they hit Willunga Hill they
have to ride three laps of a relatively flat course so they will be trying to
build up a buffer. So we will see a breakaway We almost always see a
breakaway and that will be the all rounders. And going up Willunga Hill Pat,
will the riders be easing off a little bit up the first time just to allow
themselves enough energy if you like to get up the second time?
Or is it 110 percent from the off down the bottom? Yeah Jeff, that is
right you know they will be riding at 110 percent. Traditionally what
happens before the first ascent of Willunga Hill teams will get to the
front in the kind of team trial formation, each rider will be giving
110 percent The lead rider, the best climber of the team will be
sitting on on the little train. Team UniSA will be up there and
domestics will be sacrifciing their own chances in order to get their
climber in the best possible postion. So Team UniSA has traditionally
got some great results and has done very well with some of the
climbers going up Willunga Hill Do you think that that will happen
again this year? Let's hope so. Not long ago we saw Rowan Dennis have an
amazing day where he almost won the overall Tour Down Under.
He got caught just just before one kilometre before the finish line and
the likes of Simon Gerrans and Alejandro Valvedre overtook him.
Rowan still finished fifth, amazing performance he went on to ride
the Tour De France and have an amazing season in Europe and let's
hope that we will have a couple of UniSA riders follow in the footsteps of
Rowan Dennis. Stage Five is a fantastic stage for spectators whether
you set yourself up here on the beachfront the cyclists go by at least
three times. If you want to set yourself up between Maclaren Vale
and Willunga, the riders again through numerous times and of course
very exciting to get yourself set on Willunga Hill Get there nice and
early, whether it is at the top or even half way up. You'll get to see
the cyclists come through at full tilt. Magnificent stage, probably
the best stage to watch the Tour Down Under. So signing off from
what will be the defining stage of the 2014 Santos Tour Down Under.
See you there.