From the moment Lance Armstrong set foot on Australian soil, he was big news. Feted by politicians - the South Australian Premier and Australian Prime Minister - and provided police escorts on and off the bike, Armstrong was treated as royalty throughout his visit to Adelaide.
The Tour Down Under marked the return of Armstrong to the professional peleton. As the South Australian Premier wrote in The Advertiser, this was an opportunity for locals to see a legend of his sport likening Armstrong to Bradman (a local hero), Pele and Muhammad Ali. All of Adelaide seemed to make the most of the opportunity, with large crowds lining the road for each stage. The crowd was said to be 7-8 deep for the entire criterium that preceded the race proper. Police estimated over 700k people came over the 7 days of racing.
I was one of the masses, together with my Mum, Dad and brother Graeme. We watched the final stage - 20x4.5km loop around Adelaide - in perfect conditions, blue skies and warm temperatures (not too hot). While the race was all but won by Allan Davies (Quickstep), this didn't stop a number of riders putting on a show by attacking the peleton. Big efforts by Quickstep and Katusha at the front of the peleton reeled in the break-away and the stage finished in a bunch sprint. With the riders doing loops, it was a great opportunity to see some of the big names up close:
- Stuart O'Grady and Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank);
- Robbie McEwen and Gert Steegmans(Katusha);
- Graeme Brown (Rabobank);
- Michael Rogers, George Hincapie and Adam Hansen (Columbia-High Road);
- Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne);
- Jesus Hernandez and of course Armstrong (Astana).
My camera battery died, fortunately Graeme's didn't and he got some great shots.
Associated with the Tour Down Under was a recreational ride - Mutual Community Challenge Tour. This followed the route of Stage 4 - Burnside to Angaston on the morning of the stage. Having ridden through December in temperatures consistently below 2C, the opportunity to ride in warm conditions was too good to pass. I borrowed my sister-in-law's Colnago with virtually no adjustments necessary. It was a gorgeous ride, entering the Adelaide Hills by Gorge Road, passing through the sleepy towns of Cuddle Creek, Gumeracha, Birdswood and Mount Pleasant before entering the Barossa Valley. Though the first 50km was virtually all uphill, the average gradient was insignificant, so it wasn't until Mengler's Hill on the outskirts of Angaston that the riders were tested. I don't recall having ever sweated so much on a bike as I had sweat pouring off my face. I think lack of conditioning to the temperatures can be blamed for that, as Mengler's Hill wouldn't be any more difficult than climbs in the North Downs (e.g. Box Hill). In the end I completed the 155km course in 5hr46min, a time I was happy with (Garmin Connect). Highlight of the day - being presented Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals by my two nieces. As they say ... Priceless.
Next stop the Surrey Rumble (March 1st) and SWRC Early Spring Cyclosportive (March 8th) - a couple 100km rides in the North Downs.
