I am currently in South Australia.

It is strangely exciting to be in Australia in the midst of a cycling event and to be part of such excitement.  I really never thought it would happen.  I currently spend a great deal of time organizing European trips that give my guests the sense of excitement and experience that is European Cycling.

Just about anyone who has ever worn lycra is here along with many that haven’t.  South Australia celebrates, making this event the success it is.    

We drove over to SA after the National championships and as expected GreenEdge cleaned-up, as they should have.  The sheer numbers on the road gave the team a huge advantage in the events that they won but they had to work hard, Simon’s win was courageous, he fought to the line.  At the men’s criterium however where their team presence was in line with other’s, the results were not forthcoming and the local boys won hands down.

Sitting back on the verandah of the Stag Hotel in Adelaide last night with Oakley we watched the TdU Classic.  This event and the final stage of criterium are particularly fast leaving many of the unseasoned riders coughing and spluttering particularly the Europeans, as many of the locals have had some fast racing in the Jayco Bay Crits.

Green Edge made a display of the criterium but not much else, the lead out trains were not black and green with a final victory to a favorite of the locals Andre Greipal.

As for Nathan Hass, great performance being in the nine man break for most of the race!

Back to the Nationals, there has been a definite change of guard in the ranks when considering the results of the time-trial.  Our time-trial elders ex World Champion Mick Rogers and Adam Hanson are now playing second fiddle to the new generation of endurance trackies, Luke Durbridge and Cameron Meyer.  No doubt Jack Bobridge would have been in the mix if he didn’t get caught up in the vortex of a b-double that has since eliminated him from the the Tour down Under.

Sitting back in Adelaide having a sunny lunch in Glenelg I caught glimpses of the pros rolling around the malls, relaxed and enjoying the attention before the serious matters of the week commence.  It is nice these days to be a little anonymous and have a quiet laugh at the antics of the youthful peleton.    

Once the serious business of racing begins, and the selected rider’s early season form is exposed the outcomes will be interesting.  There is a lot at stake, for all the teams, poll position in future races, critics of management and team selection, careers on the cusp!  

The TdU stages are short and sweet and not too hilly, for the pro’s, sorry guy’s but these are not hard circuits and the TdU was designed this way. My old legs will test one of the circuits in the Bupa Challenge on Friday.  As my partner would attest, hard work for the mere mortals but the pro’s will eat up this circuit in a flash.

With so many fans in Adelaide enjoying the weeks festivities and all the riders enjoying the Adelaide hospitality I am looking forward to week of cycling and riding.

You should be here.