The year kicks off with SFOC (TDU)
In early 2020 we would have never imagined how much of an impact the global pandemic would have on the NRS and cycling in general, so For the organizers at Tour Down Under to turn around and back Australia’s national road talent with a TDU style NRS event was incredible.
even though very few pro tour riders could make it, It was something we all needed, riders and teams alike.
With cycling Legend Richie Porte giving us his blessing, the race was set to go, with a 4 race lineup comprised of 3 road stages and 1 criterium. Riders from all over Australia jumped at the opportunity to ride such a well-organized event, with full media coverage and what seemed to be an army of photojournalists.
Ziptrak® Stage 1: Seppeltsfield to Tanunda
RAPHAEL FREINSTIEN - 2ND PLACE - STAGE 1
The racing kicked off hard with Stage 1: Seppeltsfield to Tanunda a 107km hilly course, featuring the gruesome mangles hill in reverse, with stunning vineyard backdrops. Lucky enough for Raphael Feinstein he was able to walk away with a solid second place in the intermediate sprint and 2nd overall, behind Luke Durbridge who rode away with 2 laps to go and won with a 4min lead.
BikeExchange Stage 2: Birdwood to Lobethal
With our attempts at a course recon falling short to road closures, no one could anticipate who would excel on the Lobethal course. It was a fairly relaxed start to the race, resulting in multiple breakaway attempts being reeled back quickly. A break became evident just outside golding wines, lead by Chris harper and Josh Wilson, but the race was only just heating up. Several attempts at bridging before the last climb were made with Brendan Johnston, and Cyrus Monk making the leap of faith.
But little did we know that our own Lucas Plapp riding for team Garmin Australia that week would fly up the last climb and solo break to the finish line, rolling in with a +33 second lead. Luke was absolutely ecstatic about his win and it goes to show how much talent this young rider has.
Be Safe Be Seen Stage 3: McLaren Vale to Willunga Hill
The much-anticipated hilltop finish that cycling legend Richie Port had been crowned king year after year, the fabled Willunga climb. An early 9 man break formed, leaving the peloton behind for as much as a 3minutes lead, and whilst there was a sense of poise for most of the race as they counted down the laps to the Willunga climb, for a moment some confusion and panic arose over inaccurate time gap reporting. Riders upped the pace thinking the break had formed much more of a gap than they anticipated, soon this was rectified and the bunch slowed.
The peloton remained relaxed knowing that the climb would easily bring back those out front and so it did, with the entire race flipped on its head over the first seconds of the climb.
Richie powered his way up a climb that was everything but unfamiliar to him, sitting comfortably out front we could have said for sure he had it in the bag. Lucas Plapp soon launches a huge show of power, bridging to Richie and one could argue handed him the victory as they crossed the line 1 and 2 for yet another epic stage at the SFOC.
Trek Stage 4: Victoria Park Criterium
The festival finished off with a 60-minute criterium around Adelaide’s Victoria park race track, formerly constructed in 1846 for horse racing and in later years resurfaced for motor racing. With the heat not backing off for one minute, the racing was on fire! Multiple early brakes forming, one of which landed Raphael 1st in the intermediate sprint. With so many hitters from track racing in the bunch, it was set to be one hell of a finish, Sam Wellsford came through with a clean 1st place finish.
We are certainly grateful for the year to start with such a well televised and organized event, the team at Santos Tour down under made it possible for NRS riders to all hit it out with each other for the world to see. We are excited to see how future events like this will play out and we are sure that there will be more Adelaide TDU style tours in the NRS calendar for 2022.