January 22, Stage 1: Prospect - Lobethal 135km
Stage 1 profile
What Stuart O'Grady says...
Checker Hill never gets any easier. 🌌It's a really steep climb and it's very early in the race. Many people will be trying to conserve energy as it's the first proper climb. A lot of guys haven't raced yet this year so the heart rate will be going and it hurts a lot.
It's quite a lumpy ride out to Lobethal. We've done some reconnaissance and it's a lot harder than what it looks on paper. It could be a real little surprise package that day. The final 10km of the circuit is really, really tough. Especially as it's the first main race of the year a lot of guys won't have much racing under the belt. It💧 could come as a real shock to the system and come out with a surprise result.
There are plenty of opportunities for attacks and I don't think it's going to come down to a big bunch sprint. It's tough enough to split the field. Even the final sprint to the line is a slight drag uphill. For the first race of the year iꦚt's going to really hurt.
Profile
Image ©: Santos Tour Down Under
The lat꧑est race co꧑ntent, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Dual Corkscrew climb finale for women’s Tour Down Under in 2026 as men’s race tackle Willunga Hill triple on penultimate stage
Both courses deliver opportunity for shifts in overall standings right up to the very last kilometres of racing in the southern hemisphere summer -
Baloise Ladies Tour: Zoe Bäckstedt smashes prologue to claim first leader's jersey
Ellen van Dijk second, Charlotte Kool third in Yerseke -
Political protestor tackled at Tour de France finish in Toulouse as Abrahamsen-Schmid duo sweep across the line to conclude stage 11
Tour staffer's swift maneuver drives individual away from threat to riders and French riot police take suspect away in handcuffs -
'That was Ben' - EF Education-EasyPost say decision to slow peloton after Tadej Pogačar crashed taken by Tour de France leader Ben Healy
Team manager Jonathan Vaughters praises Irishman for fair play decision