Ok...I take back everything I said about Greipel yesterday, but only because he won...I still think he's doing it all wrong! :-) (Win two D grade races in one weekend and you think your a bloody expert!!!)

Lance made the comment in the post race interview that 'if that was the easy stage then tomorrow was gonna be a toughie'  And he's right.  The hardest decision for me is the best pub and photo route as my legs are getting weary and i spent half my weekend's winnings already.

I'll put the map in early this time...doesn't the profile look like a 'Mountain' stage of a Grand Tour???

via www.tourdownunder.com.au

It starts at Hahndorf this year which has for the last five at least years been the finish line too, but this year to make it harder, Turtur's got them doing loops around my old Mountain Bike training loop only they'll be on the road hopefully.

Hahndorf is a German town so Andre will be able to get fresh Saurkraut and several variety of metwurst for breakfast to fire him up for the day should he choose.  11 might be a bit early for a beer but the German Inn serves a wicked Lowenbrau.  From Hahndorf the race meanders along the Onkaparinga valley through Oakbank and Woodside to the first sprint at Charleston.  I'm not making predictions today because i have no credibility left. The Charleston pub has a pool table with a wicked camber so advice is not to take on the locals for money.

The KOM is at Fox Creek which is one of our purpose built Mountain Bike trails park.  It's another toughie, not long but it steepens near the end and is a leg burner.  The climb is worth it as the descent to Lenswood through the vines and orchards is spectacularly scenic.  They then head back from whence they came and go past the Stanley Bridge Tavern...I'll be out the front.  There's quite a climb from there over Germantown Hill until they finish off with the three laps of the Stirling circuit.  The descent down Bradbury Road into Mylor is very fast and if you get tv coverage, look out on the left for the trail i blazed through the bush. 

So...another hard day in the saddle....but plenty of Pub stops.

Here are a couple more pictures from Stage one that I thought you might like.

via mellowjohnnyg2009tourdownunder.bigblog.com.au

Adam Hansen chillin out pre-race.

via mellowjohnnyg2009tourdownunder.bigblog.com.au