Sore butt, sore legs, sunburned nose...tons of black snot and 8 hours before I saddle up for the next stage.

Hah!!! And they all thought it would be easy....ask Lance or George or even Andre how easy it's been! 

There are over 7000 doing the 'Challenge Tour' tomorrow, it should be a great sight but i'll be trying to hang on to Pat Jonker and his pack at the front (i'll still have the camera tucked in the back pocket though).

The map

via www.tourdownunder.com.au

The tour leaves Burnside Village at 1100, which is when I hope to make the finish line at Angaston.  Burnside has lot's of rich old ladies with blue hair and is not far away from my house, gold-digger that I am.  Once again, there is an early steep climb up The Gorge which is another of the spectacular climbs into the Adelaide Hills.  The top of the gorge has been a KOM in previous years....this year it's just the warm-up!  I rode this stage two weeks ago and if the wind is blowing from the South again it will be an easier day for the Peleton.  The sprints are going to be hotly contested.  Matty Wilson took seconds off O'Grady today in a sprint but I don't think Saxo will allow that tomorrow.

Menglers hill has always been the best party hill in the TDU and I imagine there'll be 15,000 there tomorrow at least searching for Wiggity grubs amongst the bark....and waiting for the boys to pass through.  The descent down to Angaston isn't steep but the loop around Seppeltsfield will be another chance for anyone with courage to give it a go.  The finish is another rather nasty uphill one (where is Cancellara when you need him) but I still feel everyone is waiting for Saturday's stage up Willunga to sort out the winners and losers.

I'll try and get some finish line photo's tomorrow.... i thought that was CycleGirl's job...has she left the Hilton yet??

And...another picture from yesterday's stage....how easy does Georges look!!

via mellowjohnnyg2009tourdownunder.bigblog.com.au