Tour Down Under Stage Two from the sidelines.
by Flatbagger on Jan 18, 2012 5:06 PM EST
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PrintThere's a real Tour Down Under bandwagon these days and it's not just the one that throws out dangerous objects at unsuspecting injured old men.
It started with the He Who Can Now Be Mentioned Twitter ride a few years ago but it seems with the advent of social media every man and his dog is organising mass participation rides during TDU week. There was the 'Big Red Ride' on Saturday where you got to ride with Stuey and raise funds for some charity or another. Sunday was 'Ride Like Crazy', Monday was for the kids with the 'Touriffic Prospect' ride.
Today a good mate of mine Steve Cunningham (who himself rode for the UniSA team in the TDU a few times) was using the opportunity to promote a Tour Company he runs with his wife Michelle. Get on FB and Twitter and next thing you have a group of couple of hundred cyclists winding their way up through the hills to the start. I joined in but I got half way up the first climb out of Adelaide and realised the pain in my newly re-constructed shoulder was just too much (I since found out it's been sub-luxated since I tried to catch a throw-out on Sunday)...so I swiftly headed home and picked up the car instead and drove to the KOM.
The crowds seem to be up from last year and Fox Creek is a popular KOM spot (and a bloody steep climb too). It was no surprise to see Will Clarke take the points but I thought Kohler would be bludging his way in the pack after yesterday's effort.
The peleton were looking untroubled, Valverde looked cool 
You'll notice the silver car in the background perfectly placed for the quick exit so I could beat them to the sprint at Balhannah...I got in just behind the Ambulances :-)
An intimate geographical knowledge of the Adelaide hills allowed me plenty of time to pick my photo spot just after the sprint and I caught the moment that Clarke and Kohler parted ways.
And was surprised to see Greipl completely isolated in a strung out chase group...must be really missing his mate Jurgen.
From there it was back in the car to get to the finishing circuit.
Clarkey was still in front and looking comfortable. The crowd was huge and my arm was dragging on the ground so I avoided getting bumped as much as I could but I couldn't not get some good pictures.
And with a lap to go Will Clarke was still going strong and looking like he might hold them off.
He was absolutely spent on the last run up to the line but victory was his and he savoured his run up the beautifully fenced off finishing straight.
But the ochre jersey was not for him....the peleton finally got in to gear and must have been going twice his speed as they fought for second place.
After screaming my lungs out for 13 years at UniSA breakaways this was way more satisfying than Patty Jonker's win a few years back and I celebrated by getting my shoulder put back in place.
Sadly that means I can't really ride even the deck-chair for a few days so I'm limited to seeing the start today. We'll see what Talent we can spot eh!
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Like the one with Clarke coming around the corner with the video moto behind.
We were rooting for him even though all we could do was listen. Looks like it was a beautiful day. Thanks again for the photos and report.
You're a goodphotographer, Flatty
I especially love the first one. Cyclists cheering for cyclists. It gives the photograph an extra dimension.
Missed ya, fella.
Hope you got all your bits shifted into the right positions, and will be “ever better” for then next while.
"It is unfortunate that the Wall is not plugged in correctly."
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