On the Rivet

A look at who's racing hard this week...

Tour Down Under

This Tour Down Under preview is a few days late so let’s just think of it as an update.

Wiskota Riders:

Maillot Jaune Guillame: Matt Goss, Gerrans

Volpe: Jurgen Roelandts, Andy, Iglinksy, Kittel

Forza: Phillipe Gilbert, Boassen Hagen,

Taco: Farrar, DeGendt

Fujarky: Andre Greipel, Gasporrato,

Dynamic: Geraint Thomas, P. Velits

The TDU started out as a race for the sprinters, but with a few tweaks it has become race for GC contenders as well.  Three sprint stages, 2 “bumpy” stages and one climby stage.  In the past this race has been decided by seconds making every time bonus worth a watch.  It should all come down to the Queen stage on Saturday. Old Willunga Hill will be climbed twice, this will decide the winner. 

Favorites for this race must be considered in two groups: Sprints and GC, and Wiskota has almost all of the favorites.

Wiskota Favorites:

Sprints: Goss and GREIPEL!!!

GC: PhilGil, Gerrans and Boassen Hagen

Spoilers:

Sprints: Demare, Hutarovich

GC: Machado, Gorka

Update:

As predicted the Vanilla Gorilla dominated the first sprint stage opening up a huge gap before coasting to victory.  Team Fujarky p/b Steven the Neo Pro is the first to open their account with a 6 point stage win.

The second stage saw a surprise shake up of the GC contenders as Team Wiskota Dynamic’s 11^th round pick Geraint Thomas made a race deciding move up Corkscrew Hill and finished it off with a sprint win to claim a stage and a formidable lead in the GC standings.

Can Thomas hold off the more pure climbers when they reach Old Willunga? The race is far from over.