Spanish cycling federation president Juan Carlos Castano told The Associated Press that the Court of Arbitration for Sport suspended the three-time Tour champion after rejecting his claim that his positive test for clenbuterol was caused by eating contaminated meat.

The three-man CAS panel upheld appeals by the International Cycling Union and World Anti-Doping Agency, which challenged a Spanish cycling tribunal's decision last year to exonerate Contador.

Contador has continued racing since testing positive on a 2010 Tour rest day, and is expected to be stripped of all of his results over the past 17 months, including his Giro d'Italia victory last season.

Contador will become only the second Tour de France champion to be disqualified and stripped of victory for doping.

G’DAY TRENDSETTERS!!

How is everyone?

Well, what a HUGE few weeks it has been! After a super hard return to racing after my last and final wrist operation 7 weeks ago some exciting developments for 2012 have arisen and FROTH factors have reached an all time high! ;)

For 2012 i will be riding for the Global GIANT Factory Off-road Team. I will be riding alongside world and national champions all over America in XC, Super D and Enduro events. 

To be on the same team roster as such well credentialed talented freaks is definitely slightly daunting! Danny hart-world champ, Andrew neethling- South African national champ, Liam Kileen- British national Champ, Carl Decker- All Mtn World Champ, Kelli Emmett- All Mtn World Champ.......WOW! Every time i read the press release, see the roster and look at the feedback from face book it brings a HUGE smile to my face and sends tingles and Goosebumps all over my body! It is an absolute dream come true to race and ride for one of the biggest teams in the world.

A few years ago when i rocked up to a Wollongong mountain bike club day at Penrose state forest in my joggers, board shorts, $500 pushy and so many questions about this so called mountain bike stuff, the thought of riding for a GLOBAL MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM was the furthest thought in my mind..to be honest i don’t even think i knew a team of that size existed! 

Now almost 6 years from when i rode my first mountain bike ride/race i am headed to America as a team mate to THE world’s best! SHIT THE BED!

My GIANT Bicycles weapons of choice for the year will be my Anthem Advanced carbon SL 0 for my XC races, Trance Advanced carbon SL 0 for super D and ReignX for the Enduro races. All powered by SRAM with a mix of XX,XO, Truvativ cockpits, AVID Brakes, ROCK SHOX, DT Swiss wheel sets, crank brothers, MRP chain guides, Schwalbe tyres

, Fox Head apparel, DNA Cycling race kit, Contour Cameras, ODI grips, Fizik saddles, Notubes.com tubeless technologies and maintained by Finishline lubrication, park tools, Thule racks and fuelled by Honey stinger nutrition.

I will be coached by Mark fenner of ftptraining.com and have clear vision thanks to Adidas eyewear.

I am hoping to base myself out of Vancouver, BC with my girlfriend Lisa. This decision was made due to the fact that that area is known as the mountain biking MECA of the world! Vancouver, from all accounts (and i mean every single person i have spoke to and mentioned Vancouver FROTHS over it) it sounds like an amazing place to live, work, train, ride, chillax and be in. Majority of my main races are west coast USA based and will be in driving distance too. Focusing on super D and Enduro this year I’m really looking forward to spending ALOT of time on my mountain bike and what better place to do that than north shore Vancouver, whistler, Squamish, Vancouver island, Oregon all within easy riding and driving distance....wait for it.....FROTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My racing plans for the year will include iconic US races like the BC bike race, Downieville All Mountain World Champs, Ashland All Mountain Super D, Whistler Crankworx, Colorado Freeride Festival and the Oregon Enduro series. For 2012 the majority of these Enduro and super D races will be blanketed by the North American Enduro Tour in one huge series. My major focus will be Downieville and Crankworx in august aswell as the BC bike race in early July.

After the year that was 2011. It was tough! suffering the biggest injury i have had to date and the EXTREME rollercoaster of emotions, stress, dream crushing, rebirth, elation and FROTH that it brang i could not have dreamed that when it clicked midnight on January 1st 2012 i would be so relieved! And now to be granted this amazing opportunity feels AWESOME! An opportunity which i promise to grab with both hands and feet and appreciate and enjoy for everything its worth!

Thankyou GIANT Bicycles, mountain biking and every person who i have met, laughed and ridden with over the years. A new chapter has opened in my career now and i am WAY more than excited than ever to get amongst it and share it with everyone.

HERE.........WE...........GO!!!!!!!

Cycling Australia is pleased to confirm the riders selected in the Cyclones team to contest the final round of the UCI Track World Cup Series being staged in London from 16 to 18 February.

"This will be our only opportunity to race on the Olympic velodrome and familiarise both athletes and staff with the environment ahead of the Games. The World Cup will help sharpen our team focus, knowing that there is just over 180 days to go before first event of the Olympic track program," said Cycling Australia's National Performance Director, Kevin Tabotta. "It will also give us an idea of where the rest of the world is in terms of preparation for the upcoming World Championships in Melbourne in April."

Tabotta says tough decisions have had to be made by selectors and communicated to the athletes who have not been selected for the London world cup round.

"We are on target to qualify the maximum track places for the Games so the focus now it to ensure we are in the best possible position to win medals in London. That means setting targets for teams and individuals and making sure they know what is expected of them as we come close to nominating teams for the worlds and the Olympic Games."

The Cyclones head to the London World Cup Round with an impressive line up of world champions including sprint and keirin champion Anna Meares along with her team sprint world champion partner Kaarle McCulloch. In the men's sprint events Shane Perkins sports the rainbow stripes of keirin world champion.

Selectors have named six track endurance men including Jack Bobridge, Rohan Dennis, Luke Durbridge and Michael Hepburn, who are the reigning team pursuit world champions while Bobridge also has the 2011 individual pursuit world tile to his name. 2011 junior world champion, Alex Edmondson and 2012 Omnium national champion Glenn O'Shea are also in the mix for a seat on the plane but only five of the six will be heading to London.

The four round World Cup series kicked off in Astana last November before heading to Colombia in December and China earlier this month. The London round is also the official 'London Prepares' track cycling test event for the London Olympic Games being staged on the Olympic velodrome.

After the World Cup Series the world's best cyclists will head to Melbourne to contest the 2012 UCI Track World Championships . The Australian Cyclones for the world championships will be named on 14 March.

The team for the London UCI World Cup round is listed below:

Cyclones Australian Team

• Amy CURE (Penguin, TAS 31.12.1992)

• Annette EDMONDSON (Stirling SA, 12.12.1991)

• Melissa HOSKINS (Lesmurdie WA, 24.02.1991)

• Kaarle MCCULLOCH (Gymea Bay, NSW 20.01.1988)

• Anna MEARES (West Richmond, SA [formerly QLD] 21.09.1983)

• Josephine TOMIC (Perth WA, 09.06.1989)

• Alex BIRD (Flynn, ACT 06.03.1985)

• Jack BOBRIDGE (Evaston Park SA, 13.07.1989) *

• Rohan DENNIS (Vale Park, SA 28.05.1990) *

• Luke DURBRIDGE (Bassendean, WA 09.04.1991) *

• Alexander EDMONDSON (Stirling, SA 22.12.1993) *

• Matthew GLAETZER (Adelaide SA, 24.08.1992)

• Michael HEPBURN (Brookfield, QLD 17.08.1991) *

• Glenn O'SHEA (Ridleyton, SA [formerly VIC] 14.06.1989) *

• Shane PERKINS (Clayton South, VIC 31.12.1986)

• Scott SUNDERLAND (Hillarys WA 16.03.1988) 

 (* Please note six men's track endurance riders are listed but this will be cut to five who will travel to London for the World Cup)

Reigning sprint world champion Anna Meares won her sixth national sprint title in an electrifying night of racing at the 2012 Subaru Cycling Australia Track Championships at Adelaide's Super-Drome.

A lightning strike hit the velodrome early in the program frying the cables that feed information to the timing system, scoreboard and start gates but when racing resumed the sparks were flying on the track.

Canberra's Alex Bird caused the upset of the championships to win the men's sprint crown, while South Australians Jack Bobridge and Annette Edmondson collected more gold for their collection. In the women's team pursuit Josephine Tomic, Melissa Hoskins and Sarah Kent gave West Australia their fifth straight win.

Women's Sprint

Anna Meares was the fastest qualifier and breezed through to the finals where she easily accounted for Canberra's Catherine Culvenor in the semi finals.

Looking resplendent in her world champion's rainbow striped skinsuit and matching helmet that she calls her 'attitude hat', Meares then faced her team sprint world champion partner Kaarle McCulloch in the gold medal final proving too strong to take the win in two straight heats.

"I am very pleased, I (now) have 28 Australian titles, so that's one for each birthday," said Meares, whose elite national titles total 22.

"I am always quite nervous to come up against Kaarle as there's a lot of pride on the line at nationals," said Meares who also got the better of McCulloch in the team sprint. "I know how much she wants it, but I know how much I want it too."

Meares was pleased to be racing against a rider of McCulloch's calibre knowing the UCI Track World Cup round in London is only three weeks away and will also be the official London Olympic Games test event.

"As Australians we don't get a lot of competition and we have to travel halfway around the world to get it, so to have that level of competition against Kaarle, it's great," said Meares. "She is a formidable opponent and she is only young, she is going to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come, that's for sure."

Meares will try for her third gold medal of the championships when she contests the keirin on Sunday, an event in which she is also the reigning world champion.

"I hoping that with each competition I can step up the level of performance a little bit and a little bit and a little bit and aim to be better than I've ever been by the time the Games come around in August," she added.

In the bronze medal ride, Victoria's Ziggy Callan, a former BMX rider, defeated Culvenor.

Men's Sprint

Canberra's Alex Bird scored the upset of the week to win the coveted men's sprint crown. First 'Birdman' eliminated fastest qualifier Matthew Glaetzer (SA) in the semi final and then took on 2010 world championship sprint silver medallist and defending Australian champion Shane Perkins in the final.

The Victorian was pipped on the line in a photo finish first heat and in the second thought he had levelled the scorecard when he sprinted to a four length lead heading into the final 200 metres. But Bird flew over the boards swooping on Perkins in the final metre to claim the gold medal.

"I am a bit beyond words at the moment," said Bird, 26. "I never thought I would ever break through to win an individual title, so this is just bloody amazing."

Bird, who claimed the sprint bronze medal in both 2009 and 2010, qualified fourth fastest behind Glaetzer, Andrew Taylor (NSW) and Perkins. He cruised through the morning's quarter finals and then tried to relax to prepare for tonight's racing.

"I went home and I tried to have a nap but my heart was pounding so fast I couldn't get to sleep," said Bird who tonight harnessed his nerves and the support of his posse of family and friends in the stands to claim the top step of the podium.

"Never did I ever think I'd beat Shane Perkins, I mean he has been the best rider in the sport In Australia for years now," said Canberra's Bird, who lives in Adelaide and is a member of the Cycling Australia / AIS High Performance Program. "In both of the heats, I didn't think I was going to get him, and then I was thinking, 'man I am going to get him'.

"I was so amazed after the semi final when I beat Matthew Glaetzer, who is one of the best young bike riders we have seen in years. I never thought I'd beat him, let alone Shane Perkins in the final.

Women's Points Race

Annette Edmondson claimed her second gold medal of the titles with an dominant performance in the women's points race.

She came into the event on the back of posting the fastest time ever ridden on Australian soil to win Friday's individual pursuit and signalled her strategy early in the 100 lap event.

She won seven of the ten sprints contested andt hat was enough to counter the attack of West Australia's Sarah Kent and Canberra's Rebecca Wiasak who lapped the field to collect 20 points each.

Heading into the final sprint Edmondson had a one point lead over Keny but stormed home to claim the five points and the win.

Her total was 38 points with Kent claiming silver on 35 points while Wiasak claimed third place with 28 points.

"I felt OK in the sprints, but Kent was just on fire and after she took that lap, and without the scoreboard working, it was really hard to tell how many points I needed to get," said Edmondson. "It was all a bit hectic, but I knew I just had to keep chipping away and get as many points as possible.

"I thought mid way through the race that I didn't feel fresh at all and thought the individual pursuit may have taken it out of me. But most of the girls tonight had to ride two team pursuits today, so I figured they'd be hurting just as much, if not more than me," said Edmondson.

Men's Scratch Race

Earlier in the night South Australia's Jack Bobridge delighted his home crowd with a sizzling performance to win the men's 15km scratch race.

The 60 lap event was marred by a nasty crash that forced officials to stop the race with one lap left on the board. A puncture saw Scott Law (NSW) lose control and crash taking West Australian Stephen Hall and Tasmania's Peter Loft with him. The medals were awarded based on the placings across the line on the bell lap.

That gave Bobridge the gold medal and was just reward for the Gawler rider who set the race alight with a solo attack that resulted him going one lap up on the field by the half way point.

West Australian Michael Freiberg tried to counter with South Australian Edward Bissaker & Law hot on his wheel but try as they might they couldn't gain back the lost lap.

2006 Commonwealth Games points race gold medalist Sean Finning had a dig inside the final ten laps and Bobridge tagged along to protect his lead. The pair were well clear of the bunch when the crash happened and Bissaker was awarded the bronze medal.

"To come back and to win last night and tonight is awesome for me," said Bobridge, who last night joined his South Australian team mates to win gold with the fastest ever team pursuit time ridden on Australian soil.

"It wasn't easy taking that lap, I hit it pretty hard to get that gap and I did nearly blow, I had to back off a bit and get going again," explained Bobridge. "I'm not 100 per cent fit at the moment, so I think it's more hunger to get back on top and to get right for the worlds (championships).

"I had really bad legs this morning, but I went out on the rollers, flushed out last night's race and did a lot of recovery this morning."

With his second gold medal of the championships in the bag, Bobridge now turns his attention to what will be a huge year for the twenty-year-old.

"Everything I do know is geared towards the first week of April in Melbourne for the Track Worlds," said Bobridge. "To win the teams pursuit with the boys and the individual pursuit, to win those, they would be my goals completed.

"My hunger is at an all time high," he added.

Women's Team Pursuit

In the women's team pursuit, West Australia claimed it's fifth consecutive title. The trio of Josephine Tomic, Melissa Hoskins and Sarah Kent clocked a tie of 3:21.618, just outside the record of 3:21.427 set by Tomic, Hoskins and Isabella King in 2011.

They caught and passed the ACT team of Allison Rice, Rebecca Wiasak and Allie McDonald on the sixth of twelve laps but rode on to complete the distance.

"We are pretty lucky we have such strength in West Australia in this event and this is always a fun event for the three of us," said Tomic who has played a role in all five of the WA team pursuit victories.

"We were trying for a sub (3:) 20 today, but with the delays it kind of set things back," said Tomic. "But we can't be upset with that time as it's the fastest we have ridden in a while, so we are pretty happy.

After claiming her fourth title, Hoskins praised her team mates.

"I love riding with these girls, it is far and away the best part of nationals, I love it. Sure the time was a bit slower than we wanted, but we can't complain with gold," said Hoskins.

The New South Wales trio of Ashlee Ankudinoff, Brie Dutton and Holly Heffernan were awarded the bronze medal based on clocking the third fastest qualifying time of 3:38. 848.

Under 19 Women's Team Pursuit

Queensland's Taylah Jennings, Alexandra O'Dea and Hayley Jones (3:31.632) defeated West Australia's Emily McRedmond, Kelsey Robson and Elissa Wundersitz in the under 19 women's gold medal final.

Under 19 Men's Keirin

In the under 19 men's keirin, Victoria's Jacob Schmid broke through for his first individual track nationals gold medal. Schmid crossed the line ahead of team mate Emerson Harwood with Canberra's Thomas Clarke in third place.

Under 19 Men's Scratch Race

Victoria made it two from two in the men's under 19 racing tonight when Evan Hull edged out Tirian McManus (NSW) on the line to in the scratch race. Dual 2011 junior world champion Caleb Ewan claimed the bronze medal.

The 2012 Subaru Cycling Australia Track National Championships are being staged from Thursday January 26 to Sunday January 29 6 at Adelaide's Super-Drome. A detailed event schedule, ticketing information, entry list and results can be found on the Cycling Australia website

World champion Anna Meares celebrated Australia Day by claiming her 27th Australian title after pairing with Rikki Belder to win the elite women's team sprint at the 2012 Subaru Cycling Australia Track National Championships at the Adelaide Super-Drome. 

The South Australian team of Meares, 28, and 18 year old  Belder, were fastest in qualifying clocking 34.541, just three thousandths of a second quicker than Meares' world champion team sprint partner Kaarle McCulloch (NSW) who with Cassandra Kell recorded 34.554. 

"I really wanted it," said Meares, "This is a national championship and there's only eight teams competing, but for me I haven't won a (national) team sprint title for three years," said Meares who last won in 2009 with Emily Rosemond racing for Queensland.

Meares and McCulloch, who have won the team sprint world title for the past three years and hold the world record, lined up in their rainbow stripes with Belder leading out Meares over the first lap in 19.849 seconds. That was just over a tenth of a second quicker than the first lap time of Kell.

Over the final 250m Meares edged out the time of McCulloch by 0.068 to give SA the gold in 34.156. NSW clocked 34.376 for the silver medal. 

"I didn't really think we had much of a shot against the NSW girls, but when I saw 34.5 on the qualifying I was very impressed," said Meares who praised Belder who is ten years her junior.

"As exciting as it might be, lining up with a world champion in front of your home crowd, it's very daunting as well," said Meares. "Plus this is the first time Rikki has ridden a team sprint, (and) she's a first-year senior.

"I was giving her a bit of a gee-up for the final saying 'whatever you did in the first one, do exactly the same, we don't care about the time, just rip it up and put it all through the pedals'.  She did that and pulled out another two 10ths for the lap.

"It's extremely special for her, which I think makes it a little bit more special for me, it's really nice," Meares added. 

Meares was unnerved with facing her Australian partner in McCulloch with whom she has remained unbeaten in team sprint finals as a combination since 2009. 

"Funnily enough, we didn't have any bets on, but after qualifying, we passed each other in the pits and I was doing the old 'pointing at my eyes, pointing at her and she says 'oh, it's on'.

"Kaarle and I have come out here I think with the same mindset that we'd have for a world cup, a world championship and an Olympic Games. Everything is geared towards London, but you can't focus on the end result," explained Meares. "If we can get ourselves into that (race mode) time and time and time again, by the time we come to the Olympic Games we're going to be so well-drilled in the practice and the mental space that we need to be in to perform, that it's all going to start falling into place.

Belder, who started cycling six years ago after taking part in a South Australian Institute of Sport Talent Identification program at her school, was ecstatic after claiming her first national title. 

"(This is ) absolutely fantastic, it was such an honour to claim my first gold at a national titles," said Belder. "Also, it is such an honour to be able to ride with and against the likes of Anna and Kaarle, it is just amazing. 

"I learnt a lot from just watching her, she is so cool, calm and collected and always know exactly what's she is doing and what she needs to do. But mostly, she is always enjoying it, she always seems to have a smile on her face no matter the situation," added Belder. 

Like Meares, two-time defending champion McCulloch found it  odd to see Meares on the other side of the track.

"It is obviously a little bit strange to look on the opposite side of the track and see a rainbow jersey in our event," said McCulloch. "But it is always a good contest when we shape up against each other.  

"I think I did really well in qualifying, pacing in the first one to save my legs, but I gave it everything I could in the final and they just pipped us on the line," she said. 

Victoria's Ziggy Callan and Adele Sylvester were too good for their younger rivals in the bronze medal ride, posting 35.566 seconds to defeat the West Australian under 19 team of Tian Beckett & Allee Proud (35.836) who set an All Comers and Australian Championship record for the under 19 women's.

Earlier in the session, South Australia collected its first gold of the championships when James Glasspool took gold in the elite men's kilometre time trial.

Riding the final pairing against defending champion Jackson Leigh-Rathbone (NSW), Glasspool was fastest at every time check, stopping the clock at 1:02.433. 

Glasspool, runner up in the time trial to Rathbone in 2011, was pleased to break through for his first individual gold medal.  

"This has been a long time coming, it has been a very long winter and long build up," said Glasspool who claimed the under 19 time trial title in 2009. 

"From the disappointment of last year, we addressed a lot of the problems and had very good lead up competitions at Perth, Sydney and Oceania so I am very excited to kick off Australia Day with an Australian champion's jersey, you can't get better than that," Glasspool added. 

New South Wales' Scott Law (1:02.524) took the silver medal, with Rathbone (1:02.961) claiming the bronze.

Zac Shaw gave Victoria its third consecutive victory in the under 19 kilometre time trial in an Australian Championship record time of 1:03.973 to better the previous mark of 1:04.051 set by Maddison Hammond in 2010.

Shaw, the cousin of 2010 National Road Series Champion Pat, finished almost one second ahead of South Australia's Alex Radikiewicz (1:04.667) and New South Wales' Reece Robinson (1:06.264).  

"I am a little bit sore, but the feeling of being national champion makes it better," said Shaw after claiming his first Australian title. 

The 2012 Subaru Cycling Australia Track National Championships are being staged from Thursday January 26 to Sunday January 29 6 at Adelaide's Super-Drome. A detailed event schedule, ticketing information, entry list and results can be found on the Cycling Australia website

Stage 5 TDU 2012: Coming out from under the Radar

“It was seriously like an end of the Tour de France stage. Look at all the people, the stadium*, the finish. I would never have dreamed a bike race to be as big in Australia, let alone Adelaide and the people have been absolutely fantastic.  Coming up the hill today, it was like the tour.”

Stuart O’Grady (GreenEDGE)

This quote from Stuart is probably everywhere, but you need to read it slowly and absorb it. 

*“the stadium” is metaphorical for those of you who are somewhat confused.

 “Was that there before?”

  Guy on the road wondering about the temporary “inflatable” 2 story corporate centre at the summit of Old Willunga Rd built by GreenEDGE (they are throwing cash at this thing)

“*%##&& $%^$%& ##%$%^$ ^&%^$^ %% &%#%* ^(*^&&^* &%%$# $%$%^%”

Eddy Merckx (I think he’s starting to get tired, patience perhaps running a bit thin)

Entree

Willunga or to quote Lance: “Y-lun-gah”.

This place has had more happen at it in the past than any other in the TDU. Contador made his comeback here and he counts this stage as being the most memorable race of his career. Sanchez, as in Luis Leon, made all the right moves in winning in 2005. There was the duel between some ‘Spanish guys’ and one Cadel Evans. Luke Roberts claimed part of his KOM title here in 2011. And this year it’s the site of the 1st ever TDU summit finish.

Speaking of Luis Leon at the start he had this to say: “I think it will come down to a man to man fight with Valverde and Gerrans.” He’s not alone: Jose Ivan Guiterrez Movistar “Do you think that Alejandro Valverde will win today? We think so too!”

Imagine a big figure 8 with the start at McLaren Vale in the middle. The bottom loop goes around Aldinga Beach for approx 40km and the top loop is Willunga (the climb of 3km at 8%). Normally the lap ratio is 3 and 2: today it’s 3 and 1 1/3. The sprinters won’t have a chance to get back on the descent following the last climb because there is no more it’s all over.

3 laps around the beach and then up, along, down, around and up again. Of course the wind will be strong and it is 30° but hey: How hard can it be?

Main Course

The obligatory break went on the first lap and ate things up on the road although never more than a few minutes in front. 

POI (Point of Interest) 

Do you know why the break is called the ‘Break’? The expression officially is used to refer to a rider or riders who have left the main group behind. I tend to think of it more in a literal sense: if you try and leave the main group of riders, it is only a matter of time before you are broken physically, mentally and often emotionally. This is why teams have ‘support people’...but that said this is also why teams actually recruit certain people who have already broken emotionally and deliberately put them in front as they can’t damage themselves too much more, rather they now damage other people. Check Jens Voight (Radioshack-Nissan) who is known to have said “I get paid to make people suffer, how good is that.”

Sprint 1 Snapper Point lap 2 (63.4km) Kristof Goddaert (BEL) - ALM, Andrew Fenn (GBR) - OPQ and Stuart O'Grady (AUS) - GEC

Sprint 2 lap 3 (103.4km) Thomas de Gendt (BEL) - VCD, Stuart O'Grady (AUS) - GEC, Andrew Fenn (GBR) – OPQ

When the break arrives at the bottom of Willunga they are just less than 2 min in front. From the break Nathan Haas attacks on the Hill and makes it over the top....

KOM 1 Willunga Hill Cat 1 (129.1km 16-12-8-6-4-2 points) Nathan Haas Garmin-Bar Thomas DeGent Vacansoleil-DCM Rohan Dennis Uni SA-Aus Jose Ivan Gutierrez Movistar Simon Gerrans GreenEDGE Jack Bauer Garmin-Barracuda

...but on the descent*, he is caught by a group of about 25 riders who pushed the pace on the 1st climb of Willunga dropping riders like they were going backwards. The winner will be from this group. Alejandro is there with numbers (4 Movistar riders), along with Gerrans (he’s on his own having spent the others previously keeping the pace high), Boasson Hagen too (with support from at least 2 other Sky Pro-cycling guys). Radioshack-Nissan also has 3-4 guys there.

*this descent down Penny’s Hill Road is scary. You literally can’t see the road ahead of you because it drops out of sight. Apparently guys were going down at up to 100kmph+**

**note the + sign and re-read the POI

Dessert

The group pushes hard with Sky, Radioshack-Nissan and Movistar all working to drive the group to the bottom of the hill as fast as they can. Once on the climb the Movistar guys go ahead along with Rohan Dennis Uni SA-Aus and Tiago Machado of Radioshack. A fantastic Madison slingshot move between Jose Ivan Guiterrez and Angel Madrazo was captured by channel 9 perfectly, completely unintentionally. If this is on you tube- find it!!

Then things get good....a small group with Michael Rogers, Simon Gerrans, Valverde, and Edvald Boasson Hagen went for the top catching RD and TH who had gone before. 

At 400m Dodger went, Gerrans and Valverde leapt onto his wheel. 

At 200m when he blew up, Gerrans went taking the inside corner on the left hand turn to the line. 

Valverde went on the outside around and over Gerrans and then they went for the line with Valverde winning by half a wheel. It’s worth it on you tube or any of the other sites showing it. 

"I'm super happy, I can't believe it," said Valverde. "My team has been genius; I've won thanks to them. It's an emotional moment for me. The stage suited me. We've put the team at the front and it's a perfect comeback for me."

Gerrans and Valverde now have the same overall time. On count back Valverde gets the win but not the overall leader’s jersey: Gerrans is in Ochre: GreenEDGE is in Ochre.

Evidence of a clean peloton: the 2 guys with the best form, renowned for winning stages such as this, ‘duelled’ it out in the final 200m. Riders were tired at the end and looked it. 

So after stage 5 of the STDU 2012:

Santos Tour Down Under Leader - Simon Gerrans (GreenEDGE) (AUS) “I’m happy” duhhhhhh.

Jayco Sprint Leader - Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky ) (NOR) “I’m happy” hmmmmmm.

SKODA King of the Mountain Leader - Rohan Dennis (UniSA-Australia) (AUS) “I’m stuffed...but happy” o-kaaaaaaay

Cycle Instead Best Young Rider - Rohan Dennis (UniSA-Australia) (AUS) 

Brilliant Blend Team Leader - Radioshack-Nissan

Hindmarsh Most Aggressive Rider for stage 5- Stuart O'Grady (GreenEDGE) (AUS)

Winners are Grinners

Comment of the Day

120,000 people are yelling and screaming support and as the week draws to an end it appears that the Lance affect has done a lot to increase the profile of the race: to further put it on the map. This year is bigger than any year before, Lance years included, and has a better quality field than ever before. No Lance: but the race has moved forward. What does that say about cycling? Only good things.

“Once you’ve done the stage and ridden back to the hotel from Willunga (as at least BMC and Liquigas-Can did), put your feet up. Just make sure you’re not still on the bike when you do it.***”

***failing to do so will cause implementation of emergency support system of ground and/or floor to break your fall.

The Santos Tour Down Under thundered into Victor Harbor today with German sprint sensation Andre Greipel leading home a bunch gallop to win the third stage and reclaim the overall lead.

"This victory is for Jurgen Roelandts who unfortunately supports us from the hospital," said Greipel of his team mate who was injured in the crash at the end of the stage into Clare. "We're nearly three riders down but the rest of the team that is not injured has been awesome today.

The win puts Greipel back into the ochre leader's jersey with an eight second margin over Swiss rider Martin Kohler (BMC). Australian Michael Matthews (Rabobank) finished with the bunch and remains in third place overall at 12 seconds.

"I'm happy to get back into the lead but the time bonus (10 seconds for the stage win) I got again isn't important in my mind," said Greipel who has twice won overall honours but concedes he is unlikely to win a third. " The Willunga stage (Saturday) is too hard for me to win GC this year. With two stage wins, we've already reached our goal. We can't have everything and we just take it day by day."

The stage today departed from the cosmopolitan shopping hub of Unley for a 134.5km route that took in the breath taking countryside of both the McLaren Vale and the picturesque coastal scenes of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

A group of three went down the road in the first five kilometres made up of Russian Eduard Vorganov (Katusha) and Belgians Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan-Trek) and Thomas De Gendt (Vaconsoleil-DCM). They were soon joined by Ireland's Matthew Brammeier (Omega Pharma - Quickstep).

De Gendt was the only rider in the quartet already on the board in the SKODA King of the Mountain competition so, not surprisingly, he hit out up Sellicks Hill Category 2 climb to claim the maximum ten points ahead of Brammeier, Bakelants and Vorganov. That puts De Gendt in the polka dot jersey with a two point lead over yesterday's stage winner Tasmanian Will Clarke (UniSA-Australia).

The break stretched to a lead of around five minutes but the peloton, after failing to catch Clarke yesterday, judged today's chase to perfection.

The two Jayco intermediate sprints were hotly contested by the top three placed riders with a maximum of six bonus seconds up for grabs and all within 12 seconds of the race lead. De Gendt proved the swiftest of the trio battling for the points and won the dash for the line at both Mt Compass (65km) and Goolwa (89.4km). By then the margin had shrunk to less than two minutes.

"Three of the four riders (in the break) had the same goal and that was to take the second sprint and then after that we just wanted to go back to the peloton," said De Gendt.

After the sprint at Goolwa Brammeier tried a solo attack off the front as the peloton reeled in his there fellow escapees and although he held on for a few more kilometres it wasn't too be his day for victory. Ten kilometres from home the pace was frenetic as the sprinter's jostled for position.

"It was our intention to keep the breakaway in sight with a good gap. The crosswinds have made the race faster. The one kilometre to go mark was the most important point of today's stage," said Greipel. "I told my team-mates 'I need to be in fifth or sixth position at that point'.They did a great job to put me there and I finished it off."

De Gendt's efforts along the road moved him up to fourth overall, 14 seconds off Greipel's lead.

"The legs are not so good but I will try to attack. I think tomorrow is the best for me just to stay in the peloton and then Old Willunga Hill is going to be so hard but I am going to try and be in the front."

Matthews still leads the Cycle Intead Best Young Rider under 26 classification but was a little disapointed with today's finish.

"The boys had a really good lead out for me and I just couldn't really hold the wheel in the last couple of kilometres," said Matthews. "It just got a bit messy and Mark Renshaw [Rabobank team mate] held the lead out but I just wasn't there to finish it."

Tomorrow's BUPA Stage 4 travels 130km from Norwood in Adelaide's eastern suburb's to Tanunda in the Barossa wine growing region. Stage 4 also hosts the Bupa Challenge Tour with more than seven thousand cycling enthusiasts hopping on their bikes to ride the race route. Joining them on the family friendly Tanunda loop will be cycling legend, Eddy Merckx.

Stage 3 Jersey Summary

• Stage Winner - Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) (GER)

• Santos Tour Down Under Leader - Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) (GER)

• Jayco Sprint Leader - Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) (GER)

• SKODA King of the Mountain Leader - Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) (BEL)

• Cycle Instead Best Young Rider - Michael Matthews (Rabobank) (AUS)

• Brilliant Blend Team Leader - UniSA-Australia

• Hindmarsh Most Aggressive Rider for stage 2 - Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil-DCM) (BEL)

Will Clarke win it? You bet he will.

He finished 1:02 ahead of the bunch led home by 2011 stage winner Australian, Michael Matthews (Rabobank) with newly crowned Australian road race champion, Simon Gerrans (GreenEDGE) in third place.

The stage began in Lobethal and wove it's way through the Adelaide Hills to Stirling. A stage record crowd of 110 thousand enthusiastic fans set themselves up to enjoy the action especially along the 21 kilometre finishing circuit out and back to Stirling which the riders covered three times.

"This is unbelievable really," said Clarke. "This is the biggest win of my career. It's my first win in the WorldTour. I knew my form was good."

26 year old Clarke broke away in the first few kilometres of the stage with Swiss rider Martin Kohler (BMC) and by the 30 kilometre mark they had a lead of more than eight minutes on the peloton.

Kohler, 26, was also in yesterday's attack and today he had his sights set on the Santos Ochre Leader's Jersey. He started the day only four seconds off the pace and outpaced Clarke in both of the day's Jayco Intermediate sprints, Mt Torrens (23.7km) and Balhannah (62.4km), to collect the maximum six bonus seconds. That proved enough in the end to put him in the race lead with a narrow two second margin from overnight leader, Germany's, Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol). Matthews second place moves him up to third overall at four seconds.

"It is very cool," said Kohler. "We had this little funny plan this morning, just go for it, and I am close on the GC (overall) and I tried again and the first attack was the successful one.

"He probably thought it was not worth keeping going but the peloton gave me more time and I thought 'you guys have to chase me hard to catch me'," said Clarke. "I was dying in the last ten kilometres.

"[Team Manager] Dave [Sanders] was telling me to go for GC but… It's amazing that a breakaway rider can stay away for so long. It's sort of my speciality to keep going."

Clarke started the day 1min50sec off the race lead but the tactic of joining an early attack not only netted him the stage win but he also claimed the SKODA King of the Mountain jersey as the first rider over today's category two climb at Fox Creek (46.7km). On top of that he is leading the Jayco Sprint classification because of the 15 points he collected for the stage win and the six he claimed in the intermediate sprints behind Kohler.

Tomorrow the race departs from the cosmopolitan shopping hub of Unley for a 134.5km route that takes in the breath taking countryside of both the McLaren Vale and the picturesque coastal scenes of the Fleurieu Peninsula. The finish is in the seaside town of Victor Harbor.

Colemans Group Stage 2 Summary

• Stage Winner - Will Clarke (UniSA-Australia) (AUS)

• Santos Tour Down Under Leader - Martin Kohler ( BMC) (SUI)

• Jayco Sprint Leader - Will Clarke (UniSA-Australia) (AUS)

• SKODA King of the Mountain Leader - Will Clarke (UniSA-Australia) (AUS)

• Cycle Instead Best Young Rider - Michael Matthews (Rabobank) (AUS)

• Brilliant Blend Team Leader - UniSA-Australia

• Hindmarsh Most Aggressive Rider for stage 2 - Will Clarke (UniSA-Australia) (AUS)
  
  
  Stage 2 photos, courtesy Dane Lojek http://dlsportfotos.zenfolio.com/
  

All eyes will be on the towns of Prospect and Clare today as they host the first stage of the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under.

Thousands are expected to flock to vantage points along the 149 kilometre race route to watch some of the biggest names in cycling compete in the first stage of the first event on the UCI WorldTour calendar.

Today’s race follows Sunday night’s Down Under Classic, that was held at Rymill Park in the city and saw 112,000 people line the route to watch two-time Santos Tour Down Under winner, Andre Greipel, take the win.

General Manager, Events South Australia, Hitaf Rasheed said Stage One from Prospect to Clare would be a fantastic start to what would no doubt be an exciting week of racing for locals, visitors and viewers across the world.

“Prospect will host a stage start for the first time and have organised a fantastic set of events to celebrate the occasion," said Ms Rasheed. "Locals and visitors alike are expected to cheer the riders as they set out from Prospect and through spectacular scenery on the way to a heroes welcome in Clare.

"Highlights will be broadcast to a global TV audience of millions,” Ms Rasheed says.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to promote South Australia and our events calendar to potential international visitors, boosting future visitation from overseas tourists to our State.

“I would like to thank today’s host councils, the City of Prospect and Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council, for making this a true celebration of cycling," said Ms Rasheed. “I encourage everyone to get down to Prospect this morning to enjoy the fun before the cyclists set off for Clare which is hosting a three day Breakaway Festival.”

TODAY’S RACING ACTION

2012 Santos Tour Down Under Stage 1
Route: Prospect to Clare 
Start: 11.00am 
Finish: 2.54pm approx 
Distance: 149km 
Highlights:   Jayco Sprint #1: Main Street, Kapunda (1.03pm*)
Powerade Hydration Station: Clare Road, Kapunda (1.05pm*)
Škoda King of the Mountain: Kapunda to Tarlee Road, Taylors Run (1.16pm*)
Jayco Sprint #2: Main Street, Riverton (1.48pm*)
*all are approximate times and may change depending on the speed of the race.

1. Greetings Mike the TDU 2011 is almost upon us, what’s foremost in your mind right now?

“First and foremost, and this is the same with every race is safety and that’s for everyone: spectators, riders, officials; everyone associated with the race. Our number one priority is always safety. If we have a safe race, no-one gets hurt then we’re happy. Last year there were a few accidents and that’s not nice but that’s part of racing. We as organizers try and create the best environment we can and look after everyone. If we can get through unscathed we’re very happy.”

“That said it’s looking very good. We’re very happy with the courses. The design of the race will produce good racing and that’s the name of the game.”

2. You have stated before that the TDU is about 5 years ahead of it’s time, is that still the case this year?

“With regard to the 5 years business that was the Armstrong business. When Armstrong competed here for the first time in 2009, and the massive increase we got from that with the exposure in the media, the increase of about 100% of every aspect of the race, really catapulted us ahead to 5 years of where we would have been. That’s the impact of him. That’s what the 5 years was about. The level that we got with him we were hoping to achieve in 5 years time, we got it early.”

“The idea now is to consolidate and find out now where we are in the real world, the way numbers are looking; we’re looking pretty good.”

3. What are you seeking to achieve this year as opposed to other years?

“The course changes with the extra lap around Stirling and the hilltop finish at Old Willunga bring the objective of creating a race of uncertainty right up to the very end. The sprinters still have their opportunities, the terrain is not completely out of their reach especially around Adelaide but it opens up for the all-rounder to do something.”

“Looking at the 14 year history of the race this year is probably the best quality field we’ve ever had. Given that with the sprinters and the past winners we have a terrific blend.”

4. The TDU is a race that is about the cyclists and about the public who watch, this much is clear and always has been; the sponsors of course find their place in there also. How does the race director juggle all these priorities?

“That’s what it’s all about isn’t it. I’ve always promoted races on one premise: you put on races that bike riders want to ride. I did that through all the years on the track, I put riders in events that they enjoyed rather than put them in the old Australian tradition of handicapping we put riders in events that they were world champions in and allowed them to show their colours. That brings out the performance and the spectators really appreciate and enjoy it. So a well designed course, stages that are a good distance for this time of year that produces good hard racing. Get that right and everything else falls into place.”

“We’ve also tried to create greater interaction between the riders and the public. The Tour Village is THE example of that. The public can come into the domain of the mechanics and get up and close, watch them working on the bikes. That’s been a massive success for us. “

“The other thing is in the logistics of the race. We put the riders at the start 1 hour before the race begins; no big buses travelling to and from starts and finishes. There’s a lot of interaction, the spectators can see the riders up close. This makes the race something that’s not normal in Europe.”

5. Can you give us some insight into the team of people and processes that make the TDU what it is?

“The uniqueness about the race is that it’s coming from a very small group of full time people. It’s owned by the South Australian Government, which is unique anywhere in the world, it’s run by Events SA which is a division of the Tourism department here and they have staff that work of marketing, operations, promotion, etc that work on many events throughout the year so when the Tour is on they work on that, when it finishes they move on to the next event. This works incredibly well. My own company Bike Sport Australia is contracted to provide all the cycling specific areas of the race and our relationship with Events SA is very strong and we work very well.”

“We have great relationships with local councils, the Police it all works together.”

“To put things in context, this event pulls hours over and above the call of duty from a lot of people all in different areas, but they want to be involved, they want to do it. People get satisfaction from being a part of it.”

6. Aside from coming to the event or just watching it on TV what is the best way the Australian public can support the TDU?

“The internet, not that I know how it works, that’s a bit beyond me but our website has streaming and updates and if people can’t get to the race or see it on TV then traffic to the site is the best way. We monitor it closely and it carries weight with understanding the impact the race is having.”

Mike Turtur Pop Quiz – Ok, I’m going to give you one or more words and I’d like you to go free for all with your first response…

8. WORLDTOUR

“Very, very, very important for the race and to cycling in general”

9. Mike Turtur Bikeway in Marion, Adelaide SA

“I’m greatly honored and something nice to be there when I’m long gone”

10. Port Adelaide Cycling Club

“Proud of the past and looking forward to the future”

Insight into Mike

11. This year marks 30 years since the Brisbane Games - 2 gold medals, 1 bronze; your career on the track spans 2 Olympics – one where you couldn’t ride – one a gold medal - and 3 Commonwealth Games. What stays in your head as being the best moment?

“Los Angeles was big but for me the Brisbane Games individual pursuit. It remains in my mind as something really special to me as a pivotal moment in terms of my own career.”

12. When I was a kid I lived in Valley View and had my bike serviced in a little shop down the road at Clovercrest; Mike Turtur Cycles. How did things start?

“That’s great! That’s 22 years ago now. That little shop started with my young brother Greg who had lost his job. I’d always wanted a bike shop and so we opened it and now 22 years later he’s down there at Main North Road, Medindie and the same principles that started things off remain. Both my brothers, Chris and Greg are there now and they provide that service that’s hard to find these days. Service you definitely can’t get off the internet, they actually look after customers.”

13. You spend a decade coaching and managing; what was the best part? The hardest part?

“I enjoyed the early days coaching juniors at SASI, that was fun and also managing the team in Norway at the worlds in ’94 where we won the teams pursuit in world record time with O’Grady, Aitken, and the guys, was great. I’ll never forget that. It was a great series for us and I won’t forget that in a hurry.”

“The hardest part was making the choice to change career. Things got to the point where coaching state level and ambitions to go higher with the national team and Charlie Walsh meant being locked up for the next 10 years were on the table. So I made a choice to go into event management and organizing which turned out to be the best decision I ever made.” 

14. In all this time who have been the people who have had most impact on your life, personal or professional?

“Charlie Walsh, if it wasn’t for him nothing would ever have happened it is simple as that; And also Mike Doonan from the professional point of view. Mike was a footy coach and also involved at the sports institute and he had a huge impact on me.”

15. Put cycling in the picture, what’s most important to Mike Turtur?

“For the sport, it depends: if I’m coming from a UCI point of view, the globalization of the sport and the doping issue. I think we’re getting on top of it. We were in trouble there for a while but there is a cultural shift happening.” 

Do you think those 2 things come hand in hand?

“Yeah definitely, the opening up of Asia, Canada and Australia and other new areas screaming out for development have propelled the sport into a new spotlight. The sport is truly international, we’ll never forget the beginnings of Europe but it’s becoming stronger.

16. Now take cycling out of the picture, what’s most important to Mike Turtur?

“Family; I have a great family situation of looking after each other and that is the main thing in life. Without that everything else dosen’t really mean too much.”

17. Plans for the future?

Well, I want to keep developing the Tour, keep the numbers up and stay actively involved in the sport for as long as I can. Its 30 years since Brisbane as you said but I remember it like yesterday. The reaction of the crowd was the loudest I’ve ever heard in a Velodrome.