Bigger than Ben Hur
Team UniSA coach Dave Sanders believes this year's Tour Down Under will be one of the most exciting cycling events ever staged. While much of the buzz is due to the Lance Armstrong factor, this being his first appearance in a career comeback, Sanders says in its second year as a pro-tour event, the race itself has matured.
"There were some necessary changes made to the event in 2008 and in the past 12 months there has been time for race organisers to analyse what else should change, so we have a tougher race all round and one that will be hotly contested by a really solid international field," Sanders says.
Speaking from the Open Road Cycling Championships in Ballarat, Sanders said Adelaide would be inundated with so many cycling enthusiasts; he's not sure where we will put them.
"Everyone I speak to is coming to the Tour. It will be like nothing we have ever seen – huge, exciting – bigger than Ben Hur."
And the mounting anticipation around the event brings with it some extra pressures for Team UniSA as the representative Australian team.
"We will have a mix of experience, toughness and quality with mature professional riders like Baden Cooke, Scott Davis and Matt Wilson and some absolute young superstars of the future such as Travis Myer and the local lad, Jack Bobridge – who has just won the Australian Under-23 Road Time Trial.
"My job will be to get them working well together as a team to achieve results."
Playing his cards typically close to his chest, Sanders says he knows some of the riders will be pleased to do well in the individual stages, but the main game will be to have Team UniSA lead as a unit.
"We never give less than our best – it is about representing the country and doing it and our sponsors proud. The European teams will definitely know we’re on the road."
Team UniSA- Australia will come together in Adelaide today and tomorrow as many of the riders return from a few days replenishment in between the National Championships and the Tour Down Under.
The glittering opening to the tour will be the 51 km Cancer Council Classic street circuit around Adelaide City's Rymill Park. Race starts at 7 pm.