Caleb Ewan, Richie Porte, Peter Sagan & Andre Greipel – though the crowd of thousands cheered for every rider, it was these four the fans went wild over.
With a sea of cycling supporters filling central Adelaide’s Victoria Square on Saturday night, riders and teams of the 2018 Santos Tour Down Under were presented to the public by world cycling patriarchs Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwan.
The 20th anniversary of the great race, organisers are expecting hundreds of thousands through the Victoria Square Tour Village over the coming week, and hoping for 1 million roadside fans over the 6 days of racing.
The action kicks off late on Sunday afternoon for the People’s Choice Classic criterium – the women racing from 5:20pm and the men from 7:15pm. Bicycling Australia will be trackside – follow our website and social channels for the action.
Australian cycling legend Simon Gerrans received huge applause, the veteran making his first major public appearance in BMC Racing Team colours. Image: Sirotti.Team Bora-hansgrohe’s Jay McCarthy, one of the 2018 Tour Down Under’s hot prospects for the podium or even the overall win. Image: Sirotti.Phil Liggett speaks with Peter Sagan of Team Bora-hansgrohe. Sagan suggested he’ll be working hard for the team’s overall GC hopeful Jay McCarthy. Image: Sirotti.Mitchelton-Scott sprint sensation Caleb Ewan – the pocket rocket will be chasing sprint stages in this edition of the race but is well aware of the fierce competition, Sagan, Viviani and of course Greipel included. Image: Sirotti.Aussie favourite Adam Hanson spoke to Phil Liggett and discussed his world record of competing in 19 consecutive Grand Tours – an astonishing feat. Image: Sirotti.German sprint star Andre Greipel looks to be in formidable form – all lenses will be on him – along with Caleb Ewan, Elia Viviani and Peter Sagan – come Sunday night’s curtain raiser, the People’s Choice Classic. Image: Sirotti.Will Richie Porte win back to back Tour Down Under events? All eyes will be on him, particularly on the legendary Willunga Hill stage next Saturday. Image: Sirotti.Newly crowned Australian National Champion, Alex Edmondson of Mitchelton-Scott. Image: Sirotti.Simon Clarke expressed immense gratitude to new co-team sponsor Education First for throwing the talented team a sponsorship lifeline late in 2017. Image: Sirotti.Luis Leon Sanchez, one of the huge names in world cycling that will be racing the 2018 Santos Tour Down Under. Image: Sirotti.Popular Aussie rider Nathan Haas made his first major appearance in Katusha-Alpecin kit, his team for 2018. Image: Sirotti.Lotto NL Jumbo’s Robert Gesink remains hugely popular in Australia, the 2018 Tour Down Under being his first race back since crashing out of the 2017 Tour de France and fracturing several vertebrae. Image: Sirotti.Co-compare and world cycling legend Phil Liggett at the 2018 Tour Down Under teams presentation. Image: Siriotti.
Nat Bromhead
