Tour Down Under Flying Fosters Tour 2012 Stage 1

Well we were greated by a hot 35 degrees at 8:30 in the morning for our leisurely ride down to Glenelg. Joining both the Hampton Cycles group and the Manly Warringah/KMD racing group were a few of SRAM's staff from both the US and Australia. Rob Eva (Mr SRAM - Australia) Jase Phillips (Mr SRAM protour liason) and Tony (Mr Quarq) along with Tiffany Cromwell and Dave "Cyclingnews" Evans came for the roll.

We made our way along Glenelg beach up to Henley Beach and up to the start of Stage 1 of the TDU at Prospect where we spent time chilling out finding some shade, topping up Bidons and checking out some of the Pro team riders & bikes.

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Glenelg Mall for Coffee

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George Hincapie made a special appearance for our ride

After rollout todays race was not very conducive to try and meet to spectate by Bike, so we headed out toward Gawler along One Tree Hill rd. The terrain and temperature showing 46 degrees in the shade on the Garmin made for not such a pleasurable day for many of us. I think everyone spent a little bit of time internalising what on earth they were doing for the day.

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New Astana Venge looks fantastic.
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Free Espresso's in Prospect were popular.

A couple of rest stops to regroup after the climbs had revealed a few turn arounds and abandonments. (Where did you go Tiff and Jase?) Riders feet were sore, Bidon's empty, lunch almost brought up a few times for different reasons. With 20kms to Gawler everyone was out of water and the shakes, shivers, dry lips, pins & needles were being felt through the bunch.

3 of us raided a country water tank and I rode down a driveway desperate for some tap water, greeted by a barking German Sheppard a lovely lady filled my bidons up with Ice & water. Never thought it could taste so good.

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During my rehydration "super-slow" phase I took some time to actually look at the scenery. Most of the boys wouldn't have seen this view.

The first Sprint point into Gawler was taken out by Rob "SRAM" Eva notching up the first of a few wins for the day in Flying Fosters Tour 2012.

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With the Garmin reading 46 degrees in the shade it was time to fill up.

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This is what 3 of us managed to consume in 20 minutes.

We made our way back through Williamstown and Past the famous Checker's Hill. Made most famous by its ability to ruin one's reputation for life if you dare decide to get up and walk your bike up the thing.

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The Manly Bunch sucking wheel again. Major props to Bec for sticking with it all day.

 

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The only time Buzz managed to get his nose in the wind - Camera Op specialist

 

Heading towards our favourite descent - Gorge Rd we were greeted with a block headwind.

The Hampton Boys taken the sprint into Cudlee Creek where Fozzy and the Rabbit rode off the front to take the biccies at Athelstone. Dave "Cyclingnews" Evans pipped Leroy DeLuca for third place in the bunch sprint.

Many a sore head, leg, back, foot and ego had been damaged today. The trash talking on twitter and surely to follow based on these Blogs, will keep tomorrows 145kms route through to Lobethal in high spirits.

 

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