Tour Down Under

The Tour Down Under is a stage race for cyclists in the Australian state of South Australia and around the capital Adelaide. It is the largest and most important cycling race in Australia and Oceania. The race was held for the first time in 1999 and takes place in mid-January a year. With the start of the 2008 season, the Tour Down Under is a race of the UCI ProTour since 2011 and of the successor series UCI World Tour.

6.1 Stage winners of the past
6.2 Oranges jersey ( overall)
6.3 White jersey ( mountains classification )
6.4 Blue jersey ( points scoring)
6.5 Black jersey ( Rating under-25s )
6.6 Red jersey ( award for the most combative rider )
6.7 Light blue jersey ( team score )
6.8 Past Special ratings

7.1 Timing and time limit
7.2 Time credits
7.3 Food
7.4 Safety
7.5 Technical and medical assistance
7.6 violations
7.7 tasks

Down Under Classic

Two days before the Tour Down Under is an approximately 50 -kilometer criterion in Adelaide instead, the so-called " Cancer Council Classic ," which was from the year 2012 " Down Under Classic" and since 2014 People's Choice Classic and in the run-up to the participants of the race are presented. However, the results of this Classic are not to Ranking nor is there points for the UCI World Tour.

Route

The race itself starts every year on the third Tuesday in January and comprises six day parts, none of which is usually longer than 170 kilometers. It begins with four predominantly flat sections. Because there is no such high mountains, such as in the Alps in South Australia, the most difficult climb of Willunga Hill (3 miles long, steep 7.6% ), which mostly has to be traveled twice on the penultimate stage and the race will decide. On the last day, a Sunday, the Tour Down Under traditionally ends with an approximately 80 -kilometer circuit in South Australia's capital Adelaide. On one other major tours quite usual time trial stage is omitted since time immemorial.

Participant

Many European professional teams use the Tour Down Under in preparation for the March beginning with Paris-Nice and Tirreno- Adriatico season because in Europe is still winter, while the drivers of the Australian teams are in the middle of their season in mid-summer in the southern hemisphere. In recent years, the attractiveness of the tour took on and on, so for example, launched the seven-time winner of the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong, his comeback in 2009 in Australia. At the same place he graduated two years later also the last international race of his career. In 2010, in addition to the Topsprintern to André Greipel also the reigning world champion Cadel Evans and Alejandro Valverde in the meantime locked part. Since the race for the UCI ProTour ( since 2011: UCI World Tour ) belongs, are automatically the UCI ProTeam, ie the largest professional teams, committed to the start. In addition, the organizers will award each year a starting place to an Australian national team, which is supported by the South Australian university. Each participating team consists of seven riders.

Organization

The Tour Down Under was launched by the South Australian Tourism Commission ( Tourism Commission) launched to represent the state abroad, and is also the only major professional cycling race in Australia. The Tour Down Under is the focus of the annual " Festival of Cycling ", a series of events in which everything revolves around the bike in South Australia.

Race Director since its founding in the race, the former professional cyclist Michael Turtur, on whose idea the race based. Still, the South Australian Tourism Commission owner of the tour. Financial support for the Tour Down Under but also of the South Australian government.

History

The first Tour Down Under was held in 1999. Quickly, the race became the largest cycling competition and Australasia. Today, the Tour Down Under is even considered the biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere.

With the aim of making the province of South Australia, not least for tourists through the television broadcasts in other countries known to the first tour Down Under started in 1999 with about a 40 -kilometer circuit in Adelaide. The Dane Nicolai Bo Larsen was in a bunch sprint on January 19, the first stage winner, Australian Stuart O'Grady was the first overall winner. Since the year in which the race is held in six stages, only since 2000, the tour starts, however, on a Tuesday, the first edition had been yet started on a Sunday.

2001 and 2002 formed in Glenelg a similar long track races as in the first years in the provincial capital to kick off the tour until the tour from 2003 to 2005 again began with an approximately 50 -kilometer circuit in Adelaide. After the final stage in Adelaide was in 1999 still have been 120 km long, it was shortened a year later to 90 kilometers. After the section for several years even only 80 km included, faltered again in 2006 to the distance of ten kilometers. In addition to the places Adelaide Norwood, Strathalbyn, Victor Harbor and Tanunda are frequent stage host cities. The " Queen Stage " on the Willunga Willunga Hill in the village will take place on the penultimate day since 2003.

Since 2006, the overall leader wears an orange jersey, previously the leader's jersey was yellow. In addition, it is dispensed from this year to include the result of the opening stage in Adelaide for the overall standings. Instead, this has since been discharged as " Cancer Council Classic" separately two days before the actual beginning of the tour. From 1999 to 2004 belonged to the Tour Down Under UCI category 2.3. From 2005 the race was one of the UCI Oceania Tour and was classified in the highest category 2.HC. Since 2008, the race in the UCI ProTour - today UCI World Tour - classified and one of the largest international races.

Winner

The Tour Down Under is due to their not very difficult topography often won by sprinters who could by the Zeitbonifikationen in the target drawing up a lead, but also drivers who were able to complete a successful breakaway, have already won the race, for example, the winner of 2011 Cameron Meyer. Record winner with three victories is the locals Simon Gerrans. 2001, 2002 and 2006 was the host nation occupy all three podium places. The Australians are also the most successful nation with a total of seven overall success.

See also: list of all winners of the Tour Down Under ( with the winners of the special votes )

List of winners

2004 Australia Patrick Jonker
Luis León Sánchez 2005 Spain
2006 Australia Simon Gerrans
2007 Switzerland Martin Elmiger
2008 Germany André Greipel

2009 Australia Allan Davis
2010 Germany André Greipel
2011 Australia Cameron Meyer
2012 Australia Simon Gerrans
2013 The Netherlands Tom Slagter
2014 Australia Simon Gerrans

Classifications

As with almost all other international cycling race, there is also at the Tour Down Under various special valuations whose leaders wear special classification jerseys that stand out in color from the rest of the team jerseys. The rating jerseys will be awarded to the leader after each stage on a podium and the stage winner will be honored. Each rating jersey is here presented by a sponsor. The drivers are required to wear the appropriate classification jerseys on top of each following stage. If a driver is in possession of several classification jerseys, he bears the more important. The following sequence applies: Orange, White, Blue, Black jersey. In this case, the next lower jersey is presented by the runner-up in the respective special category. As the carrier shall nevertheless the leader, even if he did - except at the awards ceremony - not actually carries on his body.

Stage winner of the past

With twelve stage wins Robbie McEwen is the most successful driver in this regard. An Austrian has yet to win any stage. Even a Swiss stage winner, there was not yet, but Martin Elmiger 2007 won the overall title for themselves. In addition to record winner André Greipel, there were three more German stage winner - Erik Zabel, who won three stages in the first two years, and Steffen Wesemann Kai Hundertmarck.

Oranges jersey ( overall)

The rider with the lowest overall time wearing the orange jersey, officially Santos Tour Down Under Ochre Leader's Jersey. For the most important classification, the total time of each driver is added from all stages. Any time credits will be deducted from the total time of the driver concerned: the winner of a stage receives ten seconds Bonifikation, the second stage six seconds and the third - four seconds. Even with the extended intermediate sprints on each section there are time bonuses: three seconds for the first, two for the second and another second for the third party. Who has the least total time after the last stage is the winner of the tour. Since the time intervals at the Tour Down Under usually are very small, the extra time allowed to play an important role for a driver's overall placement. If two or more riders in the overall standings at the same time, so choose the better stage placings on the exact placement.

The only driver in the history of the race, who managed to defend the Orange jersey from the first to the last stage, are André Greipel (2010 ) and Simon Gerrans (2006).

White jersey ( mountains classification )

Also since the first staging of the Tour Down Under a mountain classification is extended. The corresponding leader's jersey is white. Unlike many other cycling races are the climbs of the tour, where there are mountain points, not divided into different categories, the same score for the first driver instead on every summit award, which is also changed from year to year and over again.

With three victories in the mountains classification of Australian Cadel Evans is record winner of this special prize.

Blue jersey ( points scoring)

Since the first edition of the race, there is also a score, which is officially called sprint and the Executive receives a blue jersey. Points for the points classification, there are not only at the intermediate sprints, but also in the goal of each stage for the first riders.

With three victories Robbie McEwen is record winner of the points classification.

Black jersey ( Rating under-25s )

Since 1999, a black jersey for the leader of the youth classification is awarded at the Tour Down Under. This evaluation determines the best drivers who are in the respective tour more than 25 years old. By 2007, the jersey was, however, awarded only for riders up to the age of 23 years.

The Spaniard Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil has already won the junior scoring twice for itself and is thus record winner. 2005 ( Luis León Sánchez ) and 2011 ( Cameron Meyer) was able to win both the youth classification as well as the orange jersey a driver.

Red jersey ( award for the most combative rider )

After each stage of the Tour Down Under, a jury determined the most combative rider of the day. The person receives at the presentation ceremony of the day a red jersey, which he, however, may not bear on the next stage, because according to the regulations of the UCI Cycling World Association only four rating jerseys may be presented during the stages of international races. The combative rider of the day before but will be marked by a red back number. The jury determined after the end of the tour also an overall winner in this special classification.

Light blue jersey ( team score )

For the award since 1999 Team Ranking the times of the top four riders of a team are added at each stage. Similarly, for the most combative rider like the price the leading team will be presented only at the prize giving in the light blue leading jerseys.

Former Special ratings

From 2006 to 2010 the winner of the " Cancer Council Classic" also received a blue jersey, which he presented at the following first stage.

In 2003, a total score was announced after time for riders from South Australia instead of the price of the most combative rider.

Rules

The Tour Down Under is in accordance with the regulations of the International Cycling Union UCI, in particular the rules for stage races held.

Timing and timeout

At the finish, the distances between the individual drivers or groups of drivers are measured. All drivers a closed group are measured at the same time. In a Sturzauf the last three kilometers therein involved drivers with the same time regarded as the group to which they belonged at the time of the fall. At all stages, a time limit ( " waiting period " ) within which each driver has to reach the target applies. The time limit is calculated according to difficulty and average speed of the respective stages. The limit varies accordingly 104-110 percent of the time the stage winner. However, the race director has the option to extend the time limit flexible when otherwise more than twenty percent of drivers einträfen by control circuit. Due to the mainly flat stages of the tour provides a time limit, however, usually not a problem for drivers dar.

Time credits

The winner of a stage receives ten seconds time bonus, the second stage six seconds and the third - four seconds. Even with the extended intermediate sprints on each section there are time bonuses: three seconds for the first, two for the second and another second for the third party. The credits will be deducted from the total time of the driver concerned.

Catering

At each stage there are about half the distance a designated feed zone, may their drivers rich food bag in the staff of the team. The Answering catering, offering viewers the pros, is just like any other bike race at your own risk. To twenty kilometers before the end of the stage also allowed their drivers rich drinks and food from the team car, the athletic director. Each team in the Tour are doing two vehicles on any part of the day is available.

Security

In accordance with the UCI regulations also apply in the Tour Down Under since 2004, the helmet law.

Technical and medical assistance

A roadside assistance for drivers with defect is carried out either by the team or the neutral material car. Roadside Assistance is only allowed behind a group of drivers and behind the main box on the right side of the road. When a driver needs a doctor, it may be only a doctor of the official medical service. The driver is then treated at the end of the peloton. In a crash or breakdown on the last three kilometers, the riders will be at the same time as the group to which they belonged counted.

Violations

The rules are monitored by the stewards who accompany on motorcycles the race. Do they see racing violations, they can punish them according to UCI rules of the International Cycling Union. Violations of the regulations are punishable by fines, time penalties or disqualification. Irregularities in sprints ( leave the driving line, push a teammate, etc.) are punished with demotions in the daily ranking (without time penalty ).

The regulations prohibited to use cars or motorcycles as slipstream. An exception is when the driver is medically treated by the official tour doctor while driving or can repair his bike by a mechanic. If a driver broke down, he often uses the cars of sporting director, to get into their slipstream again after the peloton. Such violations are almost never punished as in almost all other international competitions.

Tasks

Driver who quit during the race must submit their on the frame as well as the shirt fastened start number at the broom wagon.

Fans

Yearly follow many viewers the Tour Down Under on the roadside, where the audience has also increased over the years again and again. 2010 a total of 760 660 spectators watched the tour, of which 36,100 people from other countries and other parts of Australia ..

In addition, fans of the tour each year pursue a specific custom, by an unknown driver, usually a professional, the helper tasks in the team perceives before the race, select from the boot list, and then to celebrate it during the race as a big star and he also after the race to make a waiting outside the hotel.

Festival of Cycling

The Tour Down Under is embedded in the annual Festival of Cycling in Adelaide, in which a week is all about the bike and cycling. As part of this festival an evening with stars of cycling as well as other deals are like a Mitflug in the helicopter during the stages or a competition in which the most beautifully decorated stage stop is searched organized.

Since 2003, during the Festival of Cycling is also a race for everyone - driver, called Breakaway Series, offered. From 2004 to 2007 the race was called " Be Active Tour" from 2007 to 2011 " Mutual Community Challenge ". The participants lay back a stage of the Tour Down Under this year and learn so know the same route, the drive also professionals in their race. In addition, a race for children will be offered, which is held on the circuit of the last stage of the Tour Down Under in Adelaide. The number of participants and therefore the popularity of these competitions has increased from year to year, in 2010 already 8000 athletes at the start.

Criterion series for women

About the same time for the men's race, a race series of three criteria for women was organized at the Tour Down Under. After the abolition of the event only a single criterion race was held in 2010, again in 2011 before two races in Adelaide, the so-called Rendition Homes- Santos Women's Cup was held. The first criterion was the same day as the Cancer Council Classic at the opening of the men's race began and the second criterion providing a day later.

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