Tour Down Under 2014 Route stage 2: Prospect

Tour Down Under 2014 Route stage 2: Prospect - Stirling

January 22 - stage 2 in the Tour Down Under leads from Prospect to Stirling, a ride of 150 kilometers. Drivers aiming at a good classification should be aware, since the circuit at the end is treacherous. In the foothills of Mount Lofty, Tom-Jelte Slagter laid the foundation for last year’s overall victory. (Slideshow route/profile)

Tour Down Under 2014: Stage 2 Prospect > Stirling

Prospect is familiar with the Tour Down Under. The first stage of the Tour Down Under 2013 here as well, but then the riders drove to Clare and not to Stirling. André Greipel won that leg.

Today the bunch heads north, directly from the start it’s off to One Three Hill and Elisabeth they go. From there they take a U-turn and riders follow the route southward, to Stirling. Today’s stage sees two possibilities, Gould Creek (after 35 kilometers) and Checker Hill (photo – after 56 kilometers), where the riders can get points for the mountain classifications. Especially the last one is short and vicious, with a length of just one kilometer and a gradient of 14.2%.

Two circuits of twenty kilometers close the stage. Passing through the eastern slopes of Mount Lofty, the route is quite though, with lots of short climbs.

Dutchman Tom-Jelte Slagter won 2013’s stage in Stirling, finishing before Matthew Goss and Philippe Gilbert.

The stage finishes around 3.00 pm (ACST).