2016 Tour Down Under Stage 6 Preview

THE ROUTE

A dead flat crit except for the lump of Montefiore “hill” plus a settled GC, today is locked down for a sprint finish.

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THE FAVOURITES

Ewan (OGE) is the red hot favourite today after accruing several wins already at this point in the season. Failing that we can look further back in the week for a guide, and here we see Nizzolo (Trek), Renshaw (DD) and Wippert (Cannondale) as the other major favourites. Other sprinters may place highly but it seems very unlikely that Swift (Sky), Kump (Lampre) or the break will win.

***** Ewan

**** -

*** Nizzolo

** Renshaw, Wippert

* Swift, Kump

THE INTRIGUE

There isn’t really any to this day. GC is settled and won’t be changed barring a freak incident, and the end sprint seems fairly predictable. As such I am interested as to how the organisers continue to finish this race with such a stage, as while a good race, the five previous stages are not enough to justify an easy last stage like the Grand Tours. A short TT, possibly through the multiple alleyways of Adelaide so road bikes could be used would be a far better finale.

ONWARDS

Sprinters get their chance to press for selection to the Middle Eastern races, where good performances can see them drop down the lead out train to more and more important positions, and catapult them to early and flat World Tour events.