Photos from a land down under

Do you come from a land down under? If so you may have had the chance to sample some of biggest and best UCI ranked cycle racing outside of Europe. As usual the Tour Down Under hasn’t disappointed with it’s passionate crowds, beautiful weather and fierce competition. Simon Gerrans was crowned the Wizard of Oz, winning the GC and claiming the ‘Santos Ochre Leader’s Jersey’ after the 6 stage race giving his GreenEdge team a dream start to the season. Lotto-Belisol’s Andre Greipel started off well with back to back victories in the prologue and stage one but it was Boasson Hagen who took the ‘Jayco Sprint Jersey’. Rohan Dennis impressed throughout and took home the ‘Skoda king of the Mountain’ and ‘Cycle Instead Young Rider’ titles while Radioshack Nissan’s Bakelants was crowned the ‘Hindmarsh Most Aggressive Rider’. For those of us in the northern hemisphere it’s a patient wait for those warmer days, until then here’s a selection of photos from this year’s TDU to keep you motivated in between those tortuous turbo sessions. Enjoy.

Simon Gerrans sporting the GreenEdge Australian national champs jersey before stage 1 of the 2012 Tour Down Under.

Riders pass St Peter's Cathedral during stage six.

If only the ride into the PBK office looked like this.

Expect to see plenty more of the Greipel gurn in 2012.

We wouldn't recommend hiding in bushes with your camera, you'll get a reputation...

A breakaway group of 4 riders passes a lone tree.

Katusha's Luca Paolini rides with a melted icepack on the back of his neck.

"Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free!"

Greipel silences the critics.

Merckx wearing a nice double bum bag combo while playing the didgeridoo.

Greipel edges out Italian sprinter Alessandro Petacchi to take stage 1.

"So... you come here often?"

 

Hhhhhmmmmmmm, interesting.

 

Is that a rider carrying a parasol in the peloton?

Marcus Burghardt receives route advice off an unnamed source.

The Lotto-Belisol lead out train starts to wind up towards the home straight.

Best seats in the house!

"Whoa, dude!"

The Hilton hotel in Adelaide displays the past winners of the TDU.

The peloton makes it's way to Clare.

Greipel puts on a Drizabone jacket during stage 1 podium presentations.

"That race a a bit of a blur to me..."

Onwards and upwards.

Everything looks better in black and white.

Simon Gerrans celebrates his GC win kicking off GreenEdge's season in style.

GreenEdge celebrate with a bit of fist pumping.

Feeling inspired by our selection of photos? Why not check out these official 2012 Tour Down Under Jerseys made by Santini. Available now at PBK.

Have you taken any photos of the races yourself? Feel free to post them on our Facebook page at Facebook.com/probikekit.