TDU 2009 Road Trip.
The Tour Down Under. The boy’s weekend chasing the peloton was a busy one. Arriving in Adelaide on Friday at 11:30 and into the hire car on the chasing Lance adventure. We finally got our first look at the Peloton as they were heading down Seppeltsfield Road on their way to the finish at Angaston.
First Look - Tour Down Under 2009 Stage 5 on Seppeltsfield Road. If you look closely you can see Jens Voigt
Day two, up early and off to breakfast then on the road to the start at Snapper Point. This was the best opportunity to get those close up photos, and even an autograph if that what you after.
George Hincapi - looking relaxed while getting interviewed before stage 6 of the Tour Down Under 2009.
My mission on this trip was to get photos of Hincapi, Rogers, O’Grady, Evans, and let’s not forget the Armstrong. My mission was complete when I got a picture with Cadel.
After the start gun went we where off to Willunga to watch them tear through town 5 times. I managed to get in close to the Astana team bus where the riders would head after the race. Right on queue after the finish they rolled in. Got a few photos of the king himself but decided that to head off as the crowds for his autograph where a bit too much. I gotta say, Armstrong sure can pull a crowd, it must such to have no privacy and everyone wants a piece of you.
LanceArmstrong - The King
The Legends dinner was huge, Armstrong, Hincapi, Evans, O’Grady, Oscar Pereira, Bruyneel and many others. The interview with Armstrong was great, he had a good chat and seemed relaxed. Cadel and Sean Kelly also had a sort interview, all round it was a top night. Ligget dragged Hincapi up to have a chat with Bruyneel and Armstrong, the crowd loved it. The former Senior Lieutenant (Hencapi) and the General (Armstrong) of the “US Postal/Discovery” era where shoulder to shoulder once again. You could tell these two are close mates.
Lance Armstrong and Johan Bryneel
Day 5, The Crits.
Today was going to be a day for the crowds. I headed over to the course for a quick look, I managed to get some good shots of the lads then headed back to the unit for the best seat in the house. The Crits are best watched on TV. There is no other way to see the whole race but in air-conditioning.
Tour Down Under – Boys weekend
Ok it’s official. I’m now in the final countdown to the Tour Down Under. I.ve been watching the live feed updates on http://live.tourdownunder.com.au and listening to the updates on ABC Radio Adelaide to keep me in the loop on what happening on the ground each day.
Now it’s time to pack up the weekend backpack. Load the camera and a few sets of batteries and head to the airport in the morning. Myself and Princey will be meeting King Ric at the Adelaide airport and then the three of us and Chasing Lance, well to be honest, let’s just hope we get to see some good racing. Viva la TDU… Feel the rush!
So no training this weekend, well the liver will be getting a work out most nights over this weekend.
