The Climbing Cyclist

On the previous stage of the Tour of Australia the riders took on a couple of climbs on their way to a flat finish in Bairnsdale. On stage 10 they head north along the Great Alpine Road from Bairnsdale to Omeo with some climbing along the way. Read more “Tour of Australia: stage 10”

After a well-earned rest day the riders in the Tour of Australia will take on a mostly flat stage 9 from Traralgon to Bairnsdale. It's almost certain to be a stage for the sprinters ... assuming they can get over the sizeable climb near the start. Read more “Tour of Australia: stage 9”

By the end of stage 8 the riders in the Tour of Australia will definitely have earned their first rest day. But before they get there, they'll have to tackle their second summit finish in a row and the third of the Tour so far. Read more “Tour of Australia: stage 8”

Stage 7 of the Tour of Australia is one of the shortest of the Tour, but with five categorised climbs to contend with, including a summit finish, it's far from easy. Look for a breakaway from contenders in the KOM classification. Read more “Tour of Australia: stage 7”

In the past week David Blom and I have been revealing one stage per day of our fantasy Tour of Australia. In stage 6 of the Tour, the riders embark on a clockwise arc around Melbourne, taking in a couple of decisive climbs along the way. Read more “Tour of Australia: stage 6”

A Tour of Australia just wouldn't feel right without a stage along the Great Ocean Road. And so on stage 5 the riders cover 200km from Peterborough to Torquay, taking in some amazing scenery and frequent climbing along the way. Read more “Tour of Australia: stage 5”

After the summit finish atop Mt. William the day before, the riders in the Tour of Australia will be grateful for an easier day when they start stage 4. There are only two climbs on this mostly flat stage, but one of them comes at the very end, possibly suiting a powerful, punchy rider. Read more “Tour of Australia: stage 4”

Over the past few days David Blom and I have been revealing the route for a three-week Grand Tour in Australia. It's not a race that's going to happen anytime soon, but it's fun to pretend. Here's stage 3, featuring the first summit finish of the Tour. Read more “Tour of Australia: stage 3”

On stage 2 of our fictional Tour of Australia, the riders head inland from the South Australian coastal town of Kingston SE, across the border into Victoria and through to Horsham. It's a pancake-flat stage with no climbing to speak of; a perfect opportunity for the sprinters to get on the board. Read more “Tour of Australia: stage 2”

What would an Australian Grand Tour look like? That's the question David Blom and I asked as we planned out a three-week route for a Tour of Australia. Here's stage 1 which takes the riders south east out of Adelaide. Read more “Tour of Australia: stage 1”

With the Giro d'Italia finished and the Tour de France almost a month away, it got David Blom and I thinking: what would a three-week Grand Tour in Australia look like? We've planned out a route and we'll be revealing one stage per day for the next three weeks. Here's the prologue. Read more “Tour of Australia: prologue”