It's January - It's the Tour Down Under

 Only for cycling enthusiasts

The 25th edition of the Tour Down Under came to Victor Harbor today. Stage 4 saw the riders start from Adelaide, head down the coast, then inland for a ways, then onto Encounter Bay - and the finish line in Victor. 

I watched the race on TV for the first couple of hours. 

Then collected friend Sandy and we set off to claim a good vantage point for when the riders arrived in Encounter Bay. We settled in as the crowds started to gather. I even had my cowbell ready to ring.

Everyone is getting excited - and then we spot the helicopter telling us the riders are nearly here.

And then the police bikes arrive, letting us know that the peleton will be coming on the right side of the road - that's the side we are on!!!!. 

And here come the first four riders, slightly ahead of the peleton. We're cheering madly as we get our first glimpse of them after they've ridden over 100kms already and still more to go.  

And then the peleton arrives a couple of minutes after. (We were later told that they were racing down the hill towards this roundabout at 104kph!) Check out the cameraman perched on the back of the bike.

They're getting closer.

Within two seconds they are upon us and whizzing by so close. Ringing a cowbell and trying to take a photo with a camera at the same time is not to be recommended. The first one isn't too bad. 

The others were taken in a blur of lycra and the whizzing of wheels as they shot by right in front of us.

It was easier to get the stragglers, a mere 20 seconds behind the others. 

And then it was bottoms all the way as they disappeared around the bend. 

I marvelled at the cameraman who not only has to aim, focus and take the photo, but he does this standing up on the fast-moving motor bike! 

We had a 45-minute or so break now as the riders rode into the countryside and up a steep hill in the Hindmarsh Tiers before wending their way back to the finish line at Victor. We chose to move to a different spot for our second glimpse of the riders, but away from the finish line as we knew it would be packed. A bagpiper made the time go a little quicker.

And finally, here they come.They are on the other side of the road from us now, and really strung out. But boy are they travelling - something my photo does not show. 

There's a break, then another smaller group goes past. This part of the road is not so crowded with spectators but the ones here are cheering and ringing their cowbells.

I get Sandy to ring her cowbell for an action shot.

And then I get my bottoms again. 

And finally, three weary riders. They'd ridden 157.2kms in just over 4 hours.

We picked up our belongings and headed for home. Another Tour done for us.