2011 Tour Down Under Stage 2 – still more photos

2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

Stage 2 of this year’s Tour Down Under came through Murray Bridge this morning. Click back through recent posts to read more information, and to see more photos.

The stage started at Tailem Bend before travelling through Murray Bridge, Kanmantoo, Birdwood, Mt Pleasant and finished at Mannum. This race is the last appearance of Tour de France seven times winner, Lance Armstrong, in a race outside of the United States. The race also features most of the leading European pro-teams in their only appearance outside of Europe.

2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

2011 Tour Down Under Stage 2 – more photos

2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

The 2011 Tour Down Under cycling race came through my home town this morning on its way through the Adelaide Hills and finishing at Mannum. See my previous post for more details. Here’s a few more photos I managed.

2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

2011 Tour Down Under Stage 2

Race director's car 2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

A short time ago I drove across to the main road leading out of my home town Murray Bridge to see the cycle race, the 2011 Tour Down Under, pass through town. I just only made it; the cyclists were about 4 minutes ahead of schedule. This is the only race outside of Europe featuring all the top professional cycling teams, a major coup for our little state of South Australia.

The race features many of the leading riders in world cycling, including Lance Armstrong in his last appearance outside the United States, Stuart O’Grady, Robbie McEwen, Mark Cavendish and a host of other riders, about 130 in total.

Stage 2 today travels from Tailem Bend through Murray Bridge and up through Nairne, Birdwood, Mt Pleasant, Tungkillo, Palmer and finishes at Mannum.

This is being posted before the end of the race.

Leading group, 2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

2011 Tour Down Under, Murray Bridge

Tour Down Under 2010

An interested observer of the Tour Down Under at Watervale

An interested observer of the Tour Down Under at Watervale

Observant spectators at this year’s Tour Down Under would have seen plenty of interesting sights along the various routes taken by the riders. I took this photo of one of the “spectators” in front of the hotel at Watervale, just south of Clare where the race started.

By the looks of it, he has spent far too many hours leaning over the front bar of the hotel. I certainly hope he didn’t try to join in the race with that bicycle of his hanging on the sign behind him!

Tour Down Under 2010

An interested observer of the Tour Down Under near Clare

An interested observer of the Tour Down Under near Clare

Last month we went to stay with our daughter in Clare. We especially went to see the start of the 2010 Tour Down Under. The first stage of this year’s race started for the first time in the main street of Clare.

On our way to Clare the day before the race start we were amused by the various decorations people living along the route had prepared.

We were particularly amused by the “lady” in the photo above. Looks like she has had a terrible accident on her pink bike. Now she is trying to hitch a ride with one of the official riders in the race.

I wish her luck in that endeavour.