Shane Kelly's Blog

Legends gather as Gerro takes the title

Shane Kelly — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:16:00 GMT

Saturday night at the Legends’ Dinner I was treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience – listening to Eddy Merckx tell his story and share with us the insight in to some of his 525 victories. In 1975, he raced a staggering 195 days of the year, compared to Lance Armstrong’s 60 days! An amazing achievement by ‘The Cannibal,’ who is without a doubt the LEGEND of cycling.

We also listened to Paul Sherwen chatting with Robbie McEwen and Matt Goss, who were both honoured as legends. It was very interesting to hear the stories from the ‘Master’ and his ‘Apprentice.’ Both have achieved some remarkable victories. Well done Robbie on an amazing career and give it some chain Gossy, cos London 2012 Olympics is yours for the taking mate!

Sunday’s final stage was an absolute cracker... with Gerrans and Valverde tied for first the pace was on and the GreenEDGE boys were on the attack. Luke Durbridge had a real go and so did 2011 Santos Tour winner Cam Meyer, but it was always gonna come down to a bunch sprint.

Again the Lotto-Belisol train launched the big fella Andre Greipel to an easy stage victory and his third for the 2012 Santos Tour. My pick, Mark Renshaw was a few lengths behind in second.

Congratulations Simon Gerrans on winning the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under, adding to your 2006 title. It’s a great way for Gerro and GreenEDGE to start the year with a national championship and the ochre jersey.

I said it last year that this year’s tour was gonna be bigger and better, and it definitely was. The Willunga hilltop finish was the highlight for me, so well done to Mike Turtur and all involved in making the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under the best one yet.

And thanks to Santos for giving me the opportunity to share my stories on the Santos Peloton web page, it’s been a pleasure.

Photo: Legendary commentator Phil Liggett interviewing legendary cyclist Eddy Merckz at the Legends' Dinner. From www.tourdownunder.com.au.

Rohan's ride of the day; hilltop finish delivers

Shane Kelly — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:56:00 GMT

What a race! I don’t think you could have scripted a better hilltop finish than what we just witnessed today.

Driving up Willunga Hill and seeing all the people lining the road was an amazing sight that you would normally only see at the TdF or the Giro, but not the Santos Tour! My guest today was Marco from Italy, who helps organise the Giro d’Italia and even he was amazed at the number of spectators. Well done Gerro!

For me the ride of the day went to UniSA rider and two-time world track champ, Rohan Dennis, who rode a brilliant race to finish fifth. He told me on Monday that he just wanted to get through the Tour, get some kilometres in the legs and then have a real crack at the national track champs next week. So far he has worn the Most Aggressive jersey and currently leads the King of Mountain and Best Young Rider classification. Not bad for a young fella that just wanted to get through the Santos Tour.

I can’t wait for tomorrow’s battle on the sixth and final stage between Gerrans and Valverde, who are both tied for first. It’s definitely going to come down to GreenEDGE team to defend the Ochre Jersey.

Great news that Santos has signed on as the naming rights sponsor for another four years! Great work David Knox and all involved at Santos.

Photo: Alejandro Valverde and Simon Gerrans in the race to the line. From www.tourdownunder.com.au.

An Oscar-winning performance

Shane Kelly — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:26:00 GMT

Only 12 seconds separates the top 45 on the Santos General Classification with three-time world champ, Oscar Freire rocketing into third place, after gaining a 10-second time bonus for today’s stage win.

I’m sure the thousands of spectators that will line the roads tomorrow are gonna be treated to a Willunga Hill battle royal. I can’t wait to see how many people can actually fit up on Willunga Hill, cos I reckon the atmosphere will be electric.

As I was heading to the presentation area today, I bumped into some cycling legends of the 70s and 80s. They were Aussie Champ Don Allan, who was better known in Europe for his years of dominating the six-day racing scene on the velodrome. Also with him was two-time world sprint champ John Nicholson, and David Brotherton of the well-known Brotherton clan.

Allan Peiper, a pioneer of Aussie cycling, also joined us, as did Dave Sanders, the DS of the aggressive Uni SA team. All these guys raced together, so it was a pleasure to catch up and chat with them, as they were my idols when I was a young fella.

I still have great respect for the path they paved for me and many others, including the Aussie young guns of today. Big congratulations to all the people that participated in the Bupa Challenge Tour. I hope some of you can now say that you rode with the LEGEND Eddy Merckx!

Photo: Oscar Freire (right) took the honours on the Santos Tour's fourth stage. From www.tourdownunder.com.au.

Teamwork wins the day

Shane Kelly — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:49:00 GMT

The big fella Andre Greipel proved again that he is the fastest man in town as he rocketed across the finish line to easily claim victory into Victor Harbor.

We cannot forget the teamwork that is involved in making this happen. It was Adam Hansen and Greg Henderson that sling-shotted Greipel clear after manoeuvring themselves nicely through a very technical final 800 metres.

Bupa Challenge Tour

Well guys, the wait is almost over because tomorrow is the Bupa Challenge Tour. All the hard work and training has been done, so it’s time to put the feet up and relax.

Remember that it’s important to hydrate well tonight and eat some good tucker and get a good night's sleep. Wake up early tomorrow morning and give yourself plenty of time to have a good healthy breakfast and not rush. Try not to worry too much about Menglers Hill, cos once you are out there the adrenalin and excitement will push you on!

It’s gonna be a long day in the knicks so again make sure you drink and eat plenty, because there is nothing worse than getting the dreaded knock cos you forgot to eat and drink enough.

Relax and enjoy!

Photo: Santos' Mark Chadderton presented Andre Greipel with the Santos Ochre Leader's Jersey after his Stage 3 win.

Where there's a Will...

Shane Kelly — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:27:00 GMT

Today’s adventure in Guest Car 2 started off the same as every other day. We positioned ourselves nicely towards the front of the convoy and off to Lobethal we headed.

As we were travelling up Glen Osmond Road we spotted a person dressed as a Storm Trooper. Kara and James, who were my guests from Santos, informed me that the guy dressed as the Storm Trooper was walking across Australia from Sydney to Perth raising money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Great work mate, but we reckon you could have picked a cooler, more breathable costume to walk over 4,000 kilometres in!

You could almost guarantee that as soon as the riders exited the neutral zone of today’s stage 2 from Lobethal to Stirling, a UniSA rider would be off to the front of the peloton. Sure enough there was and this time it was Will Clarke (pictured right) and a BMC rider that put the power down. This move for Clarke was a big one but a very gutsy effort especially after yesterday’s very taxing stage.

We followed the break for about 100 kilometres which saw him extend the lead with the BMC rider to over 10 minutes. Clarke ended up riding away from his companion in a solo attempt to gain victory, but did he have the legs to hold on?

With one lap to go we pulled off the course, parked and made our way to Santos’ hospitality. We were approx 50 metres from the finish line with the best view I think I could have possibly asked for. Thanks for your hospitality, Santos.

The peloton was closing the gap to Clarke very quickly, but the big fella from Tassie held on for what was definitely the gutsiest ride I have seen at the STDU.

I heard via a Twitter report that the skiddy undie award goes to Jens Voight after he had a rear wheel blowout on a 90km/h descent. Great control to hold it up Jens!

Photo from www.tourdownunder.com.au.

Hot hot heat in first stage

Shane Kelly — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:57:00 GMT

After looking at today’s weather report we all knew that today’s stage of the Santos Tour Down Under was going to be very tough.

With the temperature up around 40 degrees and the wind hitting the peloton directly on the beak, the trek from Prospect to Clare was going to be a matter of survival and getting to Clare in one piece.

The thought of that didn’t seem to bother UniSA rider and current World Track Champ Rohan Dennis from having a crack. He and three other riders formed a breakaway group that spent the majority of the day in front before the peloton dragged them back in.

With approximately 20 kilometres to go, Dennis made a solo attack in an attempt to gain a stage victory. He was caught soon after, setting the race up for another battle of the fast men in a downhill sprint in to Clare.

The mix of heat, wind and fatigue certainly made its presence felt as the race made its way into Clare. With about 800 metres to go there was a massive crash as the lead-out men were in the final phase of launching their team sprinter to victory. The big fella Andre Greipel (right) snatched victory again by the smallest of margins after the Italian Alessandro Petacchi certainly made him work very hard for the win.

I spent the day driving Guest Car 2 with my special guests, David, Bill and Ralph on board enjoying the excitement of being up close and personal at the first Pro Tour event for 2012. They couldn’t believe the speed the peloton was travelling at towards the end in such harsh conditions. I enjoyed their company and we chatted about many things, so I hope I was able to give them an experience to remember. Enjoy the Bupa Challenge Tour on Friday guys.

The riders today would have consumed huge amounts of fluid today, so remember the importance of keeping hydrated.

Photo from www.tourdownunder.com.au.

It's great to be back!

Santos — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:22:00 GMT

It's great to be back for the 2012 Santos Tour Down Under and Adelaide has once again turned on some brilliant weather.

The city of churches has been buzzing for the past week with all the pro tour teams arriving for what is the first race of the professional season. After chatting to a few of the GreenEDGE boys yesterday, the wait was over and they just wanted to pull on their new team kit and tear it up!

Last night's race was the Down Under Classic. It's a quick, 30-lap race around a 1.7 km circuit around Rymill Park. This race is always a fast and furious race and used as a great heart starter to establish who is the fastest sprinter on the block.

With the Manx missile Mark Cavendish not competing this year there was still a star-studded line up of fast twitch sprinters to fight it out for the 2000 Euro dollars prize money! Andre Greipel was the eventual winner with a perfect text book lead out from team mate Greg Henderson. Earlier in the week it was reported via Twitter that Andre had powered to 1940 watts while doing some sprint efforts out training, so that definitely was a great indication that his form was looking good and he was going to be the man to beat!

Keep an eye out for Greipel this week as he might just add to his 2008 and 2010 STDU victories.

Photo from www.tourdownunder.com.au.

Team Santos put in some serious training

Shane Kelly — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:30:00 GMT

Recently I met up with about 25 keen cyclists from Team Santos for the second year of the "Hardcore Ride" in preparation for the 2012 Bupa Challenge Tour! The weather was quite overcast and almost a repeat of the previous year’s ride, so I had the trusty old rain jacket stuffed in my back pocket.

We headed up The Parade to where the challenge ride will start and continued on turning left at Penfolds Winery. Ansteys Hill was our first real challenge but we had already ridden the undulating foothills so by then the bunch had splintered. I had dropped back to encourage the slower riders, but to tell you the truth I was feeling it a bit ‘cos the old lungs hadn't quite warmed up... There were some pretty fit guys certainly pushing the pace at the front.

We regrouped at the top of Ansteys and then continued on and descended in to some very thick fog with limited visibility. It was hard to see which way the road was turning and what was coming the opposite way, so the hands were in the ready position on the brakes!

The peloton moved along nicely and much better than what I recall from the year before. I think the fact that we didn't have some cross winds and Checkers Hill in there early to snap the legs definitely made a difference. We did cover some pretty tough territory though and the nasty switchback called "Le Corkscrew" that we still had to climb was still in the back of our minds.

We were never going to dehydrate or go hungry with Kathryn and Wendy following us closely and keeping an eye on who needed a refill. A big thank you because it's quite easy to dehydrate and get the dreaded knock (hungry/no energy) on long rides. Very important to refuel guys.

We descended down the Gorge hitting some pretty fast speeds. I was happier going downhill cos I definitely go better down them than I do up them! At the bottom of the Gorge we made that lefthander that pointed us toward a short nasty switchback that you just had to respect. Le Corkscrew is its name and it has hurt some of cycling's royalty over the years. I reckon the last time I had ridden it was in the mid 90s, so I was only going on a distant memory, but I can assure you that soon changed. A very tough climb and at one point I looked up through the trees and saw a Team Santos rider almost at the top. Not sure who it was but they must have horns growing out of the top of their head!

It was a ripper ride that brought back many memories of my training days from the past. Well done to all that pedalled the undulating roads that gave us a bit of a taste of the 2012 Bupa Challenge Tour course! After riding with the team chatting to most I reckon they are all more than capable of achieving their goal distance for the challenge ride.

Bigger and better

Shane Kelly — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 01:45:00 GMT

The 2011 Santos Tour Down Under has finished for another year and what an amazing week it was.

Next time we are likely to see as many of the fastest sprinters on the planet gathered in one place is the Tour de France. Ben Swift, Matt Goss and Michael Matthews notched up some fast and furious stage wins, but it was the winner of Stage 4 that stole the show.

Cam Meyer – a multiple World, Commonwealth and national champ on the velodrome now has the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under title to add to an already very impressive CV. Not only does this young guy ride well, he also speaks very well – a promoter and sponsor’s dream.

There were many highlights to this year’s Tour, but the two that stand out were meeting Lance Armstrong and young Austin. During Stage 5, Austin and his mate Joel got to meet Lance.

It was at the Legend’s Dinner that I met Lance for the first time. To meet and shake the hand of a guy that has made such an impact on not just cycling but the fight against cancer worldwide was very exciting. Then there was a young teenager named Austin who is in remission. Helping give him a day to remember was something that I certainly felt better for.

I hope my video blogs helped you achieve your fitness goals and gave you some valuable tips to being a better cyclist. Thanks for taking the time to check out the peloton link.

The 2011 Santos Tour Down Under was BIG, but I reckon 2012 will step up and be even BIGGER and BETTER again!

Cameron Meyer bounces back

Shane Kelly — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:30:00 GMT

What a brilliant day of racing and an amazing day for Cam Meyer (Garmin-Cervelo). In his words, “I crashed two days ago so to bounce back and win today’s stage and pull the Ochre jersey on is amazing and I’m very happy right now”.

In Guest Car 2 today I had Tony and Miles from Mutual Community, the sponsors of today’s stage and the challenge ride, and Tony’s wife Lisa. We had a great day and certainly enjoyed the picturesque countryside along the race route from Norwood to Strathalbyn.

Thanks to Miles’ adept navigating skills, we got to see a bit of the countryside that wasn’t on the route as well!

Once we had parked the car in the Tour Village, we made our way to the grassed area and found a table to sit back and relax and reflect on the day’s happenings. Before long the Tour Village was buzzing and it was the place to be, especially while enjoying a nice cold beer after a long hot day!

Many cyclists and coaches passed by and there were a lot of nods and waves, but when two of my old team mates cruised by I just had to stop them for a chat. The two guys just happened to be Cam Meyer and Matt White with DS (Director Sportif). As I had the heros of the day with me I thought it fitting to introduce Cam and Matt to my guests from Mutual Community.

It was a buzz for all involved and great that Cam gave us his time. As you can imagine he was a young man in demand! Thanks mate; you are a true professional and little things like that mean a lot!

Stage 2: crash and bash and country cooking

Shane Kelly — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:58:00 GMT

Well, what more can I say about this absolutely stunning weather that Adelaide has turned on? I have definitely had to slip, slop, slap the past coupla days and will have to for the rest of the week by the sounds of it!

Yesterday we made the trek to Tailem Bend for the start of Stage 2. All the team cars and official Santos Tour Down Under vehicles travel in a convoy with police escort and rolling road closures. Royal treatment of course for such a fantastic event that is televised worldwide and has definitely put Adelaide on the map.

My guest’s today were Chuck and Sarah from the USA. They are part of the organising crew for the Tour of California, so they are out in Oz getting some tips and ideas. Chuck essentially has the same role as Tour director Mike Turtur. My other guest was SBS commentator Mike Tomolaris, so today was my turn to listen and learn, ‘cos the car was full of Tour racing knowledge.

I couldn’t let my new American friends leave South Australia without sampling some of its tasty country pies. Along the race route we stopped in at the Woodside bakery and got a couple of pepper steak pies that Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggett had recommended to us. Chuck and Sarah were impressed with the pies and also that Paul was outside the shop tucking in to one as well!

Ahhh yes, we were there to watch a bike race…

After quite a few attempts to break away, and a solid solo effort with 20 kilometres to go by local SA boy Tim Roe, the race came back together. It was going to be a sprinters’ fest again, and with a few crashes in the last five kilometres the carnage certainly added to the excitement. As the peloton rounded the final bend there was another crash, but in the end it was a fast and furious win by Ben Swift from Team Sky, with Robbie McEwen second Brownie (Graeme Brown) third in a photo finish.

Robbie McEwen’s second placing puts him in the leader’s Ochre Jersey. Well done Robbie!

UniSA rider Bernie Sulzberger was taken away in an ambulance after crashing heavily. Sad news is that he is out of the race with a broken collarbone. All the best Bernie – I hope you are back in the saddle soon mate.

Goss too good in Stage 1

Shane Kelly — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 01:15:00 GMT

Stage 1 of the 2011 Tour was a good one. Tuesday morning I departed the Tour Village in guest car 2. My job is to drive sponsors and VIPs around the race route for stages 1-5 and give them an unforgettable race day experience. Travelling with me for this stage were Rick from UniSA and my mate Andy from Brisbane.

Stage 1 was a cracker with the UniSA riders up the front having a red hot go, which was great for Rick to witness. In the end it came down to a bunch sprint with the fastest guys in the world rubbing shoulders in the uphill battle in to Angaston. Matt Goss was again just too quick and clearly won to take the overall lead in the Tour.

Goss has certainly shown some New Year form with two wins from two starts at the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under plus winning the Jayco Bay Criterium series and placing second at the National Road Champs earlier in January. I think we will definitely see him on the winner’s podium again.

The final countdown

Shane Kelly — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:30:00 GMT

I reckon every second person I have spoken to is off to the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under!

Last year we all wondered if the race could get any better... Well most journo’s and cyclists participating in this year’s tour think that it is gonna be a cracker. With the fastest sprinters in the world such as Greipel, Cavendish, Farrar, McEwen and Brownie going head to head, we are sure to be entertained by their speed, power and skill as they clash elbows and shoulders at 70km/h in the sprint to the line.

But don’t forget the hard nuts such as South Australia’s newly-crowned National Champ, Jack Bobridge and his team mate Cam Meyer (National Time Trial Champ), who will be setting the pace to try and crack the Ferrari’s of the peloton.

I will have a bird’s eye view as I fly into Adelaide of the thousands of cycling fans that will be joining Lance Armstrong, Robbie McEwen and many other pro cyclists on their Twitter ride from Wigley Reserve. Last year I could not believe the amount people that turned up to pedal with their heroes! An amazing sight and certainly a great way to help fire everyone up and get them involved in the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under.

I can’t wait to get amongst the action again and catch up with a lot of my old team mates.

I’ll see you out on the road ... I will be driving guest car 2 along the race route each day, so give me a yell!

I just heard the great news that Lance is dedicating the Twitter ride to raising awareness of the Qld floods crisis and has pledged $50,000. Great work!

Keep your bike and your kit shipshape

Shane Kelly — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:30:00 GMT

A common issue with most cyclists is general bike maintenance (including shoes and cleats). There’s no need to do a major overhaul every week, just keep it simple and consistent.

A puncture is something that we will be all faced with at some point. Fixing a puncture is a lot easier than most people think, so just follow the easy steps on my video blog.

Here are a few basic maintenance tips:

Check nuts and bolt tightness, especially handlebars and stem, seat and seat post; brake callipers, cables and brake pads. Over tightening of bolts is a common mistake! If you are unsure then definitely visit your local bike shop.
Check condition of shoes and cleats. Make sure your cleats have not broken, worn thin or come loose. If broken or worn then that can lead to knee, leg and back problems!
Remember to keep your bike clean and all parts in running order. A good regular clean/wipe down with a soft cloth is what I do. To get rid of the built up of grime I would recommend that you clean your bike and wheels with degreaser and soapy water, then rinse off and dry with a clean cloth.
Putting too much oil back on the chain is the biggest mistake of most riders! While slowly turning the cranks put one rotation of oil on the underside of the chain. After this procedure wipe any excess oil off with a cloth.

Happy and safe riding.

Bunch riding etiquette... and Checker Hill

Shane Kelly — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:30:00 GMT

Some basic bunch riding tips:

If you are riding in a group and you are leading the way, remember you are the eyes and ears for the riders following you. It is a must, to point out any obstacles on the road with either a hand signal or verbal command.
It’s very important to think about the person riding behind you, so no sudden hard braking or swerving. When you get out of the seat make sure you don’t throw your bike backwards because I have seen this action cause many crashes.
When riding two abreast then make sure you ride with your handlebars level with the person beside you. Quite often you will find people increasing the pace to get in front. This is called “half wheeling” which is a big no-no in the pro peloton.

In the lead up to Checker Hill you will already have done Gorge Rd and then climbed up the Gorge so I reckon the old pins will be feeling it. Approx 20km from the Gorge you will be confronted by Checker Hill.

It is hard to say what the best way to attack the climb is because it kicks up so aggressively. I reckon you don’t want to attack it too hard. You just have to get up it as best you can! Try to keep your core strong and eliminate any excess body movement. Your gearing will determine much of this so I suggest you use at least a 39x25 gear ratio.

If you stop, then it will be very difficult to get started again unless you have a gear ratio easy enough to do so.

Don’t forget to check out my video blog for more tips….and happy traing for the Santos Tour Down Under Mutual Community Challange.

Check out my new videos for Santos Peloton

Shane Kelly — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:30:00 GMT

If you haven’t done so yet, then it’s time to pull ya knicks on and put a bit of a training plan together. Click on the link to my new video blogs and check out a few tips I’ve prepared to get you up and running in preparation for the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under Mutual Community Challenge.

It doesn’t matter where you are starting from; the key from now on is consistency. You may feel tempted to tear up the bitumen but please be mindful to ease into your training load and build a base. The last thing you want to do is to blow a gasket in the first week!

If you’re not 100% sure if you have that optimal riding position, you are best to get it sorted now. It’s worth your time setting it up now rather than start altering your sessions due to discomfort. Remember to check out my tips.

Only 27 sleeps to go!

Could it be any better?

Shane Kelly — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:20:00 GMT

At the completion of the Tour last year the word on everyone’s lips was ‘How will we better the 2009 Tour?’

Well, everyone I have spoken with has certainly indicated that the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under has raised the bar yet again.

With the launch of new teams, bigger crowds, fierce competition, and of course seeing Australia’s first ever Road Race World Champion, Cadel Evans, don the rainbow jersey, it was definitely the best TDU that I have seen in the race’s 12-year history.

I’ve really enjoyed my time as the Santos ambassador; I have met some really great people and look forward to keeping in touch with all my new mates. I am also really thankful to have had the privilege to share my stories and tips. When I accepted the role I wasn’t sure how I would go, and was pretty worried about what I would write about. The feedback from those that have logged onto the site has been extremely encouraging and I am pleased to say I have really loved telling you guys some of my stories and providing a few tips to all you whom love the sport as much as me!

With the excitement of the Tour 2010 still in everyone’s minds, I encourage you all to start thinking about preparing for next year’s Challenge Tour. Set some goals for the next couple of months, review them, and set some more. Before you know it, it will be the Santos Tour Down Under 2011!

Photo: Stage 3, Stirling. By Kristen Roberts.

Prime spot in Guest Car 2

Shane Kelly — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:25:00 GMT

The last two days of the Santos Tour down Under have been an absolute buzz. Apart from being the ambassador for Santos, my other duties include driving Guest Car 2. That involves driving sponsors and competition winners along each stage route to get a close up of the race and see what’s involved in a Pro Tour event.

On the first stage I had two brothers, Steve and Simon Jaensch, who had a fantastic time. We departed the Tour Village at 8.10am and travelled in convoy to Clare along with all the team and support vehicles. The police provided rolling stoppage to give us a clear run, so with almost 100 vehicles it certainly made travel easier.

We started before the riders so we could get ahead and stop to check out the first sprint at Riverton. From there we headed to Menglers Hill and positioned ourselves about two thirds of the way up so we could watch the guys climb to around 500m altitude. It was sensational to see the peloton wind up the hill like a swarm of bees.

After the guys passed we then made our way to Tanunda to see the finish. We thought we had arrived fairly early to get a good position but there were thousands of people lining the barricades to see the guys fly down the finishing straight to the winners post. It was the bulky German sprinter, Andre Greipel, winning the opening stage in fine form.

On Stage 2 I drove SBS commentator, Mike Tomalaris along the race route from Gawler to Hahndorf. We started early so that we didn’t get caught in the convoy and not be able see much at all. Not long after the start three riders, including Uni-SA’s David Kemp, made a break from the peloton. We could hear on the race radio that the trio was slowly increasing their lead so we decided to wait at a tiny town called Springton. They had almost a 10 minute lead so we decided to tack on the back of the convoy and follow for as long as we could.

Also following the lead group was Guest Car 1 that was being driven by Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggett, with Paul and Kym from Santos sitting in the back taking in all the action. We were able to stay up the front for about 60km.

The highlight was being able to take in the absolutely amazing atmosphere that surrounded us as we ascended Checker Hill. We could hear over the race radio that the chasing peloton was closing in quickly so we decided to pass the leaders and head to the finish at Hahndorf.

Again the barriers were packed with thousands of cheering fans that were waiting for the final burst of speed to the line as the breakaway trio had been caught. I was positioned about 200m from the finish line with a fantastic view. The swarm of riders came so quickly and before I knew it, the German speedster had notched up his second stage win with what looked like little effort.

I look forward to the following stages and hope my old mate Brownie can get up for an Aussie victory.

Photo: Stage 2, Hahndorf. By Kristen Roberts.

Don’t overdo it in these last few days

Shane Kelly — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:42:00 GMT

About a week ago I received an email from a mate that was doing the Ride Like Crazy charity ride, which was on last Sunday.

He was concerned that he hadn’t done enough training to get him through the 110km ride and whether he should do as many kilometres as possible in the last four or five days before the event. I basically said to not panic and that cramming a heap of last minute kilometres in won’t be much help at all.

As long as you have done some consistent riding over the past months you should be fine.

A couple of tips that I did share was to try to find a group of riders that you think are at your fitness level and draft behind them to conserve energy. Another was the importance of eating and to not leave it until you are hungry because that is often too late.
Carbo gels are very good and easy to digest, but the old banana, fruit cake or jam sanga is as good as anything. There is no shortage of feed and drink stations on charity rides so getting hungry or thirsty shouldn’t be a problem.

Yesterday I received an email from that same mate who did the ride. He was pumped and so happy that he completed the distance, saying he can’t even remember the first 15km uphill as he was caught up in the atmosphere and all the riders around him.

He said that he is “hooked” and will now have a crack at the 160km Mutual Community Challenge ride this Friday. Not bad for a guy who only a week ago was worried that he wasn’t capable, but with a bit confidence and belief in yourself it is possible.

A cycle with Santos

Shane Kelly — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:04:00 GMT

On Sunday morning at 7am I met with the Santos cycling team. It was probably one of the last chances for the guys to do some fine-tuning before the Mutual Community Challenge next Friday.

About 30 of us departed from the Santos building and headed towards Outer Harbour via North Adelaide. It was windy and very overcast and it wasn’t long before the pace was on.

I’ll be honest, my legs were ticking over okay but my lungs were certainly feeling the burn. The bunch split up a bit after the hammer went down. It was great to be out riding with the group, and when I got a breath, being able to chat with them.

Sunday morning rides are never easy, but it was really good to see such a big group out for the ride; and looking the part in their Santos kit.

From Outer Harbour we headed down through Henley Beach where I used to live and on to Glenelg where we stopped for a coffee. At this point I was able to chat more with the guys and exchange stories and look at who was possibly going to make a name for themselves at this year’s Tour.

A turning point on a long road

Shane Kelly — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:45:00 GMT

I want to share a story with you.

Way back in November 1991, my coach at the time, Charlie Walsh, and the AIS team’s physiologist, Neil Craig, handed me a pile of A4 paper. What it contained was my training program for the next 12 months.

I still remember it like it was yesterday. I read on the front page: 27,468km of training for the year.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. How could I possibly do that amount of training? Remembering that I was a sprint cyclist on the velodrome, and previously hadn’t done a huge amount of kilometres on the road, what they had presented to me was like a 400m runner doing marathon training. I didn’t question the program and put my head down. I believed in what I had to do, and that they knew what I needed to do to be the best.

By late January 1992, I had racked up a few miles on the road and it was time to head to a five-week training camp in Toluca, Mexico. Toluca was at an altitude of about 6500ft and we would be ascending to about 11,000ft. We spent the first week acclimatising by riding at 60-70% of our maximum heart rate and slowly increasing the percentage level until about day ten when there were no limits and no holding back.

I was in the middle of an 1100km week and I had 200km scheduled for the day. We headed out early because it was going to be a long day. After a couple of hours we had descended for what seemed like forever, down into Valle de Bravo, a huge lake in a valley. It was only then that I thought “shivers, we have to climb out of here now”.

It had been a very tough day with a lot of climbing which wasn’t my strength. Finally 200km clicked over on my bike computer, so I dropped back to the support van that was following us. I couldn’t wait to get off the bike. But to my disbelief Charlie told me to keep going because my team mates had 40km to go. I could have cried; actually I think I did. I slowly ‘grovelled’ my way back to the bunch thinking “how am I going to complete the distance?” I had never ridden that far before.

After rolling into the carpark of the hotel, and as buggered as I was, the feeling of doing what I thought I couldn’t was unbelievable and certainly a turning point in my career. Charlie was big on the test of one’s character, and that day I believe I not only showed him what I was about, but more importantly showed myself.

Essential bike maintenance

Shane Kelly — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:29:00 GMT

A common issue with cyclists at all levels is general bike maintenance (including shoes and cleats). There’s no need to do a major overhaul every week, just keep it simple and consistent.

A few tips:

Check tyres for cuts and for any glass, stones or nails that may have become embedded. Always ride with the recommended tyre pressure, which you will find on the side wall of tyre.
Check nuts and bolt tightness.

Especially handlebars and stem, seat and seat post, brake calipers, cables and brake pads.
Over-tightening of bolts is a common mistake. If you are unsure then definitely visit your local bike shop.

Check condition of shoes and cleats. Make sure your cleats have not broken, worn thin or come loose.
Remember to keep your bike clean and all parts in running order. A good regular clean/wipe-down with a soft cloth is what I do. To get rid of the built up grime I would recommend that you clean your bike and wheels with degreaser and soapy water, then rinse off and dry with a clean cloth.
If you notice any noises or creaks, sometimes a spray of WD40 (or similar product) can eliminate basic problems for pedals, handlebars and stem bolts, derailleurs, etc. A qualified mechanic should have a look at any major noises.
Putting too much oil back on the chain is the biggest mistake of most riders. While slowly turning the cranks put one rotation of oil on the underside of the chain. After this procedure wipe any excess oil off with a cloth.

Happy and safe riding!

Travis, take your chance

Shane Kelly — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:50:00 GMT

The National Road Championships was the last big hit-out and lung opener for our Aussie stars before they contest the 2010 Santos Tour Down Under.

It was also the chance to win the right to wear the national green and gold colours in the first UCI Pro Tour event for 2010. With temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, it certainly made the conditions tough and I’m sure the fluid intake would have been high.

In his own words, the surprise winner was Travis Meyer, the younger of the Meyer duo. His win marked a very special occasion as his brother, and Garmin Transitions team mate Cameron, won the National Road Time Trial earlier in the week. I would imagine the Meyer family is having a few drinks tonight to celebrate a fantastic start to 2010!

As the reigning national champ, Travis has the opportunity to race the STDU for the UniSA-Australia team. Each year a position is kept available for the National Open Road Champion to ride the event if he is not already a part of a Pro-Tour team. Last year’s Champion, Peter McDonald, did not take the offer, choosing to race a tour in New Zealand. The opportunity to race alongside the world’s best on home soil in one of the best Pro-Tour events, in my opinion, is not one to pass...

Travis, mate, go for it.

Photo: SBS Cycling Central.

Eat, drink and be merry

Shane Kelly — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:30:00 GMT

Let’s talk about eating and drinking. Remember guys to keep hydrated and eat, especially on the longer rides. Don’t leave your hydration to when you feel thirsty, it’s best to keep the fluid intake quite regular and even start hydrating before you begin your training or challenge ride. And it’s the same with your eating, don’t leave it to when you are hungry because once you hit the wall, it’s going to be a long day!

It’s very important to have a healthy and hearty breakfast before long rides. That will certainly get you off to a good start. I would normally have 3-4 weetbix with skim milk, a couple pieces of toast with jam or honey and a coffee.

Throughout the ride it’s crucial to top your energy levels up regularly and to not leave it until you are hungry. Carbo gels are very good and easy to digest, but the old banana, fruit cake or jam sanger wrapped in foil is as good as anything.

Once you have finished riding it is very important to rehydrate and eat within one hour. A mix of electrolyte drink and water is best and a combination of carbohydrates and protein. This will aid your recovery and help set you up for your next ride.

With only a couple of weeks to go, I hope you have purchased a good pair of knicks and with the uncertainty of weather lately, it’s imperative to dress for the occasion. Check out my video blog for more info.

Recognising the best

Shane Kelly — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:50:00 GMT

The 2010 Santos Tour Down Under will have the privilege of three current Australian World Champions competing.

As the first ever Australian Road World Champion, Cadel Evans will be wearing the Rainbow Jersey with pride as he competes in the first ProTour race of the season.

Joining him will be two of Australia’s young stars, Garmin-Slipstream team-mates, Jack Bobridge and Cameron Meyer. Jack won the U/23 Individual Road Time Trial in September and Cameron won the Points Race on the velodrome earlier in the year.

However, it will only be Cadel that is allowed to wear the Rainbow jersey. Cycling law states: ‘until the day before the World Championship of the following year, the World Champions must wear their jersey in all events in the discipline, speciality and category in which they won their title, and in no other event’.

When the rider no longer holds the title of World Champion, he may wear rainbow piping on the collar and cuffs of his jersey. In my opinion, this rule reinforces the great honour it is to be the reigning World Champion; a title I held for three consecutive years in my chosen discipline, the 1km Time Trial. By being allowed to wear the piping for your entire cycling career, it is a constant reminder of the goals you have achieved and the journey you took to get there.

Getting started

Shane Kelly — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:31:00 GMT

By now I hope that those who are preparing for the Mutual Community Challenge have put in a few kilometres on the asphalt.

The key to riding, whether it’s for an hour or five hours, is comfort. Your set up on the bike is crucial, so it might be worth the money to pop into your local bike shop and get an expert to look over your seat height and handle bar position. Better to get it right from the beginning of your training program than start altering your sessions due to discomfort.

Another key to being comfortable on the bike is getting a good pair of riding knicks. They don’t have to be the most expensive pair, but they must be a firm fit and ideally anatomically designed to suit the body in the riding position. And the most important tip of all is… no jocks under your knicks! Because there is nothing worse than chaffing!

For all those interested in getting a heads-up on a few of the Aussie stars competing in the Santos Tour Down Under, I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of some of them in action on the velodrome on Wednesday and Friday night. Graeme Brown lived up to his reputation, showing the crowd why he is one of the fastest road sprinters in the world. Jack Bobridge had good form and looked strong in the Points race and Madison. And young Cameron Meyer wore his World Championship rainbow jersey proud, claiming the Australian Madison Championship title as well as winning the Points race. It will be great to see Jack pull on the Garmin Slipstream colours alongside his Aussie teammate Cameron Meyer in this year’s Tour.

Welcome

Shane Kelly — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:38:00 GMT

I am honoured to be introducing myself as the ambassador for Santos in the lead-up to the Santos Tour Down Under 2010. My name is Shane Kelly, OAM.

My international career in cycling spanned two decades, including five Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games and 15 World Championships. Over this time there have been many ups and downs, some more known than others, and many of which have shaped who I am today.

My career in cycling has undoubtedly taught me to deal with adversity, that things can look hard and sometimes not even appear to be worth continuing. Whether it’s a badly timed injury, a race not going to plan, a blown tyre at 70km/hr or a false start at the Olympic Games (1996 Atlanta Olympics, 1km Time Trial), you have a choice. You can decide it’s too hard and throw it in, or you can choose to refocus, reset your goals, and get back on the bike.

Over the next five weeks, I hope to tell you a bit more about my journey at the top and give you an insight into what goes on in the peloton at a pro-tour event. Throughout our time together, I will share training tips, tell a few stories and help those of you preparing for the Mutual Community Challenge. Looking forward to the next few weeks and all the excitement that goes with the Santos Tour Down Under!