2025 Women's Tour Down Under Preview

 It looks like Cyclingmole is doing stage-by-stage previews for this race, so I'll just content myself with an overall preview.

It's the first stage race of the season and, being the middle of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, those from the South will surely have a massive advantage. Historically, only three GC champions have come from the North, and well over half of all stages have been taken by Southern riders; I don't see that changing this year, although more and more teams are having winter training camps in better climes (such as Spain), but it's hard to replace full-time training in nice weather with a few weeks at altitude, then a return to cold and dark further North.

Here are the stages...all profiles from procyclingstats.com, as usual.

Stage 1 profile
The first stage is lumpy, but will likely end in a sprint...I don't see a break that gets away in the first half of the stage staying there.

Stage 2 profile


Classic queen stage with two climbs up Willunga Hill, this one will almost certainly decide the GC.

Stage 3 profile

The final stage is rolling with a kick at the end, but it shouldn't be sharp enough to put off the GC riders.

Overall, as usual, there are no big mountains, but, with the season just kicking off, climbs like Willunga could feel like the Pyrenees. The second stages will see big gaps, and an aggressively ridden third stage could also turn into a big GC day. As mentioned at the out, riders from Australia and New Zealand should be at a massive advantage here, especially on the Willunga stage.


Contenders

 NIAMH FISHER-BLACK -- Freed from domestique duties at Jumbo Visma, this race will be a bid for a first WWT GC win with the new team. Two-thirds of Lidl-Trek is from the South, plus they have good climbing support for the second stage and should be able to put out any fires on stage 3. Provided the winter training has gone well, the former Visma rider should be one of the ones to beat.

NEVE BRADBURY -- Rather exceptional last year before fading a bit down the stretch, the Australian should have full support in her home race from the Canyon squad. Another with a strong team, support for stages 2 and 3 shouldn't be a problem.

KIM CADZOW -- Another young rider from the South who started last season extremely well before fading in the late summer, she also has a strong team. 

JUSTINE GHEKIERE -- Someone who didn't fade down the stretch but rather won several mountains classifications, the Belgian is, I think, likely the best positioned rider to succeed from North of the Equator. The Willunga stage shouldn't be a problem and the team should provide good support, the question is how has the winter been going?

Prediction

Niamh Fisher-Black for the overall and the win on stage 2; Neve Bradbury and Justin Ghekiere to round out the podium

Ally Wollaston to take stage 1 and Chloe Dygert for stage 3

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