Advance Australia Fair

With half of the top 10 on general classification represented by riders from the home nation, the Tour Down Under has supplied Australian crowds, basking in brilliant sunshine beneath clear blue skies, with still more reasons to be cheerful. Simon Gerrans (Orica Green-EDGE) and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) look set to contest the overall victory tomorrow, while Richie Porte joined the pair in claiming a stage victory, placing over half of the stage wins in this year’s race so far in Australian hands (Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) and Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) will be seeking to increase the German tally when the terrain flattens again tomorrow).

Further clues to the rude health of Australian cycle sport, however, can be found just beyond the winner’s circle. Garmin-Sharp’s young contender, Nathan Haas, at 24, holds fifth on GC, just three places ahead of more experienced countryman, Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol),  a three Grand Tours-a-year man who takes on the greatest challenges in professional cycling like mere mortals rack up sportives. Just beyond the top 10, riders like Will Clarke (Drapac) and Jack Haig (Uni SA-Australia) have lit up the race. Such a display of strength in depth surpasses most nations. With the last two winners of the Tour de France and the four owners of the Olympic team pursuit title riding under the Union flag, however, fans of British cycle sport can allow the Aussies their day in the sun. Just don’t mention the Ashes.