{"id":35471,"date":"2017-01-17T20:35:11","date_gmt":"2017-01-17T09:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=35471"},"modified":"2019-04-16T13:31:09","modified_gmt":"2019-04-16T03:31:09","slug":"extreme-heat-shortens-tourdownunder-stage-after-riders-raise-heathealth-concern-takvera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/extreme-heat-shortens-tourdownunder-stage-after-riders-raise-heathealth-concern-takvera\/","title":{"rendered":"Extreme heat shortens #TourDownUnder stage after riders raise #heathealth concern – @takvera"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Extreme

Extreme heat strikes Santos Tour Down Under<\/p><\/div>\nCyclists in the Santos Tour Down Under UCI Professional cycling race in South Australia today faced the challenge of riding in temperatures over 40 degrees. Local temperatures on the road are likely to be even higher for the cyclists riding on hot road surfaces. Indeed, J\u00e9r\u00e9my Maison with the FDJ team measured a local temperature of 50C with their Garmin cycling computer, according to a tweet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The stage was from the Adelaide suburb of Unley, through the Adelaide Hills to Lyndoch, in the Barossa Valley.<\/p>\n

The race length was revised down from 145km to 118km, a reduction of 26.5km, with the finishing circuit reduced from two laps to just one, after cyclists in the peloton complained about the searing conditions.<\/p>\n

The real irony though, is the fact that the major race sponsor is the South Australian based Gas and fracking company Santos, whose whole business revolves around fossil fuel extraction which causes climate change and more extreme temperatures.
\n<\/p>\n

An Extreme Weather Protocol for UCI races was introduced just last year.<\/p>\n

Professional Cyclists Association (CPA) delegate Adam Hansen from the Lotto Soudal proffessional racing team spoke on behalf of the cyclists with UCI officials and race director Mike Turtur while the race was in progress. <\/p>\n

\u201cI like the heat so I don\u2019t mind so much but I have to speak for the riders and a lot of riders were complaining that it was too hot,\u201d Adam Hansen said afterwards to Cycling Central<\/em>. \u201cFrom the riders\u2019 side, we all wanted it. It wasn\u2019t me going around to all the riders, it was more the riders coming up to me. And it wasn\u2019t just Europeans, it was also quite a few Australians too.”<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to the UCI and they were okay with it and then we just needed the okay from Mike Turtur, and he agreed in the end. It was good all three of us could make an agreement together.\u201d said Hansen according to a report<\/a> on SBS Cycling Central<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Tasmanian Richie Porte from the BMC team also described the hot conditions as very extreme. \u201cI think for me that was the hottest day I\u2019ve had on the bike,\u201d Porte said. \u201cCommon sense prevailed there and the stage was cut a little bit short. I know it\u2019s not great for TV, but I think it\u2019s nice for us riders that there is finally a bit of solidarity [on] hot weather rules.\u201d<\/p>\n

Race director Michael Turtur, a former professional cyclist himself, highlighted that safety and welfare of riders and spectators is always a primary concern. \u201cWe consulted with rider representative Adam Hansen and with our chief commissaire, Alexander Donike, and both agreed it would be sensible to shorten the stage distance.\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The decision to shorten the stage was taken by the race director mid race by cutting out one of the two final race circuits in Lyndoch.<\/p>\n

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One Tree Hill #tdu<\/a> #tourdownunder<\/a> via Instagram https:\/\/t.co\/5VvLyW9Uyu<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/o2ffanMG4A<\/a><\/p>\n

— O-Nev (@OnevFoto) January 17, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n