I know there isn't alot of bitumen but I certainly wouldn't want to ride along wilpenna rd, it might not be very steep but there a plenty of gradual uphill sections. Anyway I'm sure Mike Rann would slap a road anywhere for old Lance.

If the HST is to be a success and gain international recognition it must be moved from October. Why not do away with the Bay Crits and replace it for the HST in early January? I'd say it would be a great "hit-out' for the TDU and (for Australians) the Nationals on Mt Buninyong. The HST wouldn't suffer either without it playing "second fiddle to the TDU.

Which event is more pretigious? Why not find out for yourselves how "easy" or "tough" the TDU really is, and then pass comment? Come and ride the whole TDU route with us, be one of the 140,000 spectators and then you will know that the TDU is truly a world class event and not just due to Lance. The man who has made this event what it is today is Race Director Mike Turtor! Credit where credit is due. And Joel from Adelaide, I think you had better go to the Flinders Ranges with your road bike and "find those mountains". They aren't there. Mind you, if they wanted tougher climbs for the TDU, there are plenty close to Adelaide that haven't been used! We've ridden them all.

Just saw the highlights of stage 4. Seems like the organisers are using school kids to cheer on the riders at the finish - and nobody else!

Victoria's weather this year isn't attracting a crowd at all going by the images I have been watching of the HST. It's cold, wet and miserable, hardly the type of conditions that will attract spectators like the TDU does every year. i've been going to Adelaide for the last 6 years, and believe me the TDU rocks.

Spot on Joel, if the sun tour was held in January it would be the same deal. Do you think that if the Tour Down Under went up Greenhill Road we would get a buch sprint? No and why wont it go up Greenhill? because its January. Everyone should read the latest cycle sport mag and the interview with Luis Sanchez. History has to start somewhere and just for the record. I have friends in Europe and not just that island off to the side but Italy and France. The Tour Down Under is increasing in prestige every year and they recognise that. We as Australians dont see Aussie bushland,dry arid landscapes and beaches as very exciting however when you are sitting inside and its 2 degrees out let me tell you it looks bloody good!

TDU is a race for sprinters and was always meant to be after all it is generally what Australian cyclists are known for. In terms of not having the history of European races and even the HST the TDU made up for that in 2008 with pro tour status which makes it Australia's most important and one of the world's most important races. It has become clear in the first few stages of the HST that it is lacking strong experienced teams with Garmin almost the only team capable of holding the race together through the crosswinds. It is all very well having the better climbs but unless the HST gets the riders it will always play second fiddle to the TDU in my opinion. The HST should be run as a precursor to the TDU as many top teams are wrapping up their season around this time of year and may be unwilling to come down here for both the end and the start of the season.

I remember the year when Jean Francois Bernard rode the Sun Tour, back in the day when it had about 50 stages in 10 days, and noted that it would be a great race to begin the season for alot of the Europeans, so i guess if the TDU has stolen a march on the Sun Tour, perhaps it is its own fault. That said, its still a great race to win and ride, where it perhaps lacks is in terms of its promotion, media coverage (just because it is sponsored by the Herald-Sun, why cant The Age give it more than a passing attempt at coverage?) and perhaps its at times lack of star quality, which at this stage of the season can hardly be blamed on the organisers. Perhaps what Wiggins was getting at with the Sun Tour is when top names race it, they are out to win it, which isnt exactly the situation with the TDU, thus making a win at the Sun Tour worth a bit more? Comparing them is not exactly helpful in terms of building a collection of top, prestigious, tough domestic races to develop home grown talent and attract top international and regional teams. Mike, you may want to be a bit more constructive with the feedback instead of denigrating and quashing any claims to prestige one event has, that has supported Australian cycling for decades, to the benefit of another that may not even be around in 5 or 10 years.

Sam, As a born and bred south Aussie I have to agree with Peddler. Having been to every TDU and about 10 Sunnies/Funnies. The Sun Tour with its usual Mt Top finishes makes Willunga Hill look like a pimple on the bum of my now fat behind! They are still nothing like the alps of Europe but the organisers always make the stage hard enough so that there is a real selection during that final climb. Single winner on most occassions! If the Sun Tour had the same funds tipped into it that TDU does it would get the same level of pro teams and those pro teams would be classy fit pro teams and not unfit, sub pro teams. I love the TDU but realistically as peddler said, "on paper" the sun tour is a far better stage race than TDU it just doesnt have the financial backing!