Sorry Sam but Contador has already done it, he even won a stage up willunga hill on his comback from injury. I suppose he didn't do it in the same year if thats what you meant.

Firstly, I cant wait for the day that someone rides the TDU and then wins the TDF. Lance rode it and came third so I know it can be done. People just have to stop saying it cant just because it hasnt been done in the past. Next heaps of accomodation in the hills and like someone said earlier pitch a tent. The Caravan Park at West Beach is award winning. Next Alberto Contador, Luis Leon Sanchez and Simon Gerrans are not sprinter yet they have won stages or overall in the TDU, you just have to want it enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well Rob, who would have thought seeing an Ozzie in rainbow would be more anticipated than a Swiss. This has never been about the actual jersey it is about the fact that Cadel has it. Cadel coming to the TDU would most likely be a precession but I would rather that than just seeing him at the starting line firing the gun. Focusing your season on just one race is in my opinion overrated, look at the old fella Lance who raced so many smaller races and still notched up a TdF podium. Apparently Lane is even considering riding the Giro again. Let’s face it Cadel never planned on racing the Vuelta, his team made him and look what it helped him achieve. It is time for Cadel to mix things up do something different and ride more races and who knows maybe that will be the secret to his success.

There was that guy called Oscar Camenzind in the original Tour Down Under and he had a rainbow jersey... but perhaps that doesn't count because he was Swiss... or something like that.

Matt o, I don't think you can get more cursed already than cadel was this year. Hopefully it will reverse that bad luck.

How good is it that so many of us are already talking about the TDU some three months out. It's incredible how this event has grown in 12 years. Lance, Cadel, Robbie, Stuey, Rogers and many, many more. This is "our" Tour de France and may we keep it forever.

Look, I'm sure it's terribly exciting for South Aussies if Cadel rode the Tour, but from a sporting perspective it's hard to get excited about it. The TDU is designed as a sprinter's race. There's no time trial, and the hills are not numerous, long enough, nor close enough to the stage finishes to drop them permanently from the bunch. So any appearance by Cadel would purely be to roll round in the bunch, wave at the crowd, do media interviews...which is fine as far as it goes, but it's hardly seeing him *compete*. I'd be much more interested to see Robbie McEwen at the TDU, to see if the old legs have still got some speed left in them after his extended recuperation this year.

Can't afford accommodation??? You gotta stop thinking about hotels. Grab yourself a tent, a pannier rack and a portable stove and I guarantee it will be the best investment you will ever make. I followed the whole European season without paying for accommodation once. And I plan to do it again with the TDU. Camping at the top of Willunga Hill; I couldn't think of a better way.

I disagree JM, the TDU has never seemed to add pressure to Aussie riders. Robbie has never been in top form at the TDU but do we care, no, we just love that he is here giving it a go. In fact one of my favourite TDU moments was saying hello to Robbie as they were packing up his bike after being dropped from the pack before the sprint. That’s what the TDU is about, letting Aussies experience a taste of pro cycling without having to go all the way to Europe. I just want the chance to cheer on the rainbow jersey just like I got to see Lance in the flesh this year whether he wins or not. Thought I should also do my bit for SA tourism and add that Adelaide has had its best winter in years and the countryside should be greener than ever in case anyone was getting a little bored of the usual dry grass everywhere.