Counting down the days

Only a few weeks to the start of the Tour Down Under, and the excitement is building, Christmas for Australian cyclists doesn't come on December 25th but on January 17th.

So here we are, only a few weeks to the start of the Tour Down Under, and the excitement is building, Christmas for Australian cyclists doesn't arrive on December 25th but on January 17th.

Lineups are being announced by the race orgainsers on a daily basis and travel plans have been finalised by the now hundreds of thousands of fans who make the trek to Adelaide.

Here at SBS, our planning is well underway for the 2010 Tour Down Under, with broadcast coverage now extended to the Classic and two live stages and additional on demand coverage right here on Cycling Central.

To say that interest and anticipation is high everywhere is an understatement, the fans are excited and so are all the usually cynical cycling journalists.

Already though I've picked a race winner. Yeah, I know it's early days and all the rosters haven't been finalised but sometimes you just have to go out on a limb and make the call.

That the Tour Down Under is seen a sprinters race is no surprise given its history, and it's from those ranks that we will again see a winner.

Riders like defending champion Allan Davis, his predecessor Andre Greipel, the two Robbies, Hunter and McEwen, Rabobank's Graeme Brown and Sky's Chris Sutton.

And lets not forget a young turk like Jack Bobridge whose balance of talent and aggression might surprise the more experienced fast men.

But for me the race winner will come from the ranks of one of the two new powerhouse teams in the peloton - the Lance Armstrong led Radio Shack and it's big sprinter Gert Steegmans.

For all of their obvious grand tour pedigree, Radio Shack has also assembled a team that can contest races where speed in the final few hundred meters matter.

They will contest a full season and Steegmans will be a key card to play in the classics and races like the Tour Down Under.

Last seen by most cycling fans winning the final Champs Elysee stage of the 2008 Tour de France, Steegmans looks set to launch himself right back into every one's consciousness after a quiet 2009 where he was beset by some interesting and controversial contractual issues.

However, with this transfer to the 'TheShack' and with the guidance of men like Armstrong and Bruyneel, we can expect to see a more settled Steegmans ready to confirm his talent not just with wins but consistent performances.

The Belgian's palmares prior to 2009 was an excellent demonstration of his skill set, where he made a name for himself leading out Robbie McEwen at Lotto, and where his wins were marked by real power.

Steegmans is a also a rider who should have no problems with Willunga Hill, something that is a perquisite for any rider with aspirations to win a multi-day stage race.

Knowing their style, Lance Armstrong and Radio Shack will arrive at the Tour Down Under looking to make an immediate impact on the world stage and Steegmans is the kind of rider to help them do just that.

So now that I've gone out on a limb with this early call, who do you think will win the Tour Down Under, and why?