You can watch daily highlights from the Tour of Gippsland on SBS On Demand, with Stage 3 broadcast live on SBS On Demand and the SBS Cycling Central Facebook page from 11.40 AEDT on Tuesday February 15.
The picturesque backdrop of the Bass Coast will play host for the Mitchelton Tour of Gippsland continues the National Road Series after the premier domestic cycling competition kicked off in Adelaide at the Festival of Cycling. The race will take place over three days from February 13-15, with the final stage in Rhyll broadcast on SBS On Demand from 11.40am AEDT.
Stage 1 – Wonthaggi Race Course loop
Tour of Gippsland 2022 Stage 1 route Source: Tour of Gippsland
This looks to be the hardest stage of the Mitchelton Tour of Gippsland in terms of climbing, with the Dayleston-Glen Forbes Rd climb (3.1km at 6.0%) and the Mill Rd climb (3.7km at 3.7%) both tricky ascents. The Mill Rd climb in particular contains a lot of short and steep ramps, with some brief descents and flat portions thrown in which drag down the average gradient, but should make for an attacking ascent.
The cumulative effect of the climbs (4 times each for the NRS men) should prove the hardest aspect of the three days of racing, but it is one of those parcours where how the race is approached tactically will decide the outcome more than the route.
Stage 2 – Inverloch Road Race
Tour of Gippsland 2022 Stage 2 route Source: Tour of Gippsland
The Mount Misery (3km, 6.6%) comes relatively early in the race, with the men still with 90 kilometres to race, and the women 62 kilometres. It’s unlikely that the climb will decisive in the battle for the stage or overall win, but it could impact the situation surrounding the early breakaway formation.
After the feature ascent, there are a series of short power climbs that come in quick succession over the remaining loop around Kongwak. The final 15 kilometre run into Inverloch looks relatively straightforward as long as the wind doesn’t get up, which should mean that a group will contest the flat sprint finish.
Stage 3 - Rhyll Criterium
Tour of Gippsland 2022 Stage 3 route Source: Tour of Gippsland
The 1.4km circuit along the waterfront will be a picturesque finish to the tour. It should be a fast finish, with the battle into the final sweeping corner all important as it comes with just 250 metres to go. A breezy day is forecast, with the finishing straight open to the wind.
Contenders
NRS leader James Whelan heads into the race on a high after his Festival of Cycling victory in Adelaide. The recent WorldTour professional is on a mission to return to the top ranks of the sport after a 2021 season blighted by injury and will be a top favourite for any race that he starts domestically. He would have liked a more hilly route, but his win in Adelaide was built off an audacious solo move on an intermediate stage, and if he gets free again, he’ll be hard to catch.
His Team Bridgelane squad also boasts a number of other potential winners with the in-form Alastair Christie-Johnston and versatile sprinter Nick White, the Ballarat local finishing on the podium in the last edition of the race.
ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast come in with a number of strong contenders, but everyone’s favourite breakaway rider at the moment is Angus Lyons after his win atop Willunga Hill at the Festival of Cycling. An attacking rider who has lit up NRS races from the breakaway many times in the past, Lyons is less likely to get leeway this time around.
That may play into the plans of his teammate Cameron Scott if the team looks to set up the race for him, as he’ll be present even if the majority of other sprinters are dropped on the climbs. National Road Race fourth-place finisher Kane Richards and the impressive Zack Gilmore will also be key riders for the team.
Inform TMX Make have shown why many consider them the equal of any of the domestic teams over the past few years with a continuing run of impressive showings. Australian summer phenom Blake Quick isn’t present, but that will just mean that another of their excellent posse of sprinters will get to make their mark. Experienced former professional Brenton Jones is showing no signs of slowing down in his leadout performances for Quick and Graeme Frislie is an excellent young talent in the sprints as he showed with his Under-23 national criterium victory.
Oliver’s Real Food Racing bring a strong all-round team, with South African Brendon Davids riding very impressively but perhaps a bit under the radar at the Festival of Cycling. Along with hardman Liam White and youngster Kurt Eather, they’re a team that will bear watching.
Nero Continental have some great stories within their team, with Ben Carman coming back to race fitness after suffering horrendous injuries in a crash at the end of 2020. He’s made a remarkable recovery to get back to near his best, and if he can find that top form, he could be in with a shot for the overall win.
Cooper Sayers showed everyone what he is capable of at the recent Zwift Academy and he looks to have come out of the process motivated to continue to fight for a pro deal.
You can watch daily highlights from the Tour of Gippsland on SBS On Demand, with Stage 3 broadcast live on SBS On Demand and the SBS Cycling Central Facebook page from 11.40 AEDT on Tuesday February 15.
