Woodhead staff and clients enjoyed an exciting day of cycling following the Tour from Tailem Bend to Mannum.
An early start was planned for the Woodhead staff and clients chasing the Stage 2 Tailem Bend to Mannum bike leg. Departing at 8:30 am the group bussed to Murray Bridge where they enjoyed a coffee. Some decided it was too early for coffee so they went straight to the Murray Bridge Pub. After rounding up the troops everyone piled back onto the bus to seek out the perfect position to watch the Sprint. In the end there was consensus that the group should return to the pub and watch the Sprint from there! Back on the bus, the early starters headed to Pretoria restaurant on the banks of the Mighty Murray in Mannum where they could relax and wait for the riders to sail through the finish line. Good company and great entertainment, coupled with fantastic local food and wine, made for a superb occasion. As the afternoon waned, the grassy riverside was the place to be, drink in hand. Some were so enthused by the days cycling, that they headed on afterwards to the Hyde Park Street party for more!
Meanwhile, whilst Woodhead was enjoying the beautiful scenery, good company and fine food and wine, one cyclist is in hospital, several others are bloodied and debate is raging after the chaotic finish to stage 2 in the Tour Down Under.
New race leader Robbie McEwen and race director Mike Turtur had sharply divided opinions on what caused the carnage inside the last 4km of the 146km stage from Tailem Bend to Mannum on the Murray River.
While Turtur said the crashes made his “guts churn”, he denied the road surface was to blame. “This is fierce sprinting at its best, these things happen … guys are going at 100 miles an hour, they want to win.I’m shattered, I hate seeing riders crash, I just want to see a good race, but it’s part of the sport.”
Turtur said late on Wednesday afternoon that he and McEwen were yet to speak about the road conditions.
The race continues on Thursday with a tough 129km stage from suburban Unley to Stirling in the Adelaide Hills, and Woodhead will be following the race closely for what will be another exciting day!
