Cycling: The long wait is finally over. 2018 is on the calendar pages - and the new cycling season can begin. Australia is at the heart of the action. The national championships and the Tour Down Under demand everything from the pros. We have listed in detail for you where else the wheels will be rolling in January 2018.
The Tour Down Under is about first WorldTour points
For many years, the WorldTour season has started in Australia. While the snow falls softly from the sky here, the Tower Down Under the mail off. From January 16th to 21st, the pros will compete in six stages. Four of them probably end in a mass sprint. The decision in the overall classification falls once again on Willunga Hill. Defending champion Richie Porte will be at the start in his home country, as will Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates), Pierre Latour (AG2R La Mondiale), Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal). André Greipel (Lotto Soudal), Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe), Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott) and Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) will already meet in the sprint. Outside of the rating, the traditionally takes place two days before the start People's Choice Classic for the sprinters in Adelaide. The ladies wear theirs Santos Women's Tour from January 11th to 14th.
The alternative to Australia is Argentina
While the wheels turn a little more slowly in Europe in winter, the sport demands everything from the Australians and New Zealanders in January. Between January 3rd and 7th, the pros of these two nations will compete in theirs national championships. So the new championship jerseys for 2018 will be assigned early on. If professionals don't want to prepare for the season in Australia at the WorldTour, they fly to Argentina as an alternative. From January 21st to 28th the Vuelta to San Juan International discharged. Many South Americans challenge stars like Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Rafal Majka (Bora-hansgrohe) in the race of their lives. Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) wants to dominate the sprints against Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) and Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe).
Nikias Arndt wants to repeat last year's victory
In addition to the Tour Down Under, another race will take place in the WorldTour in January. At the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race Nikias Arndt was able to triumph last year. The German from Team Sunweb prevailed in the sprint ahead of local heroes Simon Gerrans (Orica-Scott) and Cameron Meyer. The defending champion is also included in the provisional start list for 2018. On the same day, January 28th, the one-day races will also take place Palma de Mallorca Trophy and the Grand Prix d'Overture La Marseillaise discharged. After that, the dates already go over into February. The little tours Volta to the Valencian Community and Star of Bessèges begin on the last day of January and end on February 4th. Couldn't tell yet Nico Denz (AG2R La Mondiale) in an interview with Velomotion, whether he will attempt to defend his title as King of the Mountains at the Etoile de Bessèges.
The calendar for the road races in January 2018
03.01 National Championships Australia (Criteria)
04.01. – 05.01. National Championships Australia (Individual Time Trial)
05.01 New Zealand National Championships (Individual Time Trial)
06.01. – 07.01. National Championships New Zealand (Road Racing)
06.01. – 07.01. National Championships Australia (Road Racing)
11.01/14.01 – 2.1. Santos Women's Tour (XNUMX)
15.01/21.01 – 2.1. La Tropicale Amissa Bongo (XNUMX)
16.01/21.01 – XNUMX. Tour Down Under (World Tour)
17.01/21.01 – 2.2. New Zealand Cycle Classic (XNUMX)
21.01/28.01 – 2.1. Vuelta a San Juan Internacional (XNUMX)
24.01/27.01 – 2.1. Sharjah International Cycling Tour (XNUMX)
25.01/1.1 Trofeo Santanyi.SesSalines.Campos (XNUMX)
25.01/28.01 – 2.1. Tour d'Indonesia (XNUMX)
26.01/1.1 Alcudia Trophy (XNUMX)
27.01. Serra de Tramuntana Trophy (1.1)
28.01/XNUMX Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (WorldTour)
28.01. Palma de Mallorca Trophy (1.1)
28.01. GP d'Ouverture La Marseillaise (1.1)
31.01/04.02 – 2.1. Volta a la Comunidad Valenciana (XNUMX)
31.01/04.02 – 2.1. Etoile de Bessèges (XNUMX)
In cyclocross and track cycling things are still going on
While the heroes of the road are only now racing against each other again, the stars from cyclocross and track cycling are constantly on the move in winter. Of course, we will also have a lot to offer in these two areas in January. From a German perspective, the focus is particularly on the Sixdays in Bremen and Berlin.
04.01. – 09.01. Track cycling: Zesdaagse van Rotterdam
11.01/16.01 – XNUMX. Track cycling: Sixdays Bremen
19.01/21.01 – XNUMX. Track cycling: World Cup Minsk
21.01/XNUMX Cycling Cross: World Cup Nommay
25.01/30.01 – XNUMX. Track cycling: Six Day Berlin
28.01/XNUMX Cycle cross: World Cup Hoogerheide
So 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ is coming to a close and it's been a great year for Six Day events.
Don't be sad that it's gone though 😢 Be happy that it's coming back in a big way in 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣8️⃣
Here are 🔟 things to look out for next year! 👉https://t.co/Dp9x2gZUao pic.twitter.com/YF1ZntuD6E
— Six Day (@sixdaycycling) 31 December 2017