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Knees' Tour Down Under Diary
16/01/2025
Christian Knees is leading Team MILRAM as captain in the season-opening Tour Down Under. The 27-year-old describes his impressions of the first race in 2009.
24 January 2025
It was worth it!
Sorry, but the last few days I just didn't have time to write anything. The last few stages have all started in Adelaide, but the finishes were further away, so that we had long drives back to the hotel. Then after massage and dinner I just didn't feel like it.
Things were really happening on the third stage. Unfortunately there were a lot of crashes and the race was more difficult because of the wind. I finished in the first group and was 11th -- I just couldn't do any better in the sprint..
The fourth stage was just as windy as the day before. Here I ride another race after starting with the Tour of Qatar for four years, and then it is just as windy here....You have be careful the whole stage and ride as far forward as possible, but this time the field didn't get blown apart. On the last climb I was able to hang on to the first group and come to the finish with it.
In today's fifth stage, the hardest according to the profile, my legs just weren't as good as the last days, and I had to let them go on the last climb of the Tour. So I came to the finish with the first following group.
Tomorrow is just a closed circuit of over 90 km, so I can draw my conclusions now about this Australian trip. It was absolutely worth it! The Tour Down Under is a well-organized race and I think that I could get in some good preparation for the rest of the season.
Until next time,
Christian
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21 January 2025
The first two stages
Today is the second day of the Tour Down Under and it is really crazy what is going on here. There are so many people standing alongside the road, all rooting for us, and that makes cycling even more fun. On Sunday there were 180,000 people out along the 1.5 km round course. The weather is still good, the sun is shining the whole day and it barely drops under 35° Celsius. I have gotten used to the weather so I'm not having any problem with the heat.
In yesterday's first stage, Wim finished seventh. We tried to support him as best we could, and I rode by him the whole time. Unfortunately the one km sign was too early and unexpected for us, so that we were too far back, in about 20th place. I respect Wim for getting up to seventh place – the kid can really sprint!
Things were different today. The climb was about 3 km, relatively flat but still pretty tough. I was near the front and had a good position for the sprint, but when I wanted to go for it, my legs said no and I just had to sit down again. The first few days have been satisfactory for me anyway. I am riding well in the field and satisfied with my form for January. Our whole team here is absolutely highly motivated to keep on doing well.
Until then, and cross your fingers for us!
Christian
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19 January 2025
What a first race!
Saturday we had another long training ride through the countryside around Adelaide. We went through some deep valleys and by some vinyards. This is actually a very good wine area. We usually have a glass of wine with dinner and so far all the ones I have tried here have been very good.
Yesterday, on Sunday, it was finally time: my first race of the season! It was only a criterium to warm up with, but everyone went all out. It was a very fast course, and all escape attempts were doomed to failure! Only Martin Müller of our Team MILRAM was able to get away in a group for a lap or two.
In the finale I tried to support our new Dutch rider Wim Stroetinga. He got a super second place for use, and rode a really good finale. So it was a good day for us. You also have to be satisfied with a second place... ;-)
Hopefully it will keep on like this on Tuesday when the Tour really starts.
Until then,
Christian
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16 January 2025
Rest day
Today, on Friday, we had our well-deserved rest day. We trained long and well the last two days, and I must honestly admit, I felt pretty tired after our 180 km yesterday. The whole day it went up and down and most of the climbs are pretty steep here. We purposely rode parts of the race course the last few days, and there are some challenging stges. Yesterday evening we all, that is, riders and staff, went out to eat. We especially picked out a restaurant where they serve kangaroo meat. It was on a pretty lake with a view of the Adelaide skyline. None of us regretted the decision to try the kangaroo, as it was very tender and tasty, and simply different from what we usually get at a hotel.
Adelaide is a very cycling-friendly city. Every day you see several hundred tourists cycling around the city. The people take photos of us and call out "Good Luck!" and we really feel welcome.
To get back to our rest day, this is what it was like:
I went to breakfast at about 8 a.m. At ten we went riding for two hours, which turned into three hours, since we had to wait for a long time for our cappuccino at a cafe directly on the see. Back at the hotel, I had a quick lunch and then visited a barber near the hotel, since my hair was much too long.
We'll see what the next days bring. If there is anything interesting, you'll hear about it here. At any rate I am really looking forward to my first race, because it is starting to seem like we have been here a long time!
Until then,
Christian
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13 January 2025
The heat in Adelaide,
I had read in the internet that the people who live in Adelaide call it „the hottest city in the hottest region in the hottest state on the hottest continent in the world“, and today I know why. It was already hot yesterday. We rode 110 kilometers but it was still pretty comfortable on the bike. Today they said it should be even warmer, so we decided to set out earlier.
We went in the same direction as yesterday. Once you are out of the city, it is great for cycling. Almost the whole time you are on little roads, going up and down, through a beautiful landscape with little lakes and rivers. Today we saw our first kangaroos along the way. We just have to get used to the fact that they drive on the left side, and at interesections we often have to think, „Now what do we doß“
The riding was pretty good, and my SRM showed a maximum temperature of 43° Celsius. When we returned towards the city near the end of our ride, we could feel it getting hotter and hotter. The SRM suddenly showed 49° -- this must be what it feels like to ride a bike in a sauna. The next days aren't supposed to be so hot, but still pretty warm.
So far I haven't had any problem with the time difference. I have simply forced myself to stay awake all day, so I have been able to sleep well at night. Wel'll see what the next few days bring. On Sunday we have our first race, a criterium which is not part of the Tour. So we will have a little time to train and to see the city before the 2009 season starts.
Have a nice day!!!
Bye
Christian
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11 January 2025
To Kuala Lumpur
I hope that everyone came into the New Year well. As for me, two days after the team presentation in Dortmund, where a lot was happening, I was on my way to Australia.
My father drove me to the airport Friday morning and because of the lasting cold weather in Germany we left early in order to be there punctually at nine a.m. After everybody arrived one after the other, we went to check in. The woman behind the counter said to her colleague, „Oh no, I got the big group.“ She was right – it took a while to check in 11 people, 20 pieces of baggage and 15 bike bags.
After we got our tickets, came the best part: off to the Business lounge. Yes, you read that right, we are flying business class, but in a flight like this that is important. It is the first time for me, and I want to see how it is. With my 1,94 meter height, I usually have trouble finding enough space, but that wasn't the case here. There is a big seat that you can adjust electrically to every position including lying down flat, and there was more than enough leg room. First we went to Kuala Lumpur where we will have a 12-hour layover before we fly on to Adelaide.
We had everything on board that we could want. We were served a meal with several courses and could drink all we wanted. After eating I went to sleep, and what can I say, the time flew by (12 hours). For the time in Kuala Lumpur we had rooms at a hotel right at the airport. We put our things down, cleaned ourselves up a bit, and then took the train into the city. When you have the chance to explore a place like that you have to take advantage of it. The other guys here with me, by the way, are Martin Müller, Markus Eichler, Luca Barla, and our newcomers Ronny Scholz, Thomas Rohregger and Wim Stroetenga, all good guys. We'll have a lot of fun together.
Flight to Adelaide
Actually we were supposed to meet in the hotel lobby at 7:30 p.m., but my roommate Martin Müller and I were so bored that we went over to the airport early. We went throught the usual security clearances, then to the business lounge, which is quite big since this is the home airport for our airline, Air Malaysia. Here you can surf the internet and find something to eat and drink. I decided to eat dinner here rather than on the plane, so that I could get to sleep directly after the start. That worked out fine and the flight went by fine, too, since I didn't really notice much of it.
Arriving in Adelaide, everything went quickly: The bags came quickly and the organisers were there to pick us up. I must say, that everything seems to be well organized here. There is a huge tent in front of our hotel, with boxes for the mechanics of every team, the cars are all ready, everything has been thought of and there is still a week to go before the race!
Our hotel, the Hilton Adelaide, is directly in the city of Adelaide, really a very pretty city, and this impression was proved by our first training ride. We rode for 2:40 hours, about 80 kilometers. From the hotel we went towards the beach and then rode a lap there, turning around halfway, but always along the ocean. And now for the most important news of the day: it is about 30 ° Celsius, and I was only wearing short hose and a sleeveless jersey. Oh yes, and not to forget, I also had on a suntan lotion of 50+, after all you can't be too careful...
You can read here how it goes on further. At any rate, it is a great trip so far.
Bye,
Christian
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