News for December 23, 1997

Ullrich to miss the Giro

Interview with Mike Turtur

The interviewer is ABC Sport's Presenter (and Cycling Specialist) Karen Tighe. It was kindly provided by Laurie Cousins.

It begins with a reference to a new Tour of South Australia which was first published here as a rumour sometime ago.

Karen Tighe: - ... and he joins us now, Mike, good morning. Well, where does this Tour sit at the moment, how far have you come?

Mike Turtur: - Good morning. Well the South Australian government have just allocated some funds to proceed to the next step in respect to the feasibility study and that will allow us now to go further into the planning of the event as far as the race route is concerned and to develop some other areas but also to start now with the instigation in respect to discussions with some of the major teams.

Karen Tighe: - Well, how confident are you of attracting some of the leading professional teams from Europe?

Mike Turtur: - We have had some discussions over the last 12 months in respect of this area and the feedback that we get from some of these organisations is very positive. We've positioned the race to be a preparation type of event for the professional season, which traditionally starts in February each year. So, from that point of view all these trade teams look for fine weather, good training and racing leading up to the main season. Normally, they go to France or to Spain and we're saying that here is an opportunity to come out to Australia to obtain good weather and good racing prior to the main season starting.

Karen Tighe: - A long trip though for them to come out to Australia, are you fairly confident that they would make the journey?

Mike Turtur: - It would be a long trip if it was only for say a couple of days duration but we are proposing a trip of somewhere in the order of 15 to 20 days for the team. So, it represents a good duration, it represents the opportunity for a training camp, and the highlight of the trip would be the tour that will be provided for them, and some great racing and good terrain.

Karen Tighe: - so, at the moment what type of course would the Tour take in, whereabouts in Australia?

Mike Turtur: - Well, that's being determined at the moment and a major announcement will be made in the new year in respect to the course, the name of the event and also the logo. But, we understand, and my experience in the sport tells me, that you need to design a course that is going to cater for the need of the competitors, and in this instance, it's going to be a course that will fit into the program of the riders at that stage of their preparation and so we'll be designing a course according to that.

Karen Tighe: - I know that Tour de France Champion Jan Ullrich has competed in Australia before in the Commonwealth Bank Classic on the east coast, and won it on one occassion. I know he loves Australia, but he hasn't come out here again since that time. Would you be hoping to get him out here again?

Mike Turtur: - Well, our aim is to hopefully secure teams that would normally compete in the Tour de France, and other major events, and Telekom being Ullrich's team would be on our list of possibilities. We hope to make announcements in the new year in respect to teams and we'll be working hard in that area to get the best teams here with the best riders and we are hopeful that that will come together in February/March for us.

Karen Tighe: - Of-course, the Insititute of Sport has their [Track] cycling program in Adelaide, the training facilities there, would that be of interest to overseas teams?

Mike Turtur: - Not so much their facilities, because I think, the main aspect here from the professional road cycling point of view is just the weather and just the opportunity to get some quality work in prior to the season starting in Europe. And that's the main objective of the race as far as the cyclists are concerned. But from a South Australian point of view, and Adelaide it's an opportunity to design and to stage and event which is going to put South Australia and Australia and Adelaide on the map and expose some of the tourist areas and some of the other famous areas that are so important to us, and so famous, throughout the world.

Karen Tighe: - And how big a field would you be hoping for?

Mike Turtur: - We're looking, at this stage, at 12 teams of 8 riders, as a field of 96 riders. We believe that's a manageable amount of people that we can do in the first year. Also, it provides a spectacle as far as the visual aspect of the ride with a field of 100 riders and the following entourage and everything that has to do with the race. So, that's the number that we're working on in the first year.

Karen Tighe: - And, if it all goes to plan, it all happens in January 1999. Would you hope to be able to make it an annual event?

Mike Turtur: - Well, I think from everyone's point of view here in South Australia that's the objective. That would depend on a number of issues and a number of factors. And I guess at the end of the day that would depend on how it's received by the public. This race, unlike a lot of sporting events, the public don't need to pay an admission fee. This is an event for the public and for the people of South Australia. I think it will go down well and I think that they'll accept the world. And the other consideration that needs to be made from the South Australian point of view, and an Australian point of view, is that we have three riders currently residing in South Australia, or from South Australia, in Stuart O'Grady, Patrick Jonker and Jay Sweet who will all be with professional teams when this race is staged. And obviously, from our point of view, it's important that we have those teams that they are part of in the race, because it adds that interest for the South Australians and the Australians to follow the event and take a keen interest in it.

Karen Tighe: - Well, Mike Turtur, thanks very much for joining us on Grandstand. So, an official announcement in the new year?

Mike Turtur: - Yes, well we're hopeful that the Premier or a Minister will make an announcement with respect to all of those other issues, hopefully in February or March of 1998.

Karen Tighe: - Okay, thanks for your time.

Mike Turtur: - Thank you.

Karen Tighe: - Cycling promoter, Mike Turtur.

Racing at the Superdrome

 1. Brett Aitken
 2. Stuart O'Grady
 3. Luke Roberts