Reds pick up Lance
TOUR Down Under race director Mike Turtur has confirmed a team time trial ( TTT) will be included in the event “sooner rather than later” once he gets UCI approval.
Turtur ( pictured) yesterday said a TTT is an obvious next step in the race’s evolution after it celebrated its 20th edition on the weekend with Daryl Impey becoming the first South African to win the ochre jersey.
A TTT would most likely be held along Anzac Highway from the city to Glenelg and back but needs UCI approval for riders to use normal road bikes, helmets and wheels to save teams from having to bring double the amount of equipment to Adelaide.
“It will happen in the future, when I don’t know, but certainly a team time trial over an individual time trial would be a better fit for our race,” he said.
“But you have to be very careful in the planning, several years ago you saw Tony Martin win the opening ( stage) and the race was over.
“So distance, discipline, aspects you’ve got to really think about but it’s a good spectacle if it can be staged correctly with the right infrastructure and information on the board.
“It’s something I’m sure will happen sooner rather than later, not next year, because we’ve got to get over the requirement of time trial bikes for a WorldTour race.
“Teams must use the bikes so there are some discussions that need to take place to get some dispensation to use normal bikes to make it happen, I don’t think the teams would have any drama with it.
“It’s something for the future.” QUEENSLAND’S di vorce from Quade Cooper is final, with the Reds signing 2011 title- winner Jono Lance as an experienced option at flyhalf for next month’s Super Rugby lift- off.
Lance, 27, has little of Cooper’s panache and deception as a No. 10 but he is a solid, dependable type who has grown significantly as a playmaker since he last played for the Reds in 2013.
By signing utility back Ben Lucas and now Lance over the past week, new Reds coach Brad Thorn has added considerable depth around the No. 10 position where classy youngster Hamish Stewart, 19, is learning the trade.
While Thorn made the call to move on from Cooper last November when saying he would not be training with the Reds, the rugby public struggled to see it as definitive when no obvious replacement existed.
Thorn has taken care of that.
Lance is a mature player with 51 Super Rugby caps ( Reds 20, Waratahs 13 and Force 18) behind him and made a positive impression recently in an eight- game stint with English club Worcester.
He is recovering from a broken hand sustained during his English stint so his first sighting as a Red will likely be the trial following the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens ( February 9- 10) at Suncorp Stadium.
“Jono is a great addition … he’s well- known as a good bloke and a tough footballer and will bring plenty of experience and smarts to the backline,” Thorn said.
Thorn has quickly sent the message that only stout defenders need apply for spots at the Reds because Lance has strong tackling in his DNA.
Lance started at fullback in the memorable 2011 final triumph.
Cooper has just returned to Brisbane after training with All Black Sonny Bill Williams in Auckland and visiting his Kiwi home town of Tokoroa.
The Reds have done well to sign Lance considering he was originally contracted to the Melbourne Rebels for this season when a raft of players from the now- defunct Western Force club headed to the Victorian club.
He has been released by the Rebels without playing a game “in the best interest of Australian rugby and the player”, according to Rebels professional rugby manager Nick Ryan.
It all means the Rebels are content with their No. 10 stocks with Wallaby Reece Hodge, tyros Jack McGregor and Tayler Adams plus regular Jack Debreczeni, resigned from Japan’s Honda Heat on Monday.