Tour Down Under

by Chris Auld

By Soigneur

January 24^th, 2018

embedded with BMC

Freelance photography is a tough business, it isn’t all international travel and adventures beyond your wildest dreams. To make a living as a photographer you need a spread of clients in several different areas, publishing, sponsors and a team.

With two of the three in place I was on the search for the third, a WorldTour team to complete the set.

Cycling photography has moved on over the last few years, with fans no longer just wanting to see race action, but also wanting to know what goes on behind the curtain of the team bus. But how do you become an embedded photographer with a WorldTour team?

Twelve months ago I headed to the Tour Down Under, full of trepidation, for my first WorldTour race, moving from shooting the domestic scene in the UK, at the time this was a huge gamble, this was make or break. A courtship with BMC followed. I went to lots of bike races, got to know key team players and got my work noticed through social media.

Fast forward to 2018 and I’m making the same journey to Adelaide embedded with BMC Racing Team.

After already spending a week with the team at their training camp in Spain I was on first name terms with the riders and staff, so it was straight down to business, with no need for introductions.

Before the start of the Tour Down Under the team trained in the Adelaide Hills, where most of the action would unfold the following week. They were joined by a group of about twenty enthusiastic fans, keen to tag along with the training ride.

It’s a characteristic of the Tour Down Under: large pelotons hang around outside the race village, waiting for their favourite teams to depart on their morning ride. Latching on to the rear of their chosen group, trying to hang on for as long as possible. With the pace no more than a cafe run these groups can swell to a considerable size, picking up riders along the way. Once we start to hit the lower slopes the groups quickly diminish in size with only the very fittest sticking with us, allowing me to take a few pictures.

Each following morning the cafes around Victoria Square filled with immaculately turned out riders in coordinating kit, shoes and socks, sidewalks lined with some of the most expensive bikes I’ve ever seen, putting most pros to shame.

Cycling in Australia is all about the bling.

After a few days of leisurely training, the Tour Down Under kicked off with an evening crit in a city centre park. The racing proper started a day later. During the race organisers put a press transport in place, chauffeuring us around the course to the best vantage points, so there was no need for any route planning.

An advantage of being the embedded photographer is that you get to ride along in the team car. This was the first time I’ve experienced the race from the team car, with Fabio driving, me in the passenger seat and team mechanic riding shotgun. Initially I was concerned with the lack of potential photo opportunities, but my concerns were quickly dispelled with riders coming back and forward to the car for food and drink, lots of drinks, lots and lots of drinks, with temperatures in the 40’s staying hydrated was a priority.

Shooting from the team car gives a whole new perspective, with the action coming to you, riders at the window, drafting the car and chasing back to the peloton.

It’s not for the faint hearted or those who suffer from car sickness.

The early stages of the tour were mere formalities, with the usual breakaway being reeled in 10k from the finish and the sprint teams doing what they do best. The latter stages were where BMC and Australia’s hopes lay with Aussie hero Richie Porte, the legendary Willunga Hill awaited, where Porte has won on the last five occasions.

Lined with thousands of enthusiastic fans its was the nearest thing to an Alpine climb, all be it a very short version, and true to form he did it again and Richie Porte was crowned the King of Willunga.

Everything was going to plan until Mitchelton Scott rider Daryl Impey crossed the finish line on the same overall time, relegating a Porte to second place on count back. All things considered, that was a pretty satisfying result.

Next stop: the Cadel Evans Road Race. The season has started.

Shooting from the team car gives a whole new perspective, with the action coming to you, riders at the window, drafting the car and chasing back to the peloton.

Lined with thousands of enthusiastic fans its was the nearest thing to an Alpine climb, all be it a very short version, and true to form he did it again and Richie Porte was crowned the King of Willunga.