While it was hot on Tuesday for stage one, some cloud cover through the Adelaide Hills and a sea breeze at the Port Adelaide finish took the edge off the conditions.

In the annals of brutal days through the Tour's 21-year history, this did not rate a mention.

Australian overall contender Richie Porte reflected rider sentiment after the stage.

"I don't think it was as hot as forecast, it was nowhere as windy as forecast," the Trek-Segafredo team leader said.

"It wasn't a hard day - the only hard thing was the heat, I guess."

Australian domestique Adam Hansen (Lotto Soudal) is the rider delegate at the Tour and he was involved in discussions around the race heat policy.

The current heatwave is likely to mean the temperature will hit the 40s for Wednesday's second stage from Norwood to Angaston in the Barossa, before a cool change gives the riders some relief.

Hansen was part of the decision to cut 27km from stage two.

"It was super-hot at the start, but during the stage we had a bit of overcast, so it cooled down a lot," he said of stage one

"It wasn't so bad, actually. Not a single person complained or said anything.

"I had a few guys mentioned it was hot, but not like 'can we change something?'

Hansen said it was nothing like last year's scorcher at Uraidla, where there was some disquiet among the riders.

"We just hope we have a nice bit of overcast, like we had today," he said of Wednesday's stage.

Australian Associated Press