News for December 14, 2000 – Second editionTour Down Under Riders AnnouncedBy Nisa Schebella Launched today by SA Premier John Olsen the strongest field yet is set to contest the first major stage race of the 2001 program. The big guns are loaded and ready to fire in Adelaide from the 16th - 21st January for the third edition of the Tour Down Under. With the first time inclusion of Mapei Quick-Step and Lotto Adecco in the teams list as well as a new South Australian team, the University of SA, the line-up of 86 riders looks ready to set the bitumen afire. The big sprint cards are being played in 2001 with Cipollini, Tchmil, Steels, Bartko, Capelle, Maignan, Kirsipuu, Agnolutto, Zanini, Nardello to name but a few. O'Grady was happy that Julich has been included in his Credit Agricole line-up with Maggy to help along with the added competition. Race Director, Mike Turtur, stated he was overwhelmed with the responses from the teams, and that notwithstanding Cipo's UCI hearing (after his outburst at the Vuelta) next week, the Saeco Valli & Valli 'Bikeman' has his ticket paid for and his seat booked. Undoubtedly Ron Webb's hard work as European Co-ordinator has paid off. Noticeably Erik Zabel's absence will be felt, but team leader Steffen Weseman (already in Adelaide with his family for Xmas) will undoubtedly enlist his team's support to challenge for the overall honours. With Olympic Gold IP and TP medallist Robert Bartko at his side this is still a strong Team Telekom. World number one team Mapei Quick-Step will participate for its first time in Adelaide and double stage winner at this year's Tour de France Tom Steels will be ably assisted by Michael Rogers. Also first timers in Adelaide, Lotto Adecco will be led by World Cup number two place-getter in 2000, Andrei Tchmil. AG2R Decathlon front up again with defending TDU Champ Gilles Maignan, Estonian wonder Jaan Kirsipuu and French riders Ludovic Turpin and Cristophe Agnulotto. Linda McCartney have recently announced their new sponsorship deal with Jacob's Creek wines and have added Marcel Gono, John Tanner, Miguel Martin Perdiguero and Juan Carlos Dominguez to their TDU line-up. Big Mat Point P will field French Road Champion Christophe Capelle as team leader and feature Aussies Jay Sweet and Patrick Jonker in the team as well as Brit Jeremy Hunt. Team CSC-World on Line (formerly Memory Card Jack and Jones) will be lead by Danish TT champ and TDU veteran Nicolaj Bo Larsen, Tristan Hoffman and Nicolas Jalabert. The three Aussie teams will feature the cream of the crop including the explosive Graeme Brow, and every South Aussie's hero Brett Aitken. Bradley McGee, Scott Sunderland, Cadel Evans and Ben Brooks, among other local stars, will be mixing it with the big guys. It should be a very different race in 2001 with the big teams holding any break aways at bay, and the first stage criterium around the bay at Glenelg. So, lovers of bike racing if you can't get to Adelaide on a 'Short Holiday' (you're gonna miss out!) then watch on Channel 7 on 8.30pm nightly for reports and a one hour package on February 3 at 2pm across Australia. C7 will also screen the same on cable. British & German Eurosport will also cover the race and don't forget the TDU website or on the web you can catch wrapups on 5UV Radio Adelaide each evening at 5.30pm (SA time) and 2 one hour special TDU programs on 5UV's cycling show FREE RIDE on Monday's the 15th and 22nd of Jan at 9pm. If you are in Adelaide turn your dial to 531AM or on the web log on to www.adelaide.edu/5UV Only 34 days to go! It's gonna be awesome. Full Team listingAG2R- Decathlon, France 1 Gilles Maignan (Fra) Credit Agricole, France 11 Stuart O’Grady (Aus) Saeco, Italy 21 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Telekom, Germany 31 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Linda McCartney, Great Britain 41 Maximilliano Sciandri (GBr) CSC World Online, Denmark 51 Nicolaj Bo Larsen (Den) Mapei Quick-Step, Italy 61 Tom Steels (Bel) Lotto Adecco, Belgium 71 Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Bigmat Point P, France 81 Christophe Capelle (Fra) United Water, Australia 91 Graeme Brown (Aus) Sunsmart Mitsubishi, Australia 101 Scott Sunderland (Aus) University of South Australia, Australia 111 Brett Aitken (Aus) |