27th Olympic Games

Sydney, Australia, September 16-30, 2000

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Complete Live Report

Road Day 2 - September 27: Men's road race, 239.4 km

Start time: 10.00 Aust ESST

Welcome to day two of the road racing in Sydney. Today's 14 lap, 239.4 kilometre race will be the best quality road race field ever assembled in Australia and no matter how the race turns out, the winner will have earned it.

The latest weather update is promising in terms of spectator comfort. With 20 minutes before the start, the rain has stopped and the roads are drying. The first couple of laps will be interesting though.

The large bunch of 156 riders from 40 countries has rolled off the line in weak sunshine but with wet and slippery roads remaining, although Kurt Asle Arvesen (Nor) didn't have a good start as he punctured about 300 metres from the start line. Both were quickly back on as the peloton settled into the first lap. After the first climb of the Bronte Hill the bunch was still together with Victor Hugo Pena (Col) on the front.

10.25 Aust ESST

The first lap was completed with the bunch togther and at a safe tempo, however, on the descent into Bronte an unidentified Canadian rider fell and then later in the same lap, Danish rider Lars Michaelsen also crashed and wasn't in a hurry to get up.

Photo: Nick Craig (GBr) gets out of the saddle

10.50 Aust ESST

At the end of the second lap the peloton is together and the weather is still fine, but rain is nearby and being close to the coast, conditions can change quickly.

11.15 Aust ESST

As the peloton comes through at the end of the third lap the Lithuanian rider Arturis Kasputis stops in the pit area to change his own wheel, after two unsuccessful attempts by the neutral spares vehicle after he punctured in Centennial Park. It's possible the wheel did not match his set-up. This is the olympics, and no team cars are allowed. The Lithuanian loses some time doing his own service and sets off after the bunch.

The crash by Lars Michaelsen resulted him in being taken to hospital as he lost a lot of skin from his elbow and arm.

Photo: Jazy Fernandez Garcia (Guam) off the back early on

Photo: The strain shows on lap 4

Photo: The riders from behind on lap 4 up the Bronte climb

11.36.55 Aust ESST - end of lap 4, 68.4km

The peloton came through the start/finish with the Portugese rider Orlando Rodrigues attacking the bunch. Prior to his attack, riders such as Magnus Backstedt (Swe), Jeremy Hunt (Gbr) and Erki Putsep (Est) all having a go from the front.

Rodrigues was joined on lap 5 with Evgeny Wacker (Kgz) and the two built up a break of 48 seconds as the bunch headed down MacPherson Street and into Bronte Beach. By the end of the climb, their lead had been reduced to 30 seconds as the bunch went past Albion Cycles at the top of the climb.

A significant chaser of these two was Danilo Di Luca (Ita), but the bunch had regrouped. As the bunch moved into the second half of the fifth lap, Piotr Wadecki (Pol) jumped away from the bunch and tried to catch the two breakaways.

Photo: Andreas Kloden and Jan Ullrich - At the rear of the field

Photo: The pack - Grouped together on the climb

12.00.56 Aust ESST - end of lap 5, 85.5km, ave speed 42.42kmh

The two break-aways, Evgeny Wacker (Kgz) and Orlando Rodrigues (Por) went across the line with a 1.10 lead over the bunch, with Piotr Wadecki 21 seconds behind in no man's land. However, after the bunch went into Centennial Park he had cut that down to 10 seconds and then put in a big effort to catch them on the climb up Queens Park and join them on the descent into Bronte Beach.

Photo: The leading trio on lap 6

Photo: The bunch roll by on lap 6

Photo: Jens Voigt (Ger) and Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) chasing on lap 6

12.25.44 Aust ESST - end of lap 6, 102.6km, ave speed 41.371kmh

The three break-aways, Evgeny Wacker (Kgz), Orlando Rodrigues (Por) and Piotr Wadecki (Pol) were joined by Remigijus Lupeikis (Ltu) and they had a lead of 58 seconds over the main field as they went across the start/finish at the end of lap 6. The bunch is able to make up time easily on the descents into the headwind, a breeze blowing in off the ocean, on the major descent into Bronte Beach. Then the quartet increase their lead on the climbs. The weather is now perfect for racing with clear skies and the riders were throwing off their rain jackets and arm warmers as they went across the line.

An earlier puncture to Robbie McEwen (Aus) was quickly fixed and Matt White (Aus) went back to help him. They went across the start finish line at the end of lap 5 about 10 seconds behind the bunch, but by lap 6 they were safely back in the field.

12.50.40 Aust ESST - end of lap 7, 119.7km, ave speed 41.15kmh

The four break-aways, Evgeny Wacker (Kgz), Orlando Rodrigues (Por), Piotr Wadecki (Pol) and Remigijus Lupeikis (Ltu) had maintained their lead of 30 seconds, although it had varied and at times was dropping to only 18 seconds. Coming up the main straight to the start/finish a Belgian rider tried to make a move, but was quickly covered - once again - by Paolo Bettini, who then took off after Christophe Moreau (Fra) after the bunch turned around headed back towards Randwick. IF the ITalians work as a team, the second half of the race could be interesting.

13.02. Aust ESST - mid lap 8, 131km

On the descent into Bronte Beach down MacPherson Street, the peloton's momentum into the headwind allowed them to finally reel in the four break-aways, with the French riders going on the attack and stringing out the bunch. Laurent Brochard, Andreas Kloden (Ger) and the omnipresent Bettini are prominent at the head of the field, with Stuart O'Grady the only Australian at the head of the bunch.

13.13.04 Aust ESST - end of lap 8, 136.8km, ave speed 42.51kmh

A break of five including Brochard, Abraham Olano (Spa), Serguei Outschakov (Ukr), Rolf Aldag (Ger) and Dmitri Konychev (Rus) were off the front coming into Driver Avenue, but were caught by the start/finish and the bunch had reformed. However, it was a quick lap with an average speed of 45.04kmh for the lap and lifting the overall average to 42.51kmh. The Russian rider Evgueni Petrov had abandoned.

As the bunch started its ninth lap, Norwegian rider Kurt Asle Arvesen had attacked and taken a nine second lead, but may struggle into the wind as the bunch heads out to Bronte Beach.

13.13.22 Aust ESST - mid lap 9, 145km

Arvesen was joined by a quality break including Marc Wauters, Andrei Kivilev (Kaz), Erik Dekker (Ned), Scott McGrory (Aus), Tyler Hamilton (USA) and Jens Voight (Ger) had taken a 20 second lead over the main field. On the front, Alex Zulle (Swi) was seen leading the chase.

13.24 Aust ESST - mid lap 9, 150km

Kivilev had dropped his break companions and was being chased by Wauters and Voigt, with McGrory and Moreau (Fra) on the front of the bunch giving chase. The rider from Kazakstan had a 15 second lead over the bunch at the top of the Bronte climb.

Significantly, the wind had swung around to the north west, which means the riders will face a headwind as they come onto the main straight, with the wind blowing slightly across the course from the riders' left.

13.35.36 Aust ESST - end of lap 9, 153.9km, ave speed 42.83

Kivilev was caught and then dropped by a power trio of Marc Wauters, Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) and Jens Voigt who had built up a 30 second lead as the bunch completed lap 9 with four to go. The pace is rapidly increasing as the leaders completed the lap at an average of 45.533 and increasing the average once again.

13.50 Aust ESST - mid lap 10, 165km

The leading trio have extended their lead to one minute and four riders have set off in pursuit, namely Sergey Yakovlev (Kaz), Danilo Di Luca (Ita), Zbigniew Piatek (Pol) and Axel Merckx (Bel). These four riders have about 15 seconds in front of the main bunch which is chasing hard and strung out on the course. The change of direction for the wind has also meant the riders now have a headwind on the main climb out of Bronte Beach. The mainly Australian crowd has become quite vocal and is enjoying a few beverages along the course.

13.59.07 Aust ESST - end of lap 10, 171km, ave speed 42.908kmh

The trio of Wauters, Van Heeswijk and Voigt are still away with a lead of 33 seconds over the main bunch. In between is a group of seven including Virenque Zbigniew Piatek (Pol).

14.10 Aust ESST - halfway through lap 11, 180 km, Av: 43 km/h

The leaders have been caught after a cnocerted effort from the bunch. We have three and a half laps to go, and the sun and wind are getting stronger. Leading the bunch are Kloden, Ullrich, and Bartoli. Dekker and Moerenhout were struggling at the back. Henk Vogels hanging onto the leaders.

14.22.20 Aust ESST - End of lap 11, 188.1 km, Av: 43.02 km/h

A new leading group has formed containing 12 riders: Henk Vogels (Aus), Laurent Jalabert (Fra), Nico Mattan and Axel Merckx (Bel) and Pavel Tonkov (Rus). They have 30 seconds on the field with three laps to go.

14.27 Aust ESST - Start of lap 12, 192 km

Fred Rodriguez (USA) punctures in the leading group, but gets a quick change and regains the break. Two more riders have joined the break including Jaan Kirsipuu (Est). Scott McGrory is also there.

14.33 Aust ESST - Middle of lap 12, 197 km

The break has split up the Bronte climb. Jalabert is still riding strongly at the front, as is Bettini who is having a great day. Bartoli has bridged up, and the break looks like being absorbed. Merckx is riding strongly as well.

14.44.30 Aust ESST - End of lap 12, 205.1 km (43.27 km/h)

End of lap 12, and the break have actually extended their lead to 38 seconds. Some names: O'Grady, Jalabert, Bettini, Bartoli, Kloden, Ullrich, Merckx, Vinokourov, Olano and Kirsipuu. The Dutch have no-one in the break and are chasing hard.

14.51 - Start of lap 13, 209 km

More names in the leading group: Frank Hoj (Den), Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) and Mauro Gianetti (Swi). They have 22 seconds before the descent into Bronte.

14.56 - Halfway through lap 13, 214 km (43.38 km/h)

The leaders climb Bronte for the second last time, and there is an attack amongst the leaders. Jan Ullrich, Andreas Kloden and Alexandre Vinokourov attacked, and Bettini and Bartoli were bridging. The rest of the leaders were about 8 seconds back, with the bunch led by Stuart O'Grady and Lance Armstrong.

15.07.00 - End of lap 13, 222.3 km (43.44 km/h)

The trio cross the finish line with one lap to go and they are hammering. Andreas Kloden, Jan Ullrich and Alex Vinokourouv lead Michele Bartoli and Paolo Bettini by 37 seconds. A little further back is a group of six with George Hincapie. The peloton seem to be too far behind now.

15.17 - Midway through final lap (14), 230

The trio have 1:30 at the top of Bronte, and will win the race. Ullrich is looking great for a gold medal, and although Vino can sprint, he rides for the same trade team (Telekom). They might take a dim view if he grabs the gold.

Chasing are a group with Jalabert, Hincapie, Hoj, Wadecki, Merckx, Bettini and Bartoli.

A little further back is Armstrong and Di Luca, with the peloton at thirty seconds.

15.24 - 3 km to go

Ullrich attacks! He has a good lead with 2 km to go

15.29 - 0 km to go

Jan Ullrich, the 1997 Tour de France winner. He comes up past Fox Studios to a huge cheer as he comes up the final staright. He raises his arms with a few hundred meters to go, and is ecstatic with the win. Vinokourov gets the silver at 10 seconds, and Kloden third.

Results

1. Jan Ullrich (Ger)		5.29.08 (43.64 km/h)
2. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz)	   0.07	
3. Andreas Kloden (Ger)            0.12
4. Michele Bartoli (Ita)           1.26
5. Laurent Jalabert (Fra)
6. Frank Hoj (Den)
7. Piotr Wadecki (Pol)
8. George Hincapie (USA)
9. Paolo Bettini (Ita)
10. Dimitri Konyshev (Rus)
11. Danilo Di Luca (Ita)           1.29

Full results and report