3rd Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under

Australia, January 16 - 21, 2001

Complete Live Report

Stage 2 - January 17: Norwood - Murray Bridge, 142 km

Start time: 11:00 - SA Time
Estimated finish time: 14:50

After last night's brisk start around the circuit in Glenelg, the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under will travel out of Adelaide for the first road stage. Starting in the suburb of Norwood, stage two will see the riders travel through the picturesque Adelaide Hills towards a spectacular river side finish in Murray Bridge.

There are two King of the Mountain sprints scheduled, one at Kangaroo Creek (km 11.4) and one at Checker Hill (km 27.8). In addition, there are two intermediate sprints at Mt Torrens (km 47.3) and Hahndorf (km 85.6).

11:00 - 0.0 km

At the start line, the heat is gradually building to the sounds of "We Will Rock You". Finally, the peloton roll out of Norwood under neutralised conditions for 9.6 km, before the main 142 km stage begins at approximately 11:20 am. Total distance therefore is 151.6 kilometres.

11:23 - 1.0 km/141 km to go

Adrian Laidler (Uni SA) launches the first attack as the flag drops for the start proper. The tactics of this team are fairly straightforward: go hard, early and often - and they have worked so far.

The race starts immediately with a climb to Kangaroo Creek, approximately 200m above sea level. From there, the altitude does not vary a great deal.

Total race time is expected to be 3 hours 30 minutes, finishing at 14:50 local time.

11:50 - 21.0 km/121 km to go

The peloton are still in the Adelaide Hills, but the latest information is that three riders: Benoit Poilvet (Credit Agricole), Dominique Rault (Big Mat) and Matthew Wilson (Uni SA) attacked at km 13.5, and have a 200 metre lead on the bunch.

The next point of call is the Chain of Ponds winegrowing region (km 22), situated just outside of Gumeracha. From here it is a short hop to the second KOM at Checker Hill (km 27), a nasty steep incline. The peloton refers to it as "Checker's Hell".

12:06 - 28.0 km/114 km to go

The second KOM at Checker Hill is taken by Robert Tighello (Sunsmart), who has an 8 second gap on teammate Ben Day. Miguel Martin Perdiguero (Linda McCartney) comes in third with the peloton, but they are over 2 minutes behind Tighello and Day. Cadel Evans (Sunsmart) was 4th, and Alexandre Botcharov (Ag2R Decathlon), 5th.

And the results of the first KOM (Kangaroo Creek, km 11.4): 1. Robert Tighello, 2. Ben Day, 3. Cameron Jennings (United Water), 4 Russel Van Hout (Uni SA), 5. Innar Mandoja (Ag2R). The Austalian teams are certainly starting this race in a positive fashion.

12:20 - 36.0 km/106 km to go

Four riders have attacked the bunch in pursuit of Tighello and Day. Jorg Ludewig (Saeco), Anthony Morin (Credit Agricole), Daniele Nardello (Mapei) and Nic Brown (United Water).

Stuart O'Grady punctured at kilometre 35, and four teammates immediately dropped back to assist. He regained the bunch very quickly.

Nico Eeckhout (Lotto) has abandoned.

12:35 - 47 km/95 km to go

As the bunch pass through Birdwood, there are substantial crowds lining the route. They are chasing a group of 15, who in turn are pursuing the six riders mentioned above at 55 seconds.

The first intermediate sprint (Mt Torrens, km 47) is won by Jorg Ludewig (Saeco), from Nic Brown (United Water), and Anthony Morin (Credit Agricole).

Salvatore Commesso (Saeco) is having a chat to the Saeco team manager at the rear of the peloton.

13:01 - 64 km/78 km to go

The peloton are in full flight through Lenswood, with approximately 20 riders chasing the 6 leaders. In the group of 22 are O'Grady, Jenner and Benoit Poilvet (Credit Agricole), Juan Carlos Dominguez, John Tanner, Ciaran Power (Linda McCartney), Jonker and Rault (Big Mat), Fabio Sacchi (Saeco), Cadel Evans (Sunsmart), Nicolaj Bo Larsen and Arvis Piziks (CSC-World Online).

They approach the feedzone at Lenswood with a one minute gap to the leaders.

Daniele Nardello and Jorg Ludewig have attacked the front group and are putting on the power.

13:09 - 73 km/69 km to go

From the main peloton, Simon Gerrans (United Water), Steve Williams and Trent Wilson (Sunsmart), Matt Wilson (Uni SA) have attacked. They are 1:53 behind the leaders, and about 55 seconds behind the 22 man chase group.

The riders in the big chase group are: Philippe Bordenave, Alexandre Botcharov (ag2r), Stuart O'Grady, Benoit Poilvet, Chris Jenner (Credit Agricole), Fabio Sacchi (Saeco), Robert Bartko, Kai Hundertmarck(Telekom), John Tanner, Ciaran Power, Juan Carlos Dominguez (Linda McCartney) Nicolaj Bo Larsen, Arvis Piziks, Jakob Piil (CSC-World Online), Crescenzo d'Amore, Dario Cioni (Mapei-Quick Step), Glenn D'Hollander (Lotto Adecco), Patrick Jonker, Dominique Rault (Big Mat), Nick Gates, Cadel Evans (Sunsmart), Gene Bates (Uni of SA).

13:29 - 85 km/57 km to go

The second intermediate sprint at Hahndorf (km 85) is won by Jorg Ludewig (Saeco) with Daniele Nardello (Mapei) in tow. These two riders have a 1.21 gap to Nic Brown and Ben Day, while the two other early leaders (Tighello and Morin) have been caught by the 22 man chase group.

Hahndorf is one of South Australia's most popular tourist attractions - a German village settled in the 1830's. Many of the town's original buildings are still standing.

13:44 - 95 km/47 km to go

The situation with just under 50 kilometres to go is that the two leaders: Nardello and Ludewig, have been caught by six riders from the big chase group: Pat Jonker (Big Mat), Alexandre Botcharov (Ag2R), Glenn D'Hollander (Lotto), Dominique Rault (Big Mat), Benoit Poilvet (Credit Agricole) and Nicolaj Bo Larsen (CSC-World Online). The rest of the chase group has split into two bunches.

The hilly parcours and the hot sun have taken their toll on several riders, including national champion Steve Williams, who admitted he was a little tired yesterday.

14:00 - 104 km/38 km to go

There are eight riders in the lead now: Jonker, Botcharov, D'Hollander, Rault, Poilvet, Bo Larsen, Ludewig and Nardello. They have over a one minute advantage on a group of six: O'Grady, Jenner, Sacchi, Hundertmarck, Piziks and Cadel Evans.

14:07 - 109 km/33 km to go

The first chase group are 30 seconds behind the leaders. O'Grady looks comfortable and so does Sacchi. They catch them with 30 kilometres to go. Nick Gates (Sunsmart) also has made it across, so there are 15 riders in the lead.

The remainder of the chase has splintered, and the peloton are 15 minutes behind.

14:26 - 125 km/17 km to go

The 15 leaders are sticking together for the time being, as they approach the crossing at Monarto. Most of the important names have made the cut, including Nardello, O'Grady, Botcharov, Bo Larsen, and Jonker.

Telekom look to be the big losers today, as Wesemann and Bartko are at least 3:35 behind.

14:35 - 132 km/10 km to go

Approaching 10 kilometres to go, Credit Agricole are controlling it for O'Grady who is a big chance for the stage win and the leader's jersey. The final sprint is long, and flat after a downhill run into the town of Murray Bridge.

Arvis Piziks (CSC) is another man to watch out for at the finish, as well as Sacchi (Saeco). The racing today has been very tough.

14:47 - 142 km/0 km to go

The 13 riders following the leaders are at 3:00. They are: Philippe Bordenave (Ag2R), Anthony Morin (Credit Agricole), John Tanner, Ciaran Power, Juan Carlos Dominguez (Linda McCartney), Jakob Piil (CSC), Robert Bartko (Telekom), Crescenzo d'Amore, Dario Cioni (Mapei), Nic Brown (United Water), Robert Tighello, Ben Day (Sunsmart), Gene Bates (Uni of SA). They were part of the original attack(s).

The other classifications of the day: Most Aggressive Rider - Daniele Nardello (Mapei), KOM - Robert Tighello (Sunsmart).

And Fabio Sacchi has won the stage! He crosses the line solo - just. O'Grady wins the sprint for second from Hundertmarck.

Results

1 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco Macchine Per Café 	3.26.24
2 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole 
3 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger)Telekom 
4 Nick Gates (Aus) Sunsmart-Mitsubishi 
5 Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Lotto Adecco 
6 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Ag2R Decathlon 
7 Cadel Evans (Aus) Sunsmart-Mitsubishi 
8 Benoit Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole 
9 Jorg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco Macchine Per Café 
10 Nicolaj Bo Larsen (Den) CSC-World Online 
11 Patrick Jonker (Aus) Big Mat

General classification after stage 2

1 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco Macchine Per Café    4.26.30
2 Jorg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco Macchine Per Café
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole             0.02
4 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger)Telekom                    0.04
5 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei-Quick Step
6 Nick Gates (Aus) Sunsmart-Mitsubishi             0.06
7 Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Lotto Adecco
8 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Ag2R Decathlon
9 Cadel Evans (Aus) Sunsmart-Mitsubishi
10 Benoit Poilvet (Fra) Credit Agricole
11 Nicolaj Bo Larsen (Den) CSC-World Online

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