Jacobs Creek Tour Down Under - 2.3Australia, January 15-20, 2002 |
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Stage 1 - January 15: Glenelg street race, 47km
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McEwen sprints to yellow in stage 1
By Jeff Jones
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Newly crowned Australian champion Robbie McEwen has won the first stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, a 47 kilometre criterium around the streets of Glenelg. McEwen proved too strong for South Australian Corey Sweet (UniSA) and Dutch champion Jans Koerts (Domo-Farm Frites) as the three finished well clear of 10 chasing riders, and even caught and lapped the main peloton.
The crowds were lining the circuit four deep waving Australian flags and the obligatory Stuart O'Grady banners. Everyone was enjoying the festive atmosphere that is a hallmark of this race. Although it was warm for the start of the race, once the sun set, the temperature cooled down.
The riders sped off for 25 laps and almost immediately, the attacks started. David Pell (United Water) was the first to escape, but he was quickly reeled in as the peloton gathered speed. The riders were lapping in around 2'20 (48 km/h) and no-one could stay away for long, or so it seemed. Others were suffering, including Belgian champion Ludovic Capelle, who dropped off the pace very quickly.
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On the sixth lap, there was a powerful attack by Jans Koerts, who was quickly joined by Corey Sweet and then Robbie McEwen. Although this was obviously a dangerous move, the peloton did not react quickly and the trio quickly rode out to 10, then 20 seconds.
By the eleventh lap, a chasing group had formed containing 10 riders: Daniele Nardello (Mapei Quick Step), Julian Dean (CSC - Tiscali), Fabio Sacchi (Saeco), Frederick Guesdon (La Française Des Jeux), Jens Heppner (Telekom), Alexandre Botcharov (AG2r-Prevoyance), Glenn d'Hollander (Lotto Adecco), Stuart O'Grady (Crédit Agricole), Jens Heppner (Telekom) and Max van Heeswijk (Domo-Farm Frites).
Two of these riders were from the same team as McEwen and Koerts, and they helped to foil attempts to bring the break back. The gap grew to 25 seconds and it was clear that McEwen, Koerts and Sweet would fight it out for the win.
A few laps from the end, they had the tail end of the peloton in their sights, and quickly latched on to the back of the 80-odd riders. They moved through the field as McEwen's Lotto teammates kept the pace up at the front. The bunch was told to pull off, leaving the three breakaways to contest the last two laps.
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As Koerts had won both intermediate sprints, thereby earning the sprinter's jersey, it seemed likely that McEwen would take out the overall win. Corey Sweet had other ideas, as he attacked on the last lap to try and win solo. It was shortlived, as Koerts took over at the front until the finishing straight, when he obliged by leading out the sprint. McEwen came around him for a clear victory, signalling his excellent form at the moment. Sweet took second, Koerts third and his Domo teammate Max van Heeswijk led home the chasers for fourth place.
A delighted McEwen said after the stage, "I started with a new team this year, and people are expecting a lot from me. I'm just having a fantastic time. A lot of the Europeans are underdone at this time of year, and I thought a break could work. The three of us together made a good combination."
"I've never seen anything like this in Australia," added McEwen who was impressed by the crowds. "I'm happy to be wearing the Australian jersey."
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He paid credit to his Lotto teammates when the break lapped the peloton. "Their leadout work was one of the tactical moves you can make in a circuit race."
As for being the overall leader, "I'm going to treat it like I'm not in the leader's jersey and get in some breakaways when they go."
Second placed Corey Sweet was also happy with his Most Agressive Rider jersey, as he told cyclingnews afterwards. "I didn't plan to go in a early break, I just wanted to position myself nicely at the front and then work for Brett Aitken. Then I saw Koerts go away, and given I was in a good position I followed him. When I learnt a bigger group with a Domo rider in was chasing us I thought Koerts would sit up and wait for them, and when he didn't I realized the three of us were going for the win."
"I didn't feel so good for the first five or so laps, but after that I got into a better rhythm and I felt better towards the finish. Both Koerts and I tried to make a move towards the end, but when you're up against one of the best sprinters in the world it isn't always much you can do.
"Now I've got this jersey and I'm really happy about it and I will try to defend it by riding in the way I normally do, aggressively."
Dutch champion Jans Koerts had to be content with third. "I made an attack halfway through the last lap, but Corey and Robbie covered me immediately. Then I realised it was too late. Coming into the final straight, I sprinted in the 11 (he had a 54 tooth chainring!) which is maybe too heavy for a criterium with a headwind."
"The race is good training for me and this year I'm aiming for a ride in the Tour de France. I'm now around the 75-76 kilo mark, which is 8 kilos lighter than I have ever been."
Tomorrow's stage takes the riders out on the open roads with a 150 kilometre stage from Hahndorf to Strathalbyn.
Photography
Photo's of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under provided by Tom Balks.
- The Stuart O'Grady fan club - complete with masks of the local hero
- Stuart O'Grady - with his fans
- The crowds - used every available space in Glenelg
- Adelaide - is an accomodating city
- The Laubman & Pank girls - help promote the King of the Mountain competition
- Robbie McEwen (Lotto) - looked relaxed before the start of the first stage
- The start - of the first stage in downtown Glenelg
- The pack - rounds the first corner, with Robbie McEwen (R) well positioned
- Andrea Tafi and Cadel Evans - show the Mapei colours
- Nico Eeckhout (Lotto) - in the thick of the action
- Julian Dean - sporting his new CSC-Tiscali colours
- Cadel Evans (Mapei) - to the fore
- Robbie McEwen (Lotto) - gave it everything to stay away
- Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) - tried hard to chase the break, to no avail.
- Jans Koerts, Robbie McEwen and Corey Sweet - driving the breakaway across the finish line
- Robbie McEwen (Lotto) - celebrates in the yellow leader's jersey on the podium
- Sprint King - Jans Koerts (Domo-Farm Frites)
- David McPartland (United Water) - best young rider on the day
Results
1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Adecco 59.14 (47.6 km/h) 2 Corey Sweet (Aus) UniSA 3 Jans Koerts (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 4 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 5 Glenn d'Hollander (Bel) Lotto Adecco 6 Julian Dean (NZl) CSC - Tiscali 7 Henk Vogels (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 8 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) AG2r-Prevoyance 9 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco 10 Frederick Guesdon (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 11 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 12 Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom 13 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole 14 Dave McPartland (Aus) United Water 15 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Mapei Quick Step 16 David Kopp (Ger) Telekom 17 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Saeco 18 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 19 Allan Davis (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 20 Baden Cooke (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 21 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA 22 Peter Dawson (Aus) United Water 23 Bobby Julich (USA) Telekom 24 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo Farm Frites 25 Oscar Mason (Ita) Saeco 26 Luca Paolini (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 27 Thomas Bodo (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 28 David Pell (Aus) United Water 29 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei Quick Step 30 Thierry Loder (Fra) AG2r-Prevoyance 31 Hans De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Adecco 32 Christian Pepoli (Ita) Saeco 33 Luke Roberts (Aus) UniSA 34 Brett Aitken (Aus) UniSA 35 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA 36 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Domo Farm Frites 37 Robert Tighello (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 38 Joerg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco 39 Mark Renshaw (Aus) United Water 40 Kurt Van De Wouwer (Bel) Lotto Adecco 41 Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) AG2r-Prevoyance 42 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom 43 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2r-Prevoyance 44 Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) CSC - Tiscali 45 Innar Mandoja (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 46 Servais Knaven (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 47 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 48 Steve Cunningham (Aus) UniSA 49 Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Lotto Adecco 50 Ashley Humbert (Aus) United Water 51 Matt Wilson (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 52 Daniel Mackey (Aus) United Water 53 Bjarke Nielsen (Den) CSC - Tiscali 54 Fabian De Waele (Bel) Mapei Quick Step 55 Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 56 Bruce McIntosh (Aus) United Water 57 Michael Rogers (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 58 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 59 Patrick Jonker (Aus) UniSA 60 Scott Sunderland (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 61 Niko Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto Adecco 62 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Crédit Agricole 63 Tomas Konecny (Cze) Domo Farm Frites 64 Raphael Jeune (Fra) CSC - Tiscali 65 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Lotto Adecco 66 Chris Jenner (NZl) Crédit Agricole 67 Frederic Bessy (Fra) Crédit Agricole 68 Anthony Morin (Fra) Crédit Agricole 69 Ief Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto Adecco 70 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 71 Cadel Evans (Aus) Mapei Quick Step 72 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Saeco 73 Jonathan Vaughters (USA) Crédit Agricole 74 Simon Gerrans (Aus) United Water 75 Biagio Conte (Ita) Saeco 76 Tristian Hoffman (Ned) CSC - Tiscali 77 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 78 Brad Davidson (Aus) Saeco 79 Robert Bartko (Ger) Telekom 80 Sebastian Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole 81 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Telekom 82 Bram Tankink (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 83 Anthony Langella (Fra) Crédit Agricole 84 Scott Davis (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 85 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 86 Adrian Laidler (Aus) UniSA 87 Jakob Piil (Den) CSC - Tiscali 88 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger) Telekom 89 Steve Williams (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 90 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Telekom 91 Regis Lhuillier (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 92 Lauri Aus (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 93 Geert Van Bondt (Bel) CSC - Tiscali 94 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 95 Arvis Piziks (Lat) CSC - Tiscali 96 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) AG2r-Prevoyance 2.00 General classification after stage 1 1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Adecco 59.14 2 Corey Sweet (Aus) UniSA 3 Jans Koerts (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 4 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 5 Glenn d'Hollander (Bel) Lotto Adecco 6 Julian Dean (NZl) CSC - Tiscali 7 Henk Vogels (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 8 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) AG2r-Prevoyance 9 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco 10 Frederick Guesdon (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 11 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 12 Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom 13 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole 14 Dave McPartland (Aus) United Water 15 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Mapei Quick Step 16 David Kopp (Ger) Telekom 17 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Saeco 18 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 19 Allan Davis (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 20 Baden Cooke (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 21 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA 22 Peter Dawson (Aus) United Water 23 Bobby Julich (USA) Telekom 24 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo Farm Frites 25 Oscar Mason (Ita) Saeco 26 Luca Paolini (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 27 Thomas Bodo (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 28 David Pell (Aus) United Water 29 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei Quick Step 30 Thierry Loder (Fra) AG2r-Prevoyance 31 Hans De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Adecco 32 Christian Pepoli (Ita) Saeco 33 Luke Roberts (Aus) UniSA 34 Brett Aitken (Aus) UniSA 35 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA 36 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Domo Farm Frites 37 Robert Tighello (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 38 Joerg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco 39 Mark Renshaw (Aus) United Water 40 Kurt Van De Wouwer (Bel) Lotto Adecco 41 Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) AG2r-Prevoyance 42 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom 43 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2r-Prevoyance 44 Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) CSC - Tiscali 45 Innar Mandoja (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 46 Servais Knaven (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 47 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 48 Steve Cunningham (Aus) UniSA 49 Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Lotto Adecco 50 Ashley Humbert (Aus) United Water 51 Matt Wilson (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 52 Daniel Mackey (Aus) United Water 53 Bjarke Nielsen (Den) CSC - Tiscali 54 Fabian De Waele (Bel) Mapei Quick Step 55 Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 56 Bruce McIntosh (Aus) United Water 57 Michael Rogers (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 58 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 59 Patrick Jonker (Aus) UniSA 60 Scott Sunderland (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 61 Niko Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto Adecco 62 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Crédit Agricole 63 Tomas Konecny (Cze) Domo Farm Frites 64 Raphael Jeune (Fra) CSC - Tiscali 65 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Lotto Adecco 66 Chris Jenner (NZl) Crédit Agricole 67 Frederic Bessy (Fra) Crédit Agricole 68 Anthony Morin (Fra) Crédit Agricole 69 Ief Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto Adecco 70 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 71 Cadel Evans (Aus) Mapei Quick Step 72 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Saeco 73 Jonathan Vaughters (USA) Crédit Agricole 74 Simon Gerrans (Aus) United Water 75 Biagio Conte (Ita) Saeco 76 Tristian Hoffman (Ned) CSC - Tiscali 77 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 78 Brad Davidson (Aus) Saeco 79 Robert Bartko (Ger) Telekom 80 Sebastian Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole 81 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Telekom 82 Bram Tankink (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 83 Anthony Langella (Fra) Crédit Agricole 84 Scott Davis (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 85 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 86 Adrian Laidler (Aus) UniSA 87 Jakob Piil (Den) CSC - Tiscali 88 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger) Telekom 89 Steve Williams (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 90 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Telekom 91 Regis Lhuillier (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 92 Lauri Aus (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 93 Geert Van Bondt (Bel) CSC - Tiscali 94 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 95 Arvis Piziks (Lat) CSC - Tiscali 96 Ludovic Capelle (Bel) AG2r-Prevoyance 2.00 Points classification 1 Jans Koerts (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 12 pts 2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Adecco 6 3 Corey Sweet (Aus) UniSA 6 Most aggressive rider 1 Corey Sweet (Aus) UniSA Best young rider classification 1 Dave McPartland (Aus) United Water Teams classification 1 Domo Farm Frites 2.57.42 2 Lotto Adecco 3 Mapei - Quick Step 4 Saeco Machine Per Caffe - Longoni Sport 5 Telekom 6 UniSA 7 La Francaise Des Jeux 8 Australian Institute Of Sport 9 United Water 10 Ag2R Prevoyance 11 CSC - Tiscali 12 Crédit Agricole