Jacobs Creek Tour Down Under - 2.3Australia, January 15-20, 2002 |
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Stage 2 - January 16: Hahndorf - Strathalbyn, 150km
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Rogers gets the jersey...cow
Sacchi in yellow as tour leader
By Karen Forman in Strathalbyn
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Either they know each other's early season training schedules extremely well - or they have personal crystal balls tucked away in their bike bags. When asked, before the second stage of the 2002 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under which riders would likely prove their major competition, each of the eventual major players named each other.
First stage winner Robbie McEwen suggested Daniele Nardello (Mapei-Quick Step), defending champ Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole), Scott Sunderland (AIS) and Patrick Jonker (UniSA). O'Grady said McEwen would be the one to beat. Jonker suggested McEwen and O'Grady were his major rivals, Sunderland was concerned about McEwen and O'Grady, while Nardello was keeping a close eye on Fabio Sacchi (Saeco) and O'Grady.
And, as predicted, all were part of the well-oiled machine that provided thousands of spectators lining the route with 3 hours and 21 minutes of top class international cycling action.
However, the crystal ball had a little crack in it. When making their predictions before race start at the picturesque little township of Hahndorf this morning, none of the riders mentioned the name of a young Australian Institute of Sport rider called Michael Rogers. And the slip up cost them.
The 22-year-old Australian Institute of Sport rider was part of a second major move which got away after the second sprint at the 114 km mark.
He did his fair share of work, but with all attention on McEwen, O'Grady, Nardello and Sunderland, it wasn't until the group - which had engineered an impressive 8 minute gap back to the chasing bunch - began its sprint to the line, that Rogers emerged as a definite threat.
And what a threat he was.
Tailed by Nardello's Mapei team mate, top Italian sprinter Andrea Tafi (who came third) and another Italian, Saeco rider, Fabio Sacchi (second), Rogers crossed the line comfortably to win the 150km stage in 3.21.52 (44.58km/h).
Jonker was seventh, Nardello ninth and O'Grady eleventh.
They had been part of the breakaway, along with Anthony Morin (Crédit Agricole), Alexandre Botcharov (AG2r-Prevoyance), Paul Van Hyfte (CSC - Tiscali), Steffen Wesemann (Telekom), Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (AG2r-Prevoyance), Biagio Conte (Saeco), Cadel Evans (Mapei Quick Step), Scott Davis (Australian Institute Of Sport) and Robert Tighello (Australian Institute Of Sport).
Morin and Tafi, along with Allan Davis (AIS), Simon Gerrans (United Water), Russell Van Hout (UniSA), Jorg Ludewig and Pierrick Fedrigo, had been part of an early breakaway of 12 riders, later joined by Paul Van Hyfte (CSC Tiscali), Fabian De Waele (Mapei-Quick Step), Brad Davidson (Saeco), Rogers and Sunderland, which attacked at the 23km mark and formed some of a group which would stay out front for 69 km.
Despite the fact it wasn't expected by the leading players, Rogers' win does not really come as a major surprise. After all, he has been showing good form of late - such as a second place in the Australian men's road time trial championships in Ballarat last week.
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After the presentation - which included accepting a special "jersey" - a cow by the name of Freckles - presented by the community of Stratalbyn, Rogers said he had not focussed on this stage in particular, but was just going flat out.
Now, with a stage one behind him, he says he believes his team will work for him during the rest of the race.
He wasn't quite sure what to do with his cow, though.
"I don't think I can take it to Italy," he said.
Not a problem. He was told Freckles was actually a perpetual trophy and he would have to win her five times to keep her.
It wasn't exactly the result stage one (Glenelg criterium) winner McEwen had been hoping for. Despite being in every attack throughout the race and working hard on the front, trying to establish a clear lead, he finished 47th - but did pick up the Most Aggressive jersey for the stage for his troubles.
Sunderland took the King of the Mountains jersey following a dynamic sprint up the leg-shattering 200 metre high Mt Torrens jump-up. Van Hout was second, Nardello third. Mark Renshaw (United Water) took the Young Riders Jersey and was pleased as punch with it.
"It has been a goal for the team to get it," he said at the presentation.
He thinks he has a fair chance of keeping it, or at least keeping it in the team.
"The next couple of days will be hard but I am looking forward to the last stage, which he believes he has a good chance of winning."
All 96 nominees started today's stage with one - Ludovic Capelle (AG2r Prevoyance) dropping out.
Italian rider Fabio Sacchi (Saeco) goes into tomorrow's third stage as tour leader (4.02.59) while Rogers is second (0.01) and Tafi (0.05) third.
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Festive atmosphere
If the atmosphere is anything like it was today - with brass bands, sausage sizzles, every man and his dog (literally) lining the route and Australian flags and Stuart O'Grady paraphernalia hanging off fences, then it can only add to the excitement of the actual racing.
Fabio Sacchi certainly will be doing his best to keep it happening.
"My number one obligation was to win the leaders jersey," he said through an interpreter after the presentation today. "But more important, it was to make an impact on O'Grady. I wanted to put it into him."
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And he likely will continue to work on it. "I am feeling very good. I am 5kg lighter than I was last year and fitter. And at home it is minus 10 degrees so anything here is a bonus. This race is very important to me and I am very affectionate to Australia. I have had three wins here."
Italian champion Nardello, too, is keen vincere (to win).
"I hope that I will," he said. "But it is difficult because people are watching me. It is sempre dura (always hard). And McEwen is very strong...at the top of his condition. And O'Grady, because it is his home. Sacchi is also fast and going well."
Today's third place was positive for Tafi, now aged 35 years old and looking to retire within a year or so ...or, as he said here in Adelaide two days ago, after I have one more big win".
With four more stages of the Tour Down Under left to run, he certainly is in with a chance here. But one thing's for sure. Like the other major contenders for the 2002 Tour Down Under crown, after today's result he will be looking a little outside the square when it comes to considering the competition.
There are a few other Michael Rogers' in the peloton....
Photography
- Italian champion - Daniele Nardello makes a young fan' day by posing for a picture
- The kids - enjoy the race each year, as this rather decorated rider shows
- Baden Cooke (Francaise des Jeux) - gets friendly with the wildlife
- Scott Sunderland (AIS) - looked relaxed but ready to roll on stage 2
- Michael Rogers (AIS) - powers up Checker Hill
- Scott Sunderland (AIS) - sprints up the climb of Checker Hill to take the KOM points
- Robbie McEwen (Lotto) - attacks during the stage, but he missed the final break
- Michael Rogers - ecstatic as he wins the stage in Strathalbyn
- Michael Rogers - on the podium after his stage win
- Michael Rogers - with Freckles the cow, awarded to him after the stage win
- There was no shortage of colour - during today's stage 2 of the JCTDU
- Fabio Sacchi (Saeco) - smiles on the podium as he wears the yellow leader's jersey
- Mark Renshaw (United Water) - was the best young rider today.
Results
1 Michael Rogers (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 3.21.52 (44.58 km/h) 2 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco 3 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 4 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) AG2r-Prevoyance 5 Anthony Morin (Fra) Crédit Agricole 6 Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) CSC - Tiscali 7 Patrick Jonker (Aus) UniSA 8 Robert Tighello (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 0.41 9 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 10 Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) AG2r-Prevoyance 0.43 11 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole 0.49 12 Biagio Conte (Ita) Saeco 13 Scott Davis (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 14 Cadel Evans (Aus) Mapei Quick Step 15 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom 16 Mark Renshaw (Aus) United Water 7.59 17 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Mapei Quick Step 18 Bruce McIntosh (Aus) United Water 19 Dave McPartland (Aus) United Water 20 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA 21 Servais Knaven (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 22 Steve Cunningham (Aus) UniSA 8.03 23 Jonathan Vaughters (USA) Crédit Agricole 24 David Kopp (Ger) Telekom 25 Robert Bartko (Ger) Telekom 26 Luke Roberts (Aus) UniSA 27 Jakob Piil (Den) CSC - Tiscali 28 Bobby Julich (USA) Telekom 8.06 29 David Pell (Aus) United Water 30 Chris Jenner (NZl) Crédit Agricole 31 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 32 Thomas Bodo (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 33 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Saeco 34 Peter Dawson (Aus) United Water 35 Ashley Humbert (Aus) United Water 36 Tomas Konecny (Cze) Domo Farm Frites 37 Allan Davis (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 38 Baden Cooke (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 39 Tristian Hoffman (Ned) CSC - Tiscali 40 Fabian De Waele (Bel) Mapei Quick Step 41 Oscar Mason (Ita) Saeco 42 Jarke Nielsen (Den) CSC - Tiscali 43 Raphael Jeune (Fra) CSC - Tiscali 44 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei Quick Step 45 Geert Van Bondt (Bel) CSC - Tiscali 46 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Telekom 47 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Adecco 48 Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 49 Frederick Guesdon (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 50 Sebastian Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole 51 Anthony Langella (Fra) Crédit Agricole 52 Brett Aitken (Aus) UniSA 53 Frederic Bessy (Fra) Crédit Agricole 54 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Saeco 55 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2r-Prevoyance 56 Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom 57 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA 58 Joerg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco 59 Christian Pepoli (Ita) Saeco 60 Henk Vogels (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 61 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Lotto Adecco 62 Luca Paolini (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 63 Brad Davidson (Aus) Saeco 64 Adrian Laidler (Aus) UniSA 65 Scott Sunderland (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 66 Simon Gerrans (Aus) United Water 67 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 68 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Domo Farm Frites 69 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger) Telekom 70 Kurt Van De Wouwer (Bel) Lotto Adecco 71 Regis Lhuillier (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 72 Glenn d'Hollander (Bel) Lotto Adecco 73 Bram Tankink (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 74 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Crédit Agricole 75 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Telekom 76 Innar Mandoja (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 77 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 78 Thierry Loder (Fra) AG2r-Prevoyance 79 Julian Dean (NZl) CSC - Tiscali 80 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 81 Corey Sweet (Aus) UniSA 82 Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Lotto Adecco 83 Steve Williams (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 84 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 85 Arvis Piziks (Lat) CSC - Tiscali 86 Jans Koerts (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 87 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo Farm Frites 88 Lauri Aus (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 89 Hans De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Adecco 90 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 91 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 92 Niko Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto Adecco 93 Ief Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto Adecco 9.58 94 Matt Wilson (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 27.08 95 Daniel Mackey (Aus) United Water 39.08 DNF Ludovic Capelle (Bel) AG2r-Prevoyance Most aggressive rider 1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Adecco General classification after stage 2 1 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco 4.20.59 2 Michael Rogers (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 0.01 3 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 0.05 4 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) AG2r-Prevoyance 0.07 5 Anthony Morin (Fra) Crédit Agricole 6 Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) CSC - Tiscali 7 Patrick Jonker (Aus) UniSA 8 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 0.45 9 Robert Tighello (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 0.48 10 Inigo Chaurreau Bernadez (Spa) AG2r-Prevoyance 0.50 11 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole 0.54 12 Biagio Conte (Ita) Saeco 0.56 13 Scott Davis (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 14 Cadel Evans (Aus) Mapei Quick Step 15 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom 16 Mark Renshaw (Aus) United Water 8.06 17 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Mapei Quick Step 18 Bruce McIntosh (Aus) United Water 19 Dave McPartland (Aus) United Water 20 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA 21 Servais Knaven (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 22 Steve Cunningham (Aus) UniSA 8.10 23 Jonathan Vaughters (USA) Crédit Agricole 24 David Kopp (Ger) Telekom 25 Robert Bartko (Ger) Telekom 26 Luke Roberts (Aus) UniSA 27 Jakob Piil (Den) CSC - Tiscali 28 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Adecco 8.11 29 Scott Sunderland (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 30 Bobby Julich (USA) Telekom 8.13 31 David Pell (Aus) United Water 32 Chris Jenner (NZl) Crédit Agricole 33 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 34 Thomas Bodo (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 35 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Saeco 36 Peter Dawson (Aus) United Water 37 Ashley Humbert (Aus) United Water 38 Tomas Konecny (Cze) Domo Farm Frites 39 Allan Davis (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 40 Baden Cooke (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 41 Tristian Hoffman (Ned) CSC - Tiscali 42 Fabian De Waele (Bel) Mapei Quick Step 43 Oscar Mason (Ita) Saeco 44 Jarke Nielsen (Den) CSC - Tiscali 45 Raphael Jeune (Fra) CSC - Tiscali 46 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei Quick Step 47 Geert Van Bondt (Bel) CSC - Tiscali 48 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Telekom 49 Bradley McGee (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 50 Frederick Guesdon (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 51 Sebastian Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole 52 Anthony Langella (Fra) Crédit Agricole 53 Brett Aitken (Aus) UniSA 54 Frederic Bessy (Fra) Crédit Agricole 55 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Saeco 56 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) AG2r-Prevoyance 57 Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom 58 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA 59 Joerg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco 60 Christian Pepoli (Ita) Saeco 61 Henk Vogels (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 62 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Lotto Adecco 63 Luca Paolini (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 64 Brad Davidson (Aus) Saeco 65 Adrian Laidler (Aus) UniSA 66 Simon Gerrans (Aus) United Water 67 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 68 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Domo Farm Frites 69 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger) Telekom 70 Kurt Van De Wouwer (Bel) Lotto Adecco 71 Regis Lhuillier (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 72 Glenn d'Hollander (Bel) Lotto Adecco 73 Bram Tankink (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 74 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Crédit Agricole 75 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Telekom 76 Innar Mandoja (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 77 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 78 Thierry Loder (Fra) AG2r-Prevoyance 79 Julian Dean (NZl) CSC - Tiscali 80 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 81 Corey Sweet (Aus) UniSA 82 Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Lotto Adecco 83 Steve Williams (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 84 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 85 Arvis Piziks (Lat) CSC - Tiscali 86 Jans Koerts (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 87 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo Farm Frites 88 Lauri Aus (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 89 Hans De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Adecco 90 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 91 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) AG2r-Prevoyance 92 Niko Eeckhout (Bel) Lotto Adecco 93 Ief Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto Adecco 10.05 94 Matt Wilson (Aus) La Française Des Jeux 27.15 95 Daniel Mackey (Aus) United Water 39.15 DNF Ludovic Capelle (Bel) AG2r-Prevoyance Sprints classification 1 Jans Koerts (Ned) Domo Farm Frites 12 pts 2 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco 12 3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Adecco 10 4 Michael Rogers (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 8 5 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 6 6 Corey Sweet (Aus) UniSA 6 7 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Crédit Agricole 4 8 Scott Sunderland (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 4 9 Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 4 King of the Mountains classification 1 Scott Sunderland (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 16 pts 2 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA 12 3 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei Quick Step 8 4 Joerg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco 6 5 Brad Davidson (Aus) Saeco 4 U23 rider classification 1 Mark Renshaw (Aus) United Water 4.29.05 2 Bruce McIntosh (Aus) United Water 3 Dave McPartland (Aus) United Water 4 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA 5 David Pell (Aus) United Water 0.07 6 Thomas Bodo (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 7 Peter Dawson (Aus) United Water 8 Ashley Humbert (Aus) United Water 9 Allan Davis (Aus) Australian Institute Of Sport 10 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Lotto Adecco 11 Brad Davidson (Aus) Saeco 12 Adrian Laidler (Aus) UniSA 13 Simon Gerrans (Aus) United Water 14 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Domo Farm Frites 15 Regis Lhuillier (Fra) La Française Des Jeux 16 Daniel Mackey (Aus) United Water 31.09 Teams classification 1 Australian Institute Of Sport 13.04.48 2 Mapei - Quick Step 3 Ag2r Prevoyance 7.19 4 Crédit Agricole 7.22 5 Saeco Machine Per Caffe - Longoni Sport 7.25 6 UniSA 14.32 7 CSC - Tiscali 14.39 8 Telekom 15.25 9 United Water 22.27 10 Domo Farm Frites 22.41 11 La Francaise Des Jeux 22.48 12 Lotto Adecco