6th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.3

Australia, January 20-25, 2004

Rider Diaries

Photo: © Mark Gunter

The Last Hurrah: The Patrick Jonker diary

Nationality: Australian/Dutch
Team: UniSA

After 10 successful years as a pro rider, Patrick Jonker has decided to make the transition back to normality. The Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under will be the final race of his career, and the lanky Aussie has all intentions of going out on a high, with the aim of winning the race held in his own backyard.

Diary entries

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Stage 5: Saturday Jan 24, Willunga - Willunga , 147 km

A love-hate relationship

A relieved Pat
Photo ©: CN

Again they attacked from the start. The first hour was quick, averaging 47 k's an hour and a break got away, about 10 riders, and they quickly got one minute. The highest on GC was two minutes something, McPartland.

We had a bit of a buffer zone and the team was working as well as they were yesterday, they were doing a really good job. I mean, you know, it was tough with the wind and the undulating course. 10 guys is a big break to control. We weren't the only team that had an interest in chasing them down. Credit Agricole for Botcharov and Navigators for McKenzie were interested in bringing the break back. Together the three teams kept the 10 riders in sight until the last climb, Willunga Hill, which was probably the deciding factor in the race. The hardest climb in the race.

As we went into the last 40km of the race, we had caught the breakaway just before the climb started and as we hit the start of the climb, Figueras and Paolo Tiralongo took off at the bottom of the climb. I struggled a lot to follow them and was struggling to stay close to them, but I had tremendous help from Luke Roberts. He sort of saved the day. He kept a real good tempo, made sure the two didn't get too far ahead and once we were over the top of the climb I got my legs back again and felt good. With the group we had of about 10 we worked well together and we chased them down with about eight km to go, which is perfect.

Then Ben Day just sort of rode away in the last few kilometres. It wasn't such a huge attack or anything. He just went to the other side of the road and took off. The sprinters Baden and Robbie who were also in the group were looking at each other I guess, and Ben had enough left to stay away and take the stage, to his credit.

UniSA power
Photo ©: Mark Gunter

I was just in the group which was sufficient to maintain my lead and overall classification.

As soon as we caught Figueras I knew the yellow was safe. He was the main threat, basically. Tomorrow it's still not in the bag until we are over the finish line so Robbie, Baden and the boys are still breathing down my neck. And Figueras. It's not over till it's over. Barring any major difficulties, it should be okay.

I am pretty well tired tonight. I will have an early night tonight. I haven't really recovered from the big attack on the first road stage, 160km breakaway took its toll. The team, UniSA has really come up with the goods on the day, really working just as good as those million dollar pro teams out there, which is a credit to them. They have obviously done a lot of training specially for this event and it is showing.

24 hours to go: It will be great when it is all behind me. I can't wait till when it is all history. Cyclists don't have letdown, eh? You know how people think you'll miss the sport and stuff? Cycling isn't the sort of sport you miss. It's too hard. It's a love-hate relationship. I don't find many cyclists who do. They miss the glory, maybe, but the guys who have done the Tour, they stop racing and sometimes they never touch the bike again. They are scarred from the suffering.

I will keep riding though, to keep fit, for my work with BikestyleTours.com. I will be leading a group of about 30-40 riders and showing them around France and doing Tour de France stages.

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