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6th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.3
Australia, January 20-25, 2004
News for January 19, 2004
Presenting the JCTDU teams
By Gabriella Ekström in Adelaide
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The Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under team presentation was held this year in Adelaide's beautiful town hall, newly decorated in true Queen Adelaide style. State tourism minister, Jane Lomax-Smith proudly welcomed the race to Adelaide for the 6th time, and said that as the premier sporting event in South Australia, the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under has changed the way Australians now look at cycling. She also believed that one reason that the event has become so popular with the overseas riders is - apart from being well organised - the fact that they are able to stay at the same hotel all through the race, not having to focus on anything else but racing and preparing for the long season that lies ahead.
Top cycling commentator Phil Liggett began the introduction of the teams and riders to the media and the invited guests by talking to UniSA's Pat Jonker, who will end his long cycling career by riding the JCTDU. "This race wasn't around when I first emerged on the pro scene, but the TDU has extended my career by another two years, I reckon."
Pat shook his head when asked if he'll end his career by finishing at the back at the bunch. "Nope. To win would be to quit in style, but there's going to be a lot of hard competition, especially with all the good Aussies in this race. One of us will battle it out for the win."
Liggett introduced the two other all-Australian teams: United Water with strong riders like Peter Dawson and Australian U23 TT champion Mark Jamieson, and Team Australia with young professional rider Allan Davis. Last year, Allan rode for the Spanish ONCE team, a team that looked to be in trouble when its main sponsor pulled out at the end of last year. However a new sponsor, Liberty Seguros, came on board and the team was saved.
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"I wasn't really worried," Allan said. "Our team manager Manolo Saiz was very reassuring, and seemed certain that he would find a new sponsor. It worked out, and now my focus turns back to my own improvement. To get better and to keep things in perspective."
Italian guests Panaria-Margres then entered the podium with their top sprinter Graeme Brown wearing the lowest number on his jersey, hence the most protected rider in the team. Liggett gave him a hard time, joking about the fact that Graeme has been disqualified from more races than he has won. To straighten that record out, more stage victories are certainly on Brownie's mind, although he didn't want to come up with a number, but reassured that he'll go after as many as he can.
Holland's Bankgiroloterij team has come to Adelaide with national champion Rudi Kemna as team leader, and should put in a good performance even though they are far away from the cold weather that they are used to. America's Navigators team then emerged on the stage, their recent signing David McKenzie hugely popular with the guests in the town hall. Less then 24 hours before, he had finished third in the Australian national championships, but wouldn't admit that he was disappointed with his result.
"I'm pretty happy over that actually. At the end of the day I felt content, but as I crossed the line, I felt that I probably had another lap in my legs. It feels good though to have started out my season with good results."
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French/Australian team FDJeux.com was next in line, proudly presenting its new Australian champion Matt Wilson. Joining him on stage was the rest of the team with Baden Cooke, young Swede Thomas Lövkvist and Mark Renshaw, but without Brad McGee who had missed his flight to be in Adelaide in time for the presentation.
Another team that recently arrived in Adelaide is Quickstep-Davitamon, and the European boys became the amusement of the evening when they tried hard to speak some English. Apparently, the man to watch in their team is talented Spaniard Jose Pecharroman, at least according to his fellow countryman Pedro Horillo.
Awaiting its turn to get up on the stage was the Belgian Lotto-Domo team, with Robbie McEwen as the team's natural leader. Robbie, who has been riding well up until the Jayco Bay Classic, was asked by Phil Liggett if he would come around and do a good performance here...since he hasn't lately.
"Well, that's how it is supposed to be, but you'll have to tell me, 'cause after all you are the expert," Robbie snapped back with a smile, before praising the surroundings of Adelaide on behalf of his team mates. "Some of them come here earlier to get some extra training. They just love the sunshine!"
The most Italian of them all were Domina Vacanze, who made quite an appearance in their fancy shoes and striped uniforms. A look that would get them shot on sight if they ever went training in South Africa, according to Phil Liggett, referring to their zebra-like colours. Massimiliano Mori, who finished second behind Eric Zabel in a TDU stage a few years ago, expressed a desire to have another go at a stage, and he also pointed out teammate Francesco Secchiari as a "sure card for the overall win."
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Julian Dean, of New Zealand fame, just joined up with his new Credit Agricole team. In this year's event, the team is lining up without Stuart O'Grady, a fact that might make the race more open to the overall contenders. Dean admitted that he had only spent a few days with his new team, and even though there are always a lot of new routines to pick up, he thought the team looked really good so far. Another rider who is also keen to impress his new team is Russian rider Alexandre Botcharov, and Dean spoke for him as well as for himself when he said that they would try to prove themselves during the following days.
Last to appear on the stage was Ag2r, the team of last year's winner Mikael Astarloza. The tall Spaniard admitted that the six stages to come certainly looked hard, but that his preparation was as good as last years. Being well prepared also means that he has already ridden over all the coming stages, and that he thinks he knows them quite well by now. Even though the key stage is considered to be the stage to Willunga on the fifth day, Ag2r has brought experienced riders like Jaan Kirsipuu and Andy Flickinger, and they will be looking for long escapes as well as the big bunch sprints during the race.
Photography
Images by Karen Forman/Cyclingnews
- UniSA
- United Water
- Team Australia
- Panaria-Margres
- Bankgiroloterij
- Navigators
- FdJeux.com
- New Australian road champion Matt Wilson (FdJeux.com) is interviewed by Phil Liggett.
- Quickstep Davitamon
- Lotto Domo
- Domina Vacanze
- Credit Agricole
- Ag2r Prevoyance
