6th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.3

Australia, January 20-25, 2004

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Stage 3: Thursday Jan 22, Goolwa to Victor Harbor, 150km

Complete Live Report

Commentary by Anthony Tan, with additional reporting by Karen Forman and Gabriella Ekström

Time conversion guide: GMT = ACDT - 10.5 hrs, AEDT = ACDT + 0.5 hrs, EST = ACDT - 15.5 hrs, PST = CEST - 18.5 hrs

Start time: 11:20 ACDT
Estimated finish: 14:47 ACDT

10:48 ACDT    
Welcome to Cyclingnews' coverage of the third stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, a 150 kilometre stage between Goolwa to Victor Harbor.

Covering the coasts and hinterlands of the Fleurieu Peninsula, Stage 3 at 150 kilometres incorporates some of the State's most popular southern coastal areas and historic farming countryside. Commencing in Goolwa, a pioneering port near the mouth of the Murray River, riders make a short out-and-back loop across the Hindmarsh Island Bridge before heading to the surf havens of Middleton and Port Elliot for the day's first sprint points. The peloton then proceeds along The Esplanade through the seaside town of Victor Harbor and past the SA Whale Centre before the King of the Mountains climb at Newland Hill.

Riders continue their undulating journey north for the second sprint of the day at 91.9 kilometres in the town of Myponga, taken from the Aboriginal word maippunga, meaning "locality of high cliffs". The race then returns to Victor Harbour via Myponga Reservoir, the summer beachside town Carrickalinga and Inman Valley for a high-speed finish along The Esplanade.

There are two intermediate points sprints en route, at Port Elliot (23.6 km) and Myponga (91.9 km), and one King of the Mountains sprint at Newland Hill (35.9 km).

The riders will start the stage proper at 11:02 am after a 1.1 km neutral section that will take them to the start proper in Brooking St, Goolwa.

11:12 ACDT    0.5 km/149.5 km to go
After the peloton completed an arduous 1.1 kilometres in the neutral zone, the race has officially started, with the riders making their way to Hindmarsh Island via the Goolwa Bridge. The weather is overcast, around 20 degrees Celsius, with a strong wind blowing.

11:22 ACDT    
The peloton is all together, with the weather a little chillier than previous days. In fact, we haven't really had a stinking hot day yet in the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, which is quite unusual at this time year.

FDJeux.com's Bernard Eisel attacked, but it's back together.

11:28 ACDT    
It's clear FDJeux.com DS Marc Madiot has given his boys an order today - to attack and try and establish a break. Now it's Australian champion Matthew Wilson (FDJeux.com) who has attacked, with riders chasing behind.

11:32 ACDT    
Cyclingnews spoke with yesterday's stage winner and new leader on the road, David McPartland (Team Australia) before the start today in Goolwa. "I'm feeling good, before the race at least but I'll wait to see how the legs are when I get out on the road," said McPartland.

"The wind could be the deciding factor. As long as I'm in a good position, the team is definitely strong enough. The aim is to keep Allan Davis as protected as possible as he is still capable of winning the tour."

Team Australia lost two riders yesterday: Ashley Hutchinson and Stephen Wooldridge, who both took wrong turns and ended up off the course. "They could have provided us with more support, but that's cycling," he said.

11:40 ACDT    20 km/130 km to go
It's a very aggressive start. After Matthew Wilson (FDJeux.com) was caught, Pedro Horrillo (Quick.Step-Davitamon) launched himself off the front, and enjoys a small lead to the peloton.

Local hero Patrick Jonker (UniSA), who is riding his final pro race, said at the start: "It's gonna be hard with breaks going everywhere. I pulled up ok but I've been doing it for so long eh?"

Jonker's Dutch breakaway companion from yesterday, Alain Van Katwijk (BankGiroLoterij), is feeling a little worse for wear: "I hope I'm feeling good, I don't know yet.

"I think the bad legs from yesterday are gone. I had so many cramps at the finish I couldn't walk any more. I like the weather now - I don't like 40 degrees. I don't know how I'll feel when we reach the climb but if I'm up the front I'll try and get more points and recuperate from the hard day yesterday. I'll be watching the other two riders but really I didn't expect to ride top 10. Getting what I did is fantastic."

"I noticed yesterday the Australian guys are so much further ahead in strength. They have been racing already for weeks but this is only the third day of my racing season."

11:49 ACDT    24 km/126 km to go
The bunch was all together before the first sprint at Port Elliot, with Aurelien Clerc (Quick.Step-Davitamon) taking maximum points and a three second bonus, ahead of Antonio Fisher Murillo (Domina Vacanze) and Luke Roberts (UniSA).

Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) said at the start today: "I think it's going to be hard once we get out onto the big lap after Victor Harbor because it's up and down all the time.

"Even if it's not a windy day it's going to be windy there. Yesterday I didn't want to put my whole team up the front to just ride with the whole peloton behind them so I attacked a couple of times to see if I could get in a break perhaps. We finally got a big group going but it was very big and it had a lot of good guys in it so it doesn't really put me in such a good position for the GC."

11:57 ACDT    
David McKenzie (Navigators) is hoping for something special: "I'm feeling pretty good I think but the other guys are pretty gee'd up. Yesterday was quite unusual because the attack came at the start and lasted all day so today rather than following any attacks we'd like to be making the moves. I hope to see something special today."

Laszlo Bodrogi (Quick.Step-Davitamon), on the other hand, doesn't have any significant peronsal ambitions: "Since I finished in the grupetto yesterday I don't have any ambitions for a decent GC. Instead the whole team is going to ride for Aurelien Clerc who had a flat tyre in the last kilometre yesterday. We think he might have a better chance today."

12:07 ACDT    36 km/114 km to go
On the King the Mountains climb at Newland Hill, Paolo Tiralongo (Panaria-Margres) and Massimiliano Gentili (Domina Vacanze) were leading over the summit, with a four-man group containing Kevin Hulsmans (Quick.Step-Davitamon) chasing.

The top five riders at the KOM sprint were: Paolo Tiralongo (Panaria-Margres), Massimiliano Gentili (Domina Vacanze), Russell Van Hout (UniSA), Mads Kaggestad (Credit Agricole) and Kevin Hulsmans (Quick.Step-Davitamon).

12:19 ACDT    47 km/103 km to go
Cyclingnews' Karen Forman, who is travelling in the UniSA team car today, was told that the roads that the peloton are now travelling on, around the area of Willow Creek and Parawa, are very dead, with plenty of punctures occuring.

Obviously one or two Panaria riders have punctured, with half the team behind the caravan of vehicles, assisting their team-mates in rejoining the peloton after a wheel change.

A nineteen rider break went clear around the 36 kilometre mark, and have established a lead of 32 seconds at 47 kilometres.

In the group are: Luke Roberts (UniSA), Jose Pecharroman Fabian (Quick.Step-Davitamon), Antonio Fisher Murillo (Domina Vacanze), David McKenzie (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team), Patrick Jonker (UniSA), Glenn D'Hollander (Lotto-Domo), Mark Jamieson (United Water), Alexandre Botcharov (Credit Agricole), Ciaran Power (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team), Massimo Giunti (Domina Vacanze), Ben Day (Team Australia), Kevin Hulsmans (Quick.Step-Davitamon), Frederic Amorison (Quick.Step-Davitamon), Mikel Astarloza (Ag2r Prevoyance), Gene Bates (UniSA), Wim Vansevenant (Lotto-Domo), Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo), Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux.com) and Bernhard Eisel (FDJeux.com).

12:36 ACDT    
It looks like a few riders from the original break have dropped back to the bunch, with the lead group now comprised of 16 riders, including: Alexandre Botcharov (Credit Agricole), Antonio Fisher Murillo (Domina Vacanze), Massimo Giunti (Domina Vacanze), Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo), Kevin Hulsmans (Quick.Step-Davitamon), Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com), Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux.com), David McKenzie (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team), Ciaran Power (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team), Ben Day (Team Australia), Giuliano Figueras (Panaria-Margres), Mark Jamieson (United Water), Gene Bates (UniSA), Luke Roberts (UniSA), Patrick Jonker (UniSA) and Bernhard Eisel (FDJeux.com).

12:46 ACDT    65 km/85 km to go
At the 65 kilometre mark, the lead group's advantage is 38 seconds; UniSA is the best represented team, with three riders in the break: Gene Bates (UniSA), Luke Roberts (UniSA) and Patrick Jonker (UniSA).

With the yellow jersey of David McPartland (Team Australia) and Dutchman Alain Van Katwijk (BankGiroLoterij) missing, Pat Jonker is well placed to take the overall lead from 23 year old McPartland by the day's end.

12:53 ACDT    
With a slender advantage hovering at 30 seconds for almost 30 kilometres, it's clear both groups are riding very hard. With a strong wind coming from the southeast, this should favour the break as the echelons will certainly create havoc for those at the back of the main field.

13:05 ACDT    80 km/70 km to go
It looks like persistence has paid off for the lead group, with the breakaway now 1'14 ahead of the peloton. Go Paddy Jonker!

13:16 ACDT    
A chase group containing overnight leader David McPartland (Team Australia) has now formed, with Quick.Step-Davitamon driving the group. Coming up to the second and final sprint of the day in Myponga (km 91.9), the break is leading by 1'27.

Apart from Jonker, the next best-placed rider in the lead group is Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo), followed by David McKenzie (Navigators) and Russian Alexandre Botcharov (Credit Agricole), all three 1'51 behind McPartland at the start of the day.

13:22 ACDT    92 km/58 km to go
Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux.com) took out the second sprint of the day, followed by Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) and Giuliano Figueras (Panaria-Margres). The lead group's advantage is now down to 1'05, with a 10 kilometre section of unsealed dirt road coming up. Should be interesting...

13:30 ACDT    99 km/51 km to go
The lead has now gone back out again to 1'43 as the riders hit the dirt. The drivers are having trouble seeing the road in front of them - this is looking like Paris-Roubaix!

13:31 ACDT    
UniSA team manager Michele Primaro is obviously quite happy with the current race situation, as he has three riders in the leading break including Patrick Jonker, who is in the virtual yellow race leader's jersey.

"Gene, Luke and Patrick got away in the first break, although we're a bit disappointed that Russell van Hout isn't up there, as he rode well yesterday," Primaro told Cyclingnews from the team car. "It's a long way to the finish and anything can happen but we're still looking very good and Pat should be in there by the end of the day. We're just going to keep driving the break."

13:37 ACDT    
Ben Day (Team Australia) has punctured, and after a quick wheel change, he's chasing hard to get back in touch with the leaders, who have exited the dirt section. The lead group's advantage has gone out to 1'55.

14:00 ACDT    122 km/28 km to go
Unfortunately, Ben Day (Team Australia) was unable to rejoin the lead group, who now have an advantage of 1'51. Day is now in the second group containing his team-mate and overnight leader Dave McPartland.

The locals have come out in force, with plenty of oldies at the local nursing home in Carrickalinga waving flags, despite the weather being a little on the chilly side.

14:13 ACDT    
UniSA team manager Michele Primaro said to Cyclingnews' Karen Forman, who is travelling in the team car with them today, that Luke Roberts will probably have a go and attack soon. "Who would want to wait for a sprint with Robbie and Baden?" he asks rhetorically.

14:28 ACDT    6 km/144 km to go
With 6 to go before the finish in Victor Harbor, the lead group are assured of crossing the line first. Gene Bates (UniSA) is being told over the race radio to attack with 4k to go by his team manager Michele Primaro. Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com starts stretching his legs.

14:31 ACDT    4 km/146 km to go
Sure enough, Gene Bates attacked with 4 to go, taking Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux.com) with him. Baden Cooke's on the front of the second group.

14:35 ACDT    
And Belgian Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux.com) takes the sprint! With a two-plus minute advantage, Patrick Jonker will don the yellow jersey, with his UniSA team leading the teams classification. Go team!

Results

Unofficial
1 Phillipe Gilbert (Bel) FDJeux.com           3.28.50
2 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto-Domo
 
General classification after stage 3
 
1 Patrick Jonker (Aus) UniSA

Results    Mail the commentary team