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Jayco Tour of Queensland - 2.5
Australia, November 1-6, 2004
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Stage 5 - November 4: Miriam Vale - Town of 1770, 90.2 km
Ljungblad hits back
By Rod Morris in 1770
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Recently crowned Herald Sun Tour champion Jonas Ljungblad has thrown his hat into the ring as a potential winner of the second annual Jayco Tour of Queensland cycling classic. Ljungblad today won the longest stage of the TOQ, a 90 km climb from Miriam Vale to the Town of 1770, going one better than his performance in the stage last year. The win elevated him to fifth spot and 33 seconds behind tour leader Jaaron Poad, meaning the Swede is definitely a chance to claim overall honours come the final day in Bundaberg on Saturday.
Arguably the toughest stage of this week's tour, placings went a long way to sorting out who will - or won't - win this great bike race. Ljungblad was content to sit in the main bunch for the majority of the race, but hit out when the peloton reached the four-loop Agnes Water area.
Earlier in the race, there were numerous attacks, some with substance, some without. For the most part of the first 40 km, the peloton was happy enough to allow riders to get away up the road, particularly as none of them were real threats on GC standings.
Englishman Rob Sharman (Centracks), who started the day in eighth position, 50 seconds behind Poad, was one of the day's big improvers, reducing his deficit to 44 seconds, while David Harrigan (Europcar) slipped into fourth place and is now just 29 seconds adrift of the lead, suggesting he is the real surprise packet of the tour. Harrigan was second across the line at 1770, 2 seconds behind Ljungblad and Bart Heirewegh claimed third - the second time he has been on the podium this week - to keep alive his dream of finishing his career with a tour victory.
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The 37-year-old Belgian has announced his retirement following this tour, drawing the curtain on a 20-year career which has included 200 wins throughout the world. "My mind is fresh, my legs feel good and I have good form, I would like to finish this week with a high GC placing," Heirewegh said.
Stage winner Ljungblad admitted the race had been tough because of a combination of numerous factors. "The weather was hot, that's tough enough, but then again there were so many attacks from different teams, it was very difficult to watch everyone and every team. In a way it was a bit of a controlled stage, because each attack was countered by another team. Thankfully I knew the stage from last year, it was a torturous climb to the finish and I had to be in the right position at the right time."
Ljungblad said he came to the Tour of Queensland as a marked man, courtesy of winning the Herald Sun Tour. "I knew I would be watched closely, but I still wanted to win a stage, I've achieved that, now let's see if I can get up and win the tour, I'm not without a chance," he said. "The time trial on Thursday may be a bit of a worry, but I've given myself a chance."
Whilst Ljungblad enjoyed his day in the sun - literally - the tour lead remained in the hands of expatriate New Zealander Jaaron Poad, who is now based in Brisbane. Poad (25) remained in the distinctive orange leader's jersey, but his advantage was narrowed to 2 seconds after his nearest challenger Russell Van Hout (Subaru) managed to pick up a 1 second bonus in intermediate sprints. Neither Poad or Van Hout featured in the final sprint, both outside the top 10, where the bonuses are placed.
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Poad said he was overwhelmed by the response to his performance in the TOQ. "I was a late inclusion in the race and really only came here to enjoy myself and see what happened. So far I have held the leader's jersey for every stage bar one and also claimed a victory in a stage, I am struggling to come to terms with it all."
But with five stages completed and only three remaining, Poad is now being seriously considered as a potential winner of the race. "I have tried not to think about it too much, but as Saturday gets closer and I'm still in this position, its hard not to contemplate that I could win this whole damn thing," he said. "My team is riding well, I've obviously given them something extra to consider in as far as GC is concerned, so why not try and go the whole way now?"
Three stages of the TOQ remain, with most pundits convinced that overall honours could be sorted out on the penultimate day.
Stage 6 is a 60 km race from Gin Gin to Mount Perry, followed by the "Race of Truth" - a 4 km individual time trial in Mount Perry. Popular theory is that whoever is leading the race after the ITT only has to stay upright on Saturday and he will be crowned the 2004 winner of the TOQ.
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Only time will tell... pardon the pun!
Photography
Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com
- Radio 4BU-KixFM teamates Kristian House (L) and Stephen Cummings share a joke before the stage five start in Miriam Vale
- Stephen Cumming's (Radio 4BU-KixFM) gear is laid ready for action, including the mandatory pre-race coffee
- Centracks crew member Jeanette Ferris prepares Dermott Nally for racing on stage five
- A bike line-up!
- Helena the coffees' great, Katey the suntans coming along nicely. (L-R) Russell and Dean Downing with Rob Sharman, teamates in England on the Recycling.co.uk/MGXPower team
- The Argon 18 Bikes-Caravello team before stage five
- I can feel a four x coming on!
- On your marks, set!
- Tomas Buchacek (Subaru) avoids a media car on his right and some road-kill to his left
- Trent Wilson (Subaru) was the most aggressive rider during stage five from Miriam Vale to Town 1770
- The leaders have baffled the rest at Baffle Creek!
- Riders had to contend with roadworks just out of Miriam Vale
- Ireland's Dermot Nally (Centracks) withdrew from the race during stage five
- Tour leader Jaaron Poad (Argon 18 Bikes-Caravello) tucked away in the main field
- Bradley Mills (Subaru) on the attack near Agnes Water
- David Mckenzie (Jayco) working hard during stage five to Town 1770
- A drinks station but probably not what the sign says! (XXXX Queensland beer)
- The peloton makes its way into Agnes Water
- Descending into Agnes Water near the finish at Town 1770
- Surf's up!
- The field descends towards the finish in Town 1770
- Hey guys, this way's easier!
- Benoit Poilvet (Bundaberg Sugar) cools down after a hot day in the saddle during stage five
- The podium after stage five - (L-R): David Harrigan (2nd, Europcar), Jonas Ljungblad (1st, Bendigo) and Bart Heirewegh (3rd, Bundaberg Sugar)
- Jaaron Poad (Argon 18 Bikes-Caravello) still in orange and Tour leader after stage five
Results
1 Jonas Ljungblad (Swe) Bendigo Bank 2.13.24 (40.57 km/h) 2 David Harrigan (Aus) Europcar 0.02 3 Bart Heirewegh (Bel) Bundaberg Sugar 4 Russell Downing (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 5 Jamie Burrow (GBr) Bendigo Bank 0.06 6 Corey Sweet (Aus) Lysaght 7 Mathew Rex (Aus) Lysaght 8 Rob Sharman (GBr) Centracks 9 Jorge Libonatti (Uru) Europcar 0.08 10 Kristian House (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 11 Ashley Hutchinson (Aus) Mirvac 0.09 12 Jaaron Poad (NZl) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 13 Russell Van Hout (Aus) Subaru 14 Jorn Reuss (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 15 Steven De Decker (Bel) Bundaberg Sugar 0.12 16 Mateusz Mroz (Pol) Bendigo Bank 17 Felix Odebrecht (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 18 Peter McDonald (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 19 Ruber Marin (Col) Subaru 20 David McKenzie (Aus) Jayco 21 Bradley Mills (Aus) Subaru 22 Phillip Thuaux (Aus) Mirvac 23 Thomas Gronqvist (Swe) Bendigo Bank 0.16 24 Richard Vollebregt (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 25 Matthew Goold (Aus) Jayco 26 Tony Mann (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 27 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Jayco 28 Thomas Liese (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 29 Josh Wilson (Aus) Bundaberg Sugar 30 Tomas Buchacek (Cze) Subaru 31 Dominique Perras (Can) Jayco 32 Artur Kraeszowiec (Pol) Bendigo Bank 33 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Bundaberg Sugar 34 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Malaysia Airlines 0.22 35 Philip Finnegan (Irl) Centracks 0.23 36 Matthew Newlands (Aus) Mirvac 0.26 37 Cameron Jennings (Aus) Mirvac 0.28 38 Dean Downing (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 0.31 39 Andrew Graham (Aus) Uno Clothing 40 Stephen Cummings (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 0.34 41 Kieran Page (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 42 Brad Edmunds (Aus) Europcar 0.39 43 Dillan Boone (Aus) Uno Clothing 44 James Hannam (Aus) Lysaght 45 Jose Rodriguez (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 0.43 46 Tod Dawson (Aus) Lysaght 47 Benoit Poilvet (Fra) Bundaberg Sugar 0.45 48 Mark Roland (Aus) Jayco 49 Trent Wilson (Aus) Subaru 0.51 50 Gilbert Gutowski (Aus) Europcar 1.02 51 Paul Healion (Irl) Centracks 1.11 52 Daniel Newnham (Aus) Mirvac 1.32 53 Chris George (Aus) Lysaght 1.44 54 Brian Kenneally (Irl) Centracks 1.59 Sprints Sprint 1 - Mocka 18 - Forrest Lodge 1 Bradley Mills (Aus) Subaru 3 pts 2 Kieran Page (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 2 3 Russell Van Hout (Aus) Subaru 1 Sprint 2 - Mocka 23 - Agnes Water Bush Retreat 1 Daniel Newnham (Aus) Mirvac 3 pts 2 Mateusz Mroz (Pol) Bendigo Bank 2 3 Peter McDonald (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 1 Sprint 3 - Mocka 31 - Billabong Surf Shop 1 Daniel Newnham (Aus) Mirvac 3 pts 2 Mateusz Mroz (Pol) Bendigo Bank 2 3 Peter McDonald (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 1 Sprint 4 - Mocka 41 - Billabong Surf Shop 1 Daniel Newnham (Aus) Mirvac 3 pts 2 Mateusz Mroz (Pol) Bendigo Bank 2 3 Tomas Buchacek (Cze) Subaru 1 Sprint 5 - Mocka 51 - Billabong Surf Shop 1 Mateusz Mroz (Pol) Bendigo Bank 3 pts 2 Tomas Buchacek (Cze) Subaru 2 3 Peter McDonald (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 1 Sprint 6 - Mocka 61 - Billabong Surf Shop 1 Tomas Buchacek (Cze) Subaru 3 pts 2 Peter McDonald (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 2 3 Mateusz Mroz (Pol) Bendigo Bank 1 Climbs Climb 1 - Cat. 2, Mocka 90 1 Jonas Ljungblad (Swe) Bendigo Bank 7 pts 2 David Harrigan (Aus) Europcar 5 3 Bart Heirewegh (Bel) Bundaberg Sugar 3 General classification after stage 5 1 Jaaron Poad (NZl) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 6.49.45 2 Russell Van Hout (Aus) Subaru 0.02 3 Bart Heirewegh (Bel) Bundaberg Sugar 0.07 4 David Harrigan (Aus) Europcar 0.29 5 Jonas Ljungblad (Swe) Bendigo Bank 0.33 6 Russell Downing (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 0.36 7 David McKenzie (Aus) Jayco 0.40 8 Rob Sharman (GBr) Centracks 0.41 9 Ashley Hutchinson (Aus) Mirvac 0.45 10 Felix Odebrecht (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 0.46 11 Mathew Rex (Aus) Lysaght 0.52 12 Kristian House (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 13 Tony Mann (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 0.55 14 Mateusz Mroz (Pol) Bendigo Bank 0.57 15 Thomas Liese (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 0.59 16 Corey Sweet (Aus) Lysaght 1.07 17 Jamie Burrow (GBr) Bendigo Bank 1.10 18 Jorn Reuss (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 1.13 19 Kieran Page (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 1.19 20 Dean Downing (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 1.20 21 Jorge Libonatti (Uru) Europcar 22 Peter McDonald (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 1.21 23 Phillip Thuaux (Aus) Mirvac 24 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Jayco 25 Bradley Mills (Aus) Subaru 1.23 26 Tomas Buchacek (Cze) Subaru 27 Steven De Decker (Bel) Bundaberg Sugar 28 Dominique Perras (Can) Jayco 1.25 29 Ruber Marin (Col) Subaru 1.27 30 Thomas Gronqvist (Swe) Bendigo Bank 1.32 31 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Malaysia Airlines 32 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Bundaberg Sugar 33 Matthew Goold (Aus) Jayco 34 Cameron Jennings (Aus) Mirvac 1.41 35 Matthew Newlands (Aus) Mirvac 1.42 36 Richard Vollebregt (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 1.44 37 Andrew Graham (Aus) Uno Clothing 1.47 38 Trent Wilson (Aus) Subaru 1.57 39 Jose Rodriguez (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 1.58 40 Mark Roland (Aus) Jayco 41 Daniel Newnham (Aus) Mirvac 2.39 42 James Hannam (Aus) Lysaght 3.20 43 Stephen Cummings (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 4.50 44 Benoit Poilvet (Fra) Bundaberg Sugar 5.04 45 Tod Dawson (Aus) Lysaght 6.07 46 Josh Wilson (Aus) Bundaberg Sugar 8.43 47 Dillan Boone (Aus) Uno Clothing 9.21 48 Gilbert Gutowski (Aus) Europcar 9.29 49 Philip Finnegan (Irl) Centracks 10.37 50 Brad Edmunds (Aus) Europcar 10.53 51 Artur Kraeszowiec (Pol) Bendigo Bank 19.56 52 Chris George (Aus) Lysaght 20.48 53 Paul Healion (Irl) Centracks 21.01 54 Brian Kenneally (Irl) Centracks 29.26 Sprint Championship 1 Kieran Page (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 31 pts 2 Jaaron Poad (NZl) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 22 3 Tony Mann (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 16 4 Mateusz Mroz (Pol) Bendigo Bank 15 5 Russell Van Hout (Aus) Subaru 14 6 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Jayco 11 7 David Harrigan (Aus) Europcar 10 8 Daniel Newnham (Aus) Mirvac 9 9 David McKenzie (Aus) Jayco 9 10 Kristian House (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 9 11 Phillip Thuaux (Aus) Mirvac 7 12 Dominique Perras (Can) Jayco 7 13 Peter McDonald (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 7 14 Stephen Cummings (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 6 15 Russell Downing (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 6 16 Thomas Liese (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 6 17 Tomas Buchacek (Cze) Subaru 6 18 Trent Wilson (Aus) Subaru 6 19 Jonas Ljungblad (Swe) Bendigo Bank 6 20 Bradley Mills (Aus) Subaru 5 21 Steven De Decker (Bel) Bundaberg Sugar 5 22 Corey Sweet (Aus) Lysaght 5 23 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Malaysia Airlines 4 24 Mark Roland (Aus) Jayco 3 25 Bart Heirewegh (Bel) Bundaberg Sugar 3 26 Cameron Jennings (Aus) Mirvac 3 27 Rob Sharman (GBr) Centracks 3 28 Richard Vollebregt (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 2 29 Benoit Poilvet (Fra) Bundaberg Sugar 1 30 Dean Downing (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 1 31 Ruber Marin (Col) Subaru 1 32 Jose Rodriguez (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 1 King Of The Mountain Championship 1 Thomas Liese (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 14 pts 2 Russell Van Hout (Aus) Subaru 10 3 Jonas Ljungblad (Swe) Bendigo Bank 9 4 Stephen Cummings (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 6 5 David Harrigan (Aus) Europcar 5 6 Rob Sharman (GBr) Centracks 4 7 Trent Wilson (Aus) Subaru 4 8 Tomas Buchacek (Cze) Subaru 3 9 Bart Heirewegh (Bel) Bundaberg Sugar 3 10 Jaaron Poad (NZl) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 2 11 Richard Vollebregt (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 1 12 Tony Mann (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 1 13 Benoit Poilvet (Fra) Bundaberg Sugar 1 Criterium championship 1 Felix Odebrecht (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 21 pts 2 David McKenzie (Aus) Jayco 19 3 Ashley Hutchinson (Aus) Mirvac 18 4 Russell Van Hout (Aus) Subaru 14 5 Jaaron Poad (NZl) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 13 6 Dean Downing (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 13 7 Bart Heirewegh (Bel) Bundaberg Sugar 12 8 Mathew Rex (Aus) Lysaght 11 9 Russell Downing (GBr) Radio 4BU-KIX FM 10 10 Mateusz Mroz (Pol) Bendigo Bank 8 11 David Harrigan (Aus) Europcar 8 12 Artur Kraeszowiec (Pol) Bendigo Bank 7 13 Jorn Reuss (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 6 14 Paul Healion (Irl) Centracks 2 15 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) Malaysia Airlines 1 16 Tony Mann (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 1 17 Jonas Ljungblad (Swe) Bendigo Bank 1 Leading Queensland Rider Award 1 Ashley Hutchinson (Aus) Mirvac 2 Tony Mann (Aus) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 3 Cameron Jennings (Aus) Mirvac 4 Matthew Newlands (Aus) Mirvac 5 Mark Roland (Aus) Jayco 6 Daniel Newnham (Aus) Mirvac 7 Tod Dawson (Aus) Lysaght 8 Gilbert Gutowski (Aus) Europcar Most Aggressive rider 1 Thomas Liese (Ger) Malaysia Airlines 3 pts 2 Eric Wohlberg (Can) Jayco 2 3 Phillip Thuaux (Aus) Mirvac 2 4 Trent Wilson (Aus) Subaru 2 5 Jaaron Poad (NZl) Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 2 Teams classification 1 Argon 18 Bikes - Caravello 20.33.17 2 Bendigo Bank 0.04 3 Bundaberg Sugar 0.05 4 Subaru 0.06 5 Radio 4BU-KIX FM 0.18 6 Malaysia Airlines 7 Jayco 0.29 8 Mirvac 0.33 9 Lysaght 0.52 10 Europcar 7.46 11 Centracks 28.50 12 UNO Clothing
