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7th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.HC
Australia, January 18-23, 2005
Map Start List Latest live report Results
Stage 1 - January 18: East End Adelaide Street Race, 50km
Commentary by Jeff Jones, with additional reporting from Gabriella Ekström and Anthony Tan
Complete live report
Live coverage starts: 19.00 ACDT
Estimated finish time: 20.10 ACDT
18:48 CST
Welcome all to the live coverage of the 2005 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under,
which kicks off in a few minutes with a 25 lap/50 km criterium around a fast
and not overly technical circuit in the east end of Adelaide. It's a beautiful
evening here after a warmish day, and a large crowd has gathered to watch the
action of this spectator friendly event.
This event will naturally suit the sprinters, and all eyes will be on the likes of Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo), Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com), Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros), Jaan Kirsipuu (Credit Agricole), Graeme Brown (Panaria), Dave McKenzie (United Water), Hilton Clarke (Navigators) and of course Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis). Times are important tonight, as any group lapping the peloton will get a two minute bonus. That's going to make for some fast racing.
18:58 CST
We spoke to favourite and Australian Champion Robbie McEwen before the race
this evening, and the Davitamon-Lotto rider was confident. "I always have a
good feeling here in Adelaide," he said. "I will see tonight how I'm riding
after Saturday's championships. I've just been taking it easy for a couple of
days."
19:01 CST
And they're off and racing in the East End Adelaide Street Race!
19:05 CST 2km/48km to go
At the end of the first lap, it's David McPartland (United Water) and Jan Kuyckx
(Davitamon-Lotto) trying to establish a breakaway, with Corey Sweet (Uni SA)
chasing them and the bunch hot on his heels.
19:07 CST 4km/46km to go
The three are caught on the second lap, as Graeme Brown (Ceramiche Panaria
Navigare) is next to attack, with Samuele Marzoli (Lampre-Caffita) chasing him.
19:11 CST 6km/44km to go
Brown is caught and at the end of the third lap, David Betts (United Water)
and Steve Cunningham (Uni SA) have 10 seconds on the field, which is being led
by Olympic road race silver medalist Sergio Paulinho (Liberty Seguros).
19:12 CST 8km/42km to go
The two leaders now have 5 seconds back to Johan Vansummeren (Davitamon-Lotto)
and a very stretched out peloton.
19:15 CST 10km/40km to go
Betts and Cunningham are caught on lap 5 as Chris Sutton (United Water) and
Cyril Lemoine (Credit Agricole) launch a counter-attack.
19:18 CST 12km/38km to go
The very high pace of the opening laps (around 47 km/h) has caused a bit of
a split in the bunch, with a dozen riders now getting a gap. In there are Gene
Bates (Uni SA), Chris Sutton (United Water), Kevin De Weert (Quick.Step) and
Cyril Lemoine (Credit Agricole), among others.
19:19 CST 14km/36km
to go
The attack doesn't last long, and the field is more or less together at the
end of lap 7.
19:22 CST 16km/34km to go
Cofidis and Lotto are now setting a high tempo on the front, as the pace continues
to go up. 8 laps have been completed so far in a little over 20 minutes. That
is not slow.
19:25 CST 18km/32km to go
David Loosli (Lampre-Caffita) attacks but is immediately marked by everyone.
There is an intermediate sprint coming at the end of the next lap.
19:28 CST 20km/30km to go
South Australian Gene Bates (UniSA) has won the first sprint! There is an immediate
counter attack by Erki Putsep (Ag2r).
19:29 CST 22km/28km to go
The Estonian champion Putsep is joined by Corey Sweet (UniSA), but the gap is
very small.
19:31 CST 24km/26km to go
Putsep is now solo as he approaches the halfway point, cruising around at 48
km/h
19:33 CST
Arnaud Coyot (Cofidis) and Inigo Chaurreau (Ag2r Prevoyance) have both punctured,
but should get a free lap to change their wheels without any time penalty.
19:35 CST 26km/24km to go
Apparently there are some Adelaide residents who haven't been able to get out
to the crit tonight, and are following it via our live coverage. We'll do our
best, but there's no substitute for being on the side of the road, screaming
loudly at the riders as they scoot past.
19:37 CST 30km/20km to go
As we get to 10 laps to go, Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) and Giosue Bonomi
(Lampre-Caffita) attack. Obviously McEwen is feeling good tonight.
19:40 CST 32km/18km to go
McEwen and Bonomi are caught as Rob McLachlan (United Water) and Gene Bates
(Uni SA) lead the peloton at the end of lap 16. O'Grady attacks! Crowd goes
wild.
19:42 CST 34km/16km to go
Stuart O’Grady (Cofidis) is on his own at the end of lap 17, being chased by
Sebastian Rosseler (Quick.Step) and Frederic Finot (FDJeux.com). And the peloton
in general.
19:43 CST 36km/14km to go
O'Grady is caught and Cadel Evans (Lotto-Domo) launches a counter attack. He
has 5 seconds on the peloton.
19:46 CST 38km/12km to go
We're coming up to another sprint at the end of the next lap. Big Dutch sprinter
Jans Koerts (Cofidis) counters Evans' attack, and is away. Can he hold on for
the sprint?
19:49 CST 40km/10km to go
There are just 5 laps to go as the second sprint is won by Koerts, it looks
like, but he only has a small gap over the field and will probably be caught.
Like the others.
19:51 CST
Nope - it was Gene Bates (UniSA) who won the second sprint. Straight away, David
Betts (United Water) attacks.
19:52 CST 44km/6km to go
Lampre-Caffita's Dario Pieri has dropped off the pace, which is a little high
for some of the Europeans so early in the season.
It's all together at the end of the lap, with Lotto driving the bus for McEwen.
19:55 CST 46km/4km to go
We're coming up to two laps to go of this heinously fast opening criterium.
Liberty Seguros has now moved up to the front to challenge the Lotto train,
trying to put Allan Davis in a winning position.
19:58 CST 48km/2km to go
As we hit the bell lap, it's none other than the Axeman Isidro Nozal (Liberty
Seguros) who is setting a fierce tempo for Davis in front. The sprinters have
all moved up...
19:59 CST
There was a crash at 3 to go, but we're unsure of who's down yet. Ah...Matthew
Rex (Uni SA), Ian McLeod (FDJeux.com) and Jonathon Clarke (United Water) were
all involved in the crash.
20:02 CST 50km/0km to go
And the sprint is taken out by Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto)!! As he said
to us at the beginning, he always has a good feeling here in Adelaide. It was
a very close sprint, but Allan Davis (Liberty) got up for second.
Results
Unofficial 1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 2 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros 3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Cofidis
