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8th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.HC
Australia, January 17-22, 2006
Main Page Results Overall standings Stage Details Live report Video Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 1 - Wednesday, January 18: Mawson Lakes - Angaston, 148km
Fortune favours the brave
Gerrans magnificent as race turns on its head
By Anthony Tan in Angaston
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What looked like an unassuming 148 kilometres in the saddle turned out to be anything but that, as the four strongest riders in this year's Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under joined forces and turned the race on its head.
As defending champion Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Liberty Seguros - Wurth), Simon Gerrans (AG2R - Prevoyance), Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) and William Walker (United Water - Australia U23) broke clear of a 20-strong group 50 kilometres from the finish, it soon became clear the quartet had laid down an open misere, confidently showing their cards in front of anyone who wanted to play.
A few did, but their hands were weak; the peloton's 'white flag' evidenced by a massive winning margin of nearly 24 minutes by the day's end - a complete surrender by the main field.
In contrast, 25 year-old Gerrans was at his opportunistic best. Fearlessly attacking his breakaway group with five kilometres remaining and bravely - boldly - holding onto his slender lead to Angaston, his two second winning margin coupled with another nine seconds' worth of bonuses elevating baby-faced 'Gerro' to the top of the podium as stage winner and race leader, flanked by Sanchez, seven seconds in arrears, and McEwen, a further 11 seconds behind the 2005 race champion.
"It's the longest five k's I've ever ridden!" smiled Gerrans, dripping with perspiration and spent from his efforts.
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"I was disappointed with how I went at the national championships, so to come up how I did today, I'm just over the moon. It's just fantastic to have a win so early on in the year; I had a fantastic year last year and there's a bit of pressure [on me] going into this year, so I'm rapt to start off with a win."
As one of the pre-race favourites, the talented youngster from Goughs Bay in Victoria, was asked if his team had decided to surprise by going on the offensive so early in the peace. "Not at all," he replied.
"I was thinking of having an easy day today and then [when the break went with him in it] to try and keep the lead group in front. As it turns out, the opportunity arose to try and win the stage, so I took it."
Resembling the famous Tour de France stage to Pontarlier in 2001 but with just four stages remaining, this year's event appears all but over for everyone bar four, even with Gene Bates (Uni SA - Australia) and Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R - Prevoyance) 1'39 off the overall lead.
Still, anything can happen - just as it did today - but with three out of four squad ProTour teams and this race having a history of being won by seconds or parts thereof, it'd be a gamble to bet otherwise.
"It's going to be tough to defend the overall lead for the rest of the week," said Gerrans, "but I've got a really strong team here. AG2R Prevoyance are a great group of riders, and I'm sure they'll support me all the way. This tour's always won on a matter of seconds, so to get the time bonuses [out on the road] and the win at the end, it's a big advantage."
How it unfolded
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Under cloudy though humid skies, the opening stage of the JCTDU got off to a typically rapid start. After the 94-strong peloton - minus a fluey Nic Sanderson (Davitamon Lotto) and Patrice Halgand (Credit Agricole), who broke his collarbone last Friday - left the newish looking 'burb of Mawson Lakes, it took just five kilometres for Australian U23 TT champ Shaun Higgerson and Robert McLachlan (UniSA - Australia) to fly off the front.
15 k's into the race, the pair built a handy 1'25 lead, however, being the first day nerves and all, the peloton weren't keen to let them go, leading to a series of counter-attacks that saw a lead group of 23 riders form after 32 kilometres. In the move were: Aaron Kemps and Ivan Santos (Liberty Seguros), Simon Gerrans and Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r - Prevoyance), Robbie McEwen and Cadel Evans (Davitamon Lotto), Giovanni Visconti and Elia Rigotto (Milram), Eros Capecchi (Liquigas), Alexandre Pichot (Bouygues Telecom), Glenn d'Hollander (Chocolade Jacques), Ben Brooks and Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance), Simon Clarke, James Meadley and Shaun Higgerson (South Australia.com - AIS), Gene Bates, Rob McLachlan, Sean Sullivan, Chris Jongewaard and Russell Van Hout (UniSA), and Ben Day and Matthew Hayman (United Water).
Following the KOM sprint at Gawler, Sunday's Under 23 winner in Mount Torrens, William Walker (United Water - Australia U23), and Liquigas-Bianchi's Daniele Colli bridged successfully to create a front group of 25. It was mostly a cross-headwind all the way to Angaston, though, making life tough for those out front.
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But the 25 were fighting for their rights, and the half-minute gap held all the way to km 63.3, the first intermediate sprint at the home of the race's title sponsor Jacob's Creek hardly contested but won by Aussie road champ Russell Van Hout. And as often happens, the obstinacy of the break cracked the peloton's nerve; just a few kilometres down the road, the break's advantage blew out to a minute and a half.
When race radio announced United Water's Sam Lee became the race's first withdrawal of the day, it was also revealed two champion riders had made the junction after roughly 55 clicks - defending JCTDU champion Luis Leon Sanchez Gil and Tour de France green jersey winner Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) - forming a powerhouse unit 27 riders strong. Wim Vansevenant and Sebastien Chavanel then made it 29 - the gap a very dangerous 5'15 at km 81.
Explained McEwen: "We had about a minute and suddenly we were brought back to around 15 seconds with the bunch right behind us - but Hushovd came across with Sanchez on his wheel. As soon as they got there, the Credit Agricoles stopped chasing in the bunch - so did Liberty - and we went out to a minute 20 again, and that was pretty much it. As soon as it was the right combination in front, it was all over."
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With the JCTDU turned on its head, the pace up front was not surprisingly doing some damage. Soon afterwards, the front group split into two; first there were 14, later 20: Luis Leon Sanchez, Ivan Santos (Liberty Seguros), Simon Gerrans, Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r - Prevoyance), Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto), Giovanni Visconti (Milram), Eros Capecchi, Daniele Colli (Liquigas), Sebastien Chavanel (Bouygues Telecom), Glenn d'Hollander (Chocolade Jacques), Ben Brooks, Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance), Simon Clarke, Shaun Higgerson (South Australia.com - AIS), Gene Bates, Sean Sullivan, Chris Jongewaard, Russell Van Hout (Uni SA - Australia), William Walker, Mitch Docker (United Water - Australia U/23).
As the race approached the finishing circuit in Angaston (km 99.8), the previous paring down looked like making things a little more stable. But right at this time, the winning move was created: a lethal quartet comprised of defending champ Sanchez Gil (Liberty Seguros - Wurth), Gerrans (AG2R - Prevoyance), McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) and Walker (United Water - Australia U23), breaking clear at the highest point of the day.
15 kilometres later (km 115), they had made half a minute on a chase group of seven, the peloton now sliding at a snail's pace, 9'10 behind. Said seven-time Tour de France veteran Neil Stephens, driving media vehicle numero uno with Cyclingnews on board: "I think there's three race winners here; Robbie's riding well, but he's yet to prove himself [in general classification] at a major stage race" - something which McEwen himself admitted post-race.
"You saw those two guys - Gerro got away and Sanchez got away from me up the hill up to the finish - they're probably the two strongest climbers in the bunch," he said. "I know what's coming later in the week when we get to Willunga, and I know what Sanchez did there last year with his team and blew it to pieces, so that's why I've stayed conservative about my chances as far as overall goes."
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At 20 clicks to go, the lead of the fantastic four had steadily increased to just under a minute over the chasing septet - and to quote Rugby League personality Paul 'Fatty' Vautin, the peloton were (cue: use high-pitched voice) gooooooone at 20 minutes and counting.
It was on the final finishing circuit where Gerrans took his chance. With just five kilometres remaining, a hard, perfectly-timed attack near the crest of a false flat proved the ideal launch-pad, the slight hesitation just - only just - enough. But a millimetre or a mile, the day was Gerro's and the lead to boot. Moments earlier, with Walker dropped, Sanchez attacked McEwen on a sharp rise to distance himself by 11 seconds, and is now seven seconds from the lead.
"Robbie was cracking up a little bit after he got away in that group of four, so I thought I'd take advantage of that and attacked with five kilometres to go," explained Gerrans about his motives.
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"There was always the threat of catching me - it was block headwind all the way and I felt I was going absolutely nowhere... I was looking around, just holding them, and it looks like they almost got me in the finish there!" he smiled as if it was luck, but as the saying goes, fortune favours the brave.
Asked if was ostensibly a two-team race, Gerrans refused to discount McEwen. Notably, the Queenslander's been in a winning position more than once at the Tour Down Under, but each time, downplayed his chances: "Oh, I just know what my strengths and my weaknesses are and I'm just not a climber.
"It's a long week and I put in a big effort today - I had huge trouble with cramps - so I'll just see how I come up tomorrow," he said.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Mark Gunter/www.pbase.com/gunterphotograph
- Ben Brooks (Navigators Insurance) in the sign on area
- Shaun Higgerson (South Australia.com/AIS) shows of his new kit
- William Walker (United Water) enjoying a higher profile these days
- The Liquigas boys enjoy a café before the commencement of today's stage
- The early break included Robert McLachlan (Uni SA) and Shaun Higgerson (SouthAustralia.com/AIS)
- Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto) leading the bunch
- Simon Gerrans (Ag2r) won the intermediate sprint into Nuriootpa
- A four man break formed with the final winner coming from them
- The chasers make their way through the picturesque South Australian scenery
- Mitch Docker (United Water) was a bit shell shocked after a stack but went on to complete the race
- Russell Van Hout (UniSA) appreciating his jersey and putting in a big effort
- William Walker (United Water) leads Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto)
- The Milram team put in a big effort to bridge the gap but was unsuccessful
- The break including (L/R) Simon Gerrans (Ag2r), William Walker (United Water), Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty Seguros), and Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto) with 10 km to go
- Simon Gerrans (Ag2r) makes his move with 4km to go
- Simon Gerrans (Ag2r) is in good form
- Simon Gerrans (Ag2r) takes the win just ahead of Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty Seguros)
- A long hot day in the saddle finally over
- Simon Gerrans (Ag2r) makes his way to the podium
- Simon Gerrans (Ag2r) feeling good
- Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty Seguros) in the most aggressive jersey
- William Walker (United Water) gets a kiss but is already thinking of tomorrow
- KOM jersey winner Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r)
- Simon Gerrans (Ag2r) in the new leaders jersey
Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com
- Josh Wilson (United Water) from Tasmania takes on a caffeine fix prior to the start of stage one
- Riders can reach for the sky during the Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under
- Daniele Colli (Liquigas) in the thick of it during stage one
- A Bouygues Telecom rider finds some work for the team mechanic just past the first Laubman Pank King of the Mountains point
- Cyril Dessel (Ag2r Prevoyance) at the 2006 Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under
- The peloton had given up the chase on the leaders and could take in some of the South Australian scenery
- Laubman Pank King of the Mountain jersey leader, Samuel Dumoulin from France, is a little unsure about the podium kiss
- Tour leader Simon Gerrans (Ag2r Prevoyance) shares a joke with Tour commentator Jim Jakes, and shows some battle scars to go with it
Results
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prevoyance 3.38.33 (40.6 km/h) 2 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 0.02 3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 0.11 4 William Walker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 0.37 5 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 1.39 6 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance 7 Chris Jongewaard (Aus) UniSA-Australia 3.10 8 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 9 Sebastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.32 10 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Team Milram 4.09 11 Glenn d'Hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 4.31 12 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 4.40 13 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 14 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 4.51 15 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 5.15 16 Sean Sullivan (Aus) UniSA-Australia 17 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 6.14 18 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 19 Ivan Santos Martinez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 9.16 20 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 12.05 21 James Meadley (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 22 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 23 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia 24 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 25 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 26 David Tanner (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 27 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 28 Elia Rigotto (Ita) Team Milram 29 Mitchell Docker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 30 Steven Caethoven (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 23.45 31 Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 32 Michele Gobbi (Ita) Team Milram 33 Marco Righetto (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 34 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 35 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 36 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 37 Nicola Loda (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 38 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole 39 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 40 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2r Prevoyance 41 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 42 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 43 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram 44 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 45 Pierre Drancourt (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 46 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 47 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 48 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 49 Eladio Sanchez Prado (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 50 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance 51 Cyril Dessel (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance 52 Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Team Milram 53 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole 54 Julian Dean (NZl) Credit Agricole 55 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Team Milram 56 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 57 Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Team Milram 58 Dennis Haueisen (Ger) Team Milram 59 Jens Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 60 Joshua Wilson (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 61 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas-Bianchi 62 Matthew Rex (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 63 Peter Dawson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 64 Koen De Kort (Ned) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 65 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia 66 Henk Vogels (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 67 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 68 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 69 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole 70 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 71 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 72 Mathew Hayman (Aus) UniSA-Australia 73 Frederik Willems (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 74 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Credit Agricole 75 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 76 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 77 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 78 Jose Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2r Prevoyance 79 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 80 Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 81 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 82 Ben Day (Aus) UniSA-Australia 83 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Credit Agricole 84 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 85 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 86 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 87 Wesley Van Der Linden (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 88 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 89 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 90 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 91 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Ag2r Prevoyance 92 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance DNF Richard Moffatt (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 DNF Samuel Lee (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 DNS Nicolas Sanderson (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto Points 1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prevoyance 8 pts 2 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 6 3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 4 Mountains Calton Rd near Dieckmann Dr, Gawler East - 41.7 km 1 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance 16 pts 2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 12 3 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 8 4 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia 6 5 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 4 Sprints Barossa Valley Highway, Jacobs Creek - 63.3 km 1 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 6 pts 2 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 4 3 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 2 Murray Street, Nuriootpa near Anglican Church - 92.7 km 1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prevoyance 6 pts 2 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 4 3 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 2 Teams 1 UniSA-Australia 11.05.08 2 South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 10.37 3 Liberty Seguros-Wurth Team 11.54 4 Davitamon Lotto 14.52 5 United Water-Australia U/23 15.18 6 Ag2R-Prevoyance 15.55 7 Liquigas-Bianchi 25.10 8 Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 25.45 9 Bouygues Telecom 29.53 10 Team Milram 30.30 11 Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 42.32 12 Crédit Agricole 50.06 General classification after stage 1 1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prevoyance 3.38.24 2 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 0.07 3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 0.18 4 William Walker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 0.46 5 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 1.45 6 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance 1.48 7 Chris Jongewaard (Aus) UniSA-Australia 3.19 8 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 9 Sebastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.41 10 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Team Milram 4.18 11 Glenn d'Hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 4.40 12 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 4.46 13 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 4.49 14 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 5.00 15 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 5.24 16 Sean Sullivan (Aus) UniSA-Australia 17 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 6.20 18 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 6.23 19 Ivan Santos Martinez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 9.25 20 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 12.14 21 James Meadley (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 22 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 23 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia 24 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 25 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 26 David Tanner (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 27 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 28 Elia Rigotto (Ita) Team Milram 29 Mitchell Docker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 30 Steven Caethoven (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 23.54 31 Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 32 Michele Gobbi (Ita) Team Milram 33 Marco Righetto (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 34 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 35 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 36 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 37 Nicola Loda (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 38 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole 39 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 40 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2r Prevoyance 41 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 42 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 43 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram 44 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 45 Pierre Drancourt (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 46 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 47 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 48 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 49 Eladio Sanchez Prado (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 50 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance 51 Cyril Dessel (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance 52 Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Team Milram 53 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole 54 Julian Dean (NZl) Credit Agricole 55 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Team Milram 56 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 57 Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Team Milram 58 Dennis Haueisen (Ger) Team Milram 59 Jens Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 60 Joshua Wilson (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 61 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas-Bianchi 62 Matthew Rex (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 63 Peter Dawson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 64 Koen De Kort (Ned) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 65 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia 66 Henk Vogels (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 67 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 68 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 69 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole 70 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 71 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 72 Mathew Hayman (Aus) UniSA-Australia 73 Frederik Willems (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 74 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Credit Agricole 75 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 76 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 77 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 78 Jose Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2r Prevoyance 79 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 80 Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 81 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 82 Ben Day (Aus) UniSA-Australia 83 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Credit Agricole 84 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 85 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 86 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 87 Wesley Van Der Linden (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 88 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 89 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 90 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 91 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Ag2r Prevoyance 92 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance Points classification 1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prevoyance 14 pts 2 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 6 3 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 6 4 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 6 5 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 6 6 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 4 Mountains classification 1 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance 16 pts 2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 12 3 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 8 4 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia 6 5 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 4 U23 classification 1 William Walker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 3.39.10 2 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 2.33 3 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 4.03 4 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 4.14 5 James Meadley (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 11.28 6 David Tanner (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 7 Mitchell Docker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 8 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 23.08 9 Eladio Sanchez Prado (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 10 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Team Milram 11 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 12 Joshua Wilson (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 13 Matthew Rex (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 14 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 15 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 16 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 17 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling Most aggressive rider classification 1 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team Teams classification 1 UniSA-Australia 11.05.08 2 South Australia.com-AIS Cycling 10.37 3 Liberty Seguros-Wurth Team 11.54 4 Davitamon Lotto 14.52 5 United Water-Australia U/23 15.18 6 Ag2R-Prevoyance 15.55 7 Liquigas-Bianchi 25.10 8 Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 25.45 9 Bouygues Telecom 29.53 10 Team Milram 30.30 11 Chocolade Jacques-T Interim 42.32 12 Crédit Agricole 50.06
