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8th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.HC

Australia, January 17-22, 2006

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Stage 2 - Thursday, January 19: Stirling - Hahndorf, 146km

Time to break the drought

Davis gets elusive win as Gerrans defends superbly

By Les Clarke in Hahndorf

Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros)
Photo ©: Mark Gunter
Click for larger image

After a day of attrition in yesterday's opening stage to Angaston, Liberty Seguros-Wurth's Allan Davis broke through for his first stage win in this event, beating Paul Crake in a two up sprint into the main street of Hahndorf this afternoon. Davis, who is on his eighth visit to the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, made his way to the early break which formed after 30 kilometres and stayed away from the peloton for the entire day.

It wasn't until the final kilometres, however, that Davis was able to make the decisive move, breaking clear of the 11-rider breakaway with UniSA's stairmaster extraordinaire Paul Crake and riding home for a popular win. "We knew something was going to go today after yesterday, so I was pretty geed up last night to get in a winning move and I did it today," said a very satisfied Davis after the finish. "It's just a little treat for my two kids, especially my little newborn."

But it was so much more for Davis, who admits that although he's won races on the international stage the win in Australia's premier stage race is very special. "I can't describe how hungry I was for a win this year," said Davis. "I got very close last year when Luis pretty much dominated the Tour, but now I've got it."

AG2R's Simon Gerrans benefited from a dominant display of controlled riding by his teammates to maintain his lead in the general classification. "The guys did an awesome job today; they rode absolutely perfectly," said a hot but happy Gerrans at the finish in Hahndorf. "They let the right breaks get away - there was just no one there so I could focus on GC and we rode the right pace all day. They just controlled it," he said. Indeed it was a controlled race from the French squad, but with Davis' teammate Luis Leon Sanchez staying close to Gerrans all day, it was a great day for the Liberty Seguros-Wurth squad.

How it unfolded

It was a carnival atmosphere
Photo ©: Mark Gunter
Click for larger image

With another huge crowd gathered in Stirling for the start of stage 2, the 146 kilometres from Stirling to Hahndorf would be a test of AG2R's mettle as race leaders in the tough conditions South Australia has thrown at riders so far in this year's race. The United Water squad, with their young star William Walker sitting in fourth on GC, found their task of protecting Walker made more difficult with the withdrawal of Sam Lee and Richard Moffatt during yesterday's stage, reducing their number to six. United Water's Tasmanian rider Wes Sulzberger told Cyclingnews before the start in Stirling that although it would be tough out there today, they'd do what they could to look after their main man.

With a downhill start several riders decided they'd try their luck with an early break; but with positions on general classification to defend the peloton would select carefully who they let get away today. Liberty Seguros' Jose Joaquin Rojas was the first to go, but with his teammate Luis Leon Sanchez sitting high in the overall standings, he was never given any room and came back to the bunch in a matter of several minutes.

The peloton pass
Photo ©: Mark Gunter
Click for larger image

There were slim pickings for the climbers on today's stage, and with the only KOM at 17 kilometres, Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R) secured his position in the KOM standings, racing up the small climb at Echunga first. From there a seven-rider break formed, with Dumoulin, Gene Bates (UniSA), Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto), Paul Crake (UniSA), Mads Kaagestad (Credit Agricole), Giovanni Visconti (Milram) and Sergey Lagutin (Navigators) getting clear before they were reeled back two kilometres later.

Another break went ahead of the bunch before they too were pulled in, and it was clear that an attacking option was the preferred path to victory on today's stage when another attack was put in by Carlos Barredo (Liberty Seguros), Steven Caethoven (Chocolade Jacques), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Navigators) and Matt Hayman (UniSA). It also lasted a short time before the break of the day went ahead shortly after, with Eladio Sanchez (Liberty Seguros), Dennis Haueisen (Milram), Rony Martias (Bouygues Telecom), Hilton Clarke (Navigators), Matthew Goss (SA.com-AIS), Crake and his teammate Robert McLachlan going clear after 30 kilometres.

The main break
Photo ©: Mark Gunter
Click for larger image

It wasn't long before they'd built a solid lead, and sensing the need to get across, Davis made his way to the break, bridging the gap that had opened. As McLachlan dropped off the pace, more riders made their way across to the leading group, with Mark Renshaw (Credit Agricole), Mario Aerts (Davitamon-Lotto), Fabio Sabatini (Milram), Mauro Da Dalton (Liquigas) and Jens Renders (Chocolade Jacques) making the front runners 11 strong. They quickly put 31 seconds into the bunch, and at the 40 kilometre mark this had blown out to 1:30. By 45 kilometres this had increased to 2:25 and it looked like growing as Gerrans' teammates controlled the peloton. They rode at a tempo suitable for a break boasting the likes of Davis to put time into a sedate bunch that was virtually riding two abreast.

Holding onto a gap of 2:35, the leading 11 riders hit the first sprint in Woodside with the wind in their sails; Hilton Clarke proving to have the most wind in his as he took the points ahead of Davis and Renshaw. It was then time to increase the gap with a burst out of Woodside, pushing their advantage up to 4:15 at the 70 kilometre mark. Back in the pack, AG2R were looking after their man in the field, Simon Gerrans, by riding a moderate tempo at the front of the field; it was a commanding performance from the French team as they kept all Gerrans' rivals in check.

The two breakaways
Photo ©: Mark Gunter
Click for larger image

This was to be the story of the day, with the break holding onto an advantage hovering around the four-minute mark until Paul Crake, not content to sit around and wait for the inevitable 11-rider sprint, decided to go it alone with about 40 kilometres to race, quickly establishing a 40-second lead before being joined by Allan Davis, a rider most fans would back in a break just 15 kilometres from home. Coming into the final kilometres Crake and Davis had established themselves a 50-second lead. This was all that was needed to stay away and bring it down to a two-up sprint for the stage win, Davis easily outfoxing and outpowering Crake for the win, celebrating with a kiss to his ring finger.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mark Gunter/www.pbase.com/gunterphotograph

Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

Results

1 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team                3.27.21 (42.2 km/h)
2 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia
3 Eladio Sanchez Prado (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team          0.38
4 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team          0.54
5 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
6 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                             2.00
7 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
8 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Team Milram
9 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
10 Jens Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
11 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                             2.56
12 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team         6.30
13 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Team Milram                           7.10
14 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
15 Marco Righetto (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
16 Sebastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
17 Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Team Milram
18 Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
19 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
20 Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
21 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Ag2r Prevoyance
22 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
23 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
24 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
25 Steven Caethoven (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
26 Nicola Loda (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
27 Matthew Rex (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
28 Chris Jongewaard (Aus) UniSA-Australia
29 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
30 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
31 Glenn d'Hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
32 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
33 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prevoyance
34 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia
35 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance
36 Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Team Milram
37 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
38 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance
39 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Credit Agricole
40 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
41 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
42 Sean Sullivan (Aus) UniSA-Australia
43 William Walker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
44 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
45 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole
46 Frederik Willems (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
47 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
48 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
49 Koen De Kort (Ned) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
50 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
51 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
52 Pierre Drancourt (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
53 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram
54 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
55 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
56 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
57 James Meadley (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
58 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole
59 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
60 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
61 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
62 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
63 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
64 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
65 Ben Day (Aus) UniSA-Australia
66 Elia Rigotto (Ita) Team Milram
67 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
68 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia
69 Ivan Santos Martinez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
70 Dennis Haueisen (Ger) Team Milram
71 Henk Vogels (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
72 David Tanner (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
73 Julian Dean (NZl) Credit Agricole
74 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole
75 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
76 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
77 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
78 Wesley Van Der Linden (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
79 Mitchell Docker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
80 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas-Bianchi                       7.55
81 Joshua Wilson (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23               8.02
82 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
83 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia                        8.06
84 Cyril Dessel (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance                            8.29
85 Michele Gobbi (Ita) Team Milram                               8.32
86 Mathew Hayman (Aus) UniSA-Australia                           8.36
87 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2r Prevoyance                          8.42
88 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
89 Peter Dawson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
90 Jose Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2r Prevoyance
91 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance
92 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Credit Agricole
 
Points
 
1 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team                      8 pts
2 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia                                  6
3 Eladio Sanchez Prado (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team             4
 
Mountains
 
Church Hill Rd, Echunga - 17.0 km
 
1 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance                            16 pts
2 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia                                 12
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                 8
4 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Team Milram                               6
5 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia                                  4
 
Sprints
 
Onkaparinga Valley Road, Woodside - 51.0 km
 
1 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team             6 pts
2 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team                      4
3 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                                2
 
Onkaparinga Valley Road, Woodside - 92.3 km
 
1 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team             6 pts
2 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                 4
3 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling                2
 
Most aggressive rider

1 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia

Teams
 
1 Liberty Seguros-Wurth Team                                 10.29.51
2 UniSA-Australia                                                6.32
3 Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                              6.46
4 Bouygues Telecom                                               7.26
5 Team Milram                                                    8.32
6 Liquigas-Bianchi
7 Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
8 Crédit Agricole
9 South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
10 Davitamon Lotto                                               9.28
11 Ag2R-Prevoyance                                              13.42
12 United Water-Australia U/23
 
General classification after stage 2
 
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prevoyance                         7.12.55
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 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi                          4.49
13 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling         5.00
14 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team        5.24
15 Sean Sullivan (Aus) UniSA-Australia
16 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia                        5.42
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 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
22 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
23 James Meadley (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
24 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
25 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia
26 Elia Rigotto (Ita) Team Milram
27 David Tanner (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
28 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole
29 Mitchell Docker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
30 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team                 16.36
31 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia                             16.40
32 Eladio Sanchez Prado (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team        17.20
33 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team        17.32
34 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                          17.38
35 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                           18.43
36 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
37 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi                        18.44
38 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Team Milram
39 Jens Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
40 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                            19.38
41 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team        23.14
42 Marco Righetto (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi                        23.54
43 Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
44 Steven Caethoven (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
45 Nicola Loda (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
46 Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Team Milram
47 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
48 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance
49 Matthew Rex (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
50 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
51 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
52 Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Team Milram
53 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram
54 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole
55 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
56 Pierre Drancourt (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
57 Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
58 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
59 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
60 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
61 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Ag2r Prevoyance
62 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
63 Koen De Kort (Ned) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
64 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole
65 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
66 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
67 Frederik Willems (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
68 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
69 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Credit Agricole
70 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
71 Julian Dean (NZl) Credit Agricole
72 Dennis Haueisen (Ger) Team Milram
73 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
74 Henk Vogels (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
75 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
76 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
77 Ben Day (Aus) UniSA-Australia
78 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
79 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
80 Wesley Van Der Linden (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
81 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas-Bianchi                      24.39
82 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23          24.46
83 Joshua Wilson (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
84 Cyril Dessel (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance                           25.13
85 Michele Gobbi (Ita) Team Milram                              25.16
86 Mathew Hayman (Aus) UniSA-Australia                          25.20
87 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team    25.26
88 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2r Prevoyance
89 Peter Dawson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
90 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Credit Agricole
91 Jose Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2r Prevoyance
92 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance
 
Points classification
 
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prevoyance                              14 pts
2 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team                     12
3 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team            12
4 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia                            6
5 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team            6
6 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia                                  6
7 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi                              6
8 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia                                  6
9 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                               4
10 Eladio Sanchez Prado (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team            4
11 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto                                4
12 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                               2
13 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling               2
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r Prevoyance                            32 pts
2 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia                                 20
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto                                20
4 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Team Milram                               6
5 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia                            6
6 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia                            4
7 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia                                  4
 
U23 classification
 
1 William Walker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23            7.13.41
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 Eladio Sanchez Prado (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team         16.34
9 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling            17.57
10 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Team Milram                             17.58
11 Matthew Rex (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23                23.08
12 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
13 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
14 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
15 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS Cycling
16 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23          24.00
17 Joshua Wilson (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
 
Teams classification
 
1 UniSA-Australia                                            21.41.31
2 Liberty Seguros-Wurth Team                                     5.22
3 South Australia.com-AIS Cycling                               12.37
4 Davitamon Lotto                                               17.48
5 United Water-Australia U/23                                   22.28
6 Ag2R-Prevoyance                                               23.05
7 Navigators Insurance Cycling Team                             25.59
8 Liquigas-Bianchi                                              27.10
9 Bouygues Telecom                                              30.47
10 Team Milram                                                  32.30
11 Chocolade Jacques-T Interim                                  44.32
12 Crédit Agricole                                              52.06

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