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8th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.HC
Australia, January 17-22, 2006
Main Page Results & report Stage Details Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 1 - January 18: Mawson Lakes to Angaston, 148km
Commentary by Jeff Jones, with additional reporting from Les Clarke and Anthony Tan
Live report
Live coverage starts: 11:00 ACDT
Estimated finish: 14:15 ACDT
10:48 CST
Welcome to our live coverage of the
second stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under. Today we are in the newish-looking
suburb of Mawson Lakes, just to the north of Adelaide, where an estimated crowd
has come out to watch the start of the race. They're all very enthusiastic about
the race and the riders.
It's sunny and warm, with temps around 28
degrees and rising. We can expect low to mid-30s today. There's a slight breeze,
but not enough to do much at the moment.
11:11 CST 8km/140km to go
After a 1 km neutral
section out of Mawson Lakes, we're off and racing in stage 1! The appreciative
crowd gives the riders a big cheer as they head out of town. The destination
today is Angaston, after a total of 148 km. Along the way, the riders will contest
two sprints, at Barossa Valley Hwy, Jacob's Creek (km 63.3) and at Murray St,
Nuriootpa (km 93). There's also a mountain sprint at Calton Rd in Gawler after
41.7 km.
11:13 CST 11km/137km to go
The official start
was 11:05, with 94 starters. Nic Sanderson, who has the 'flu, didn't start.
The Victorian rode with Liberty's development squad (called Wurth) last year,
and according to Neil Stephens, the team was really happy with him, but just
didn't have any room for him. Thankfully, the Victorian got a ride with Davitamon-Lotto
for 2006.
It's all together in the opening kilometres. There was
an early mechanical for Swiss rider Michael Albasini from Liquigas, but he's
back in the bunch.
11:14 CST
There are still large clumps of spectators
lining the road as the riders navigate the opening kilometres.
11:19 CST
The first attack has come after 5
km according to race radio. Shaun Higgerson, from the brand new South Australia.com-AIS
team, and Rob McLachlan (UniSA) have jumped away. These two riders were teammates
in MG X Power-Bigpond last year. They already have 40 seconds lead.
11:21 CST
Neil Stephens tells us "They might
go alright, y'know"
11:23 CST 17km/131km to go
The two leaders now
have 48 seconds as the first (uncategorised) climb approaches.
11:29 CST
We spoke to last night's winner Robbie
McEwen before the start today, and the Davitamon-Lotto rider says he's keen
to get amongst it again. "Last night was a good adrenaline rush and it was nice
to be amongst it. I'm on the improve at the moment. I've taken the pre-season
a bit slower this year, but I'm on the way up now. I think last night was a
sign of things to come and hopefully there's a lot more to come.
"I've got some good teammates here and lots of support. Hopefully now I can
get a stage in the Tour Down Under proper."
Robbie has come close
to winning the JCTDU, but has never quite done it. He has collected 11 (12 counting
last night) stage wins in the race, however.
11:31 CST 19km/129km to go
After 14 km, the two
leaders Higgerson and McLachlan had 1'18 over the main field, which seems content
to let them go for a bit.
11:34 CST 20km/128km to go
Richard Moffatt, from
the United Water team, attacks the peloton in pursuit of the two leaders. But
he doesn't get far, and the pair now have 1'25.
11:39 CST 23km/125km to go
They're now on the
first climb out of Elizabeth, ascending some 300m up to One Tree Hill. Simon
Clarke (South Australia.com-AIS) attacks near the top of the climb. Presumably,
SA.com thinks two riders up front are better than one.
11:43 CST 24km/124km to go
The gap comes down
to 55 seconds at the 20 km mark (time gaps are somewhat delayed) as a result
of the climb, and the peloton has strung out now.
11:50 CST 26km/122km to go
The counter attacks
are happening thick and fast now, and this has cut the lead down to 38 seconds.
Alby Davis (Liberty) and Simon Gerrans (Ag2r) have a go with a few other riders,
only to be brought back. James Meadley (SA.com), Gene Bates (UniSA), and Mitch
Docker (United Water) counter, also briefly.
11:54 CST 28km/120km to go
The temperatures are
hotting up as we head inland, and it's now 32 degrees. This is helping to split
the peloton, with about 20 riders going clear of the main field and getting
to within 15 seconds of the two tiring leaders, Higgo and McLachlan.
11:57 CST 29km/119km to go
The leaders are caught
by the chase group at km 29, with the peloton just 5 seconds behind. It's a
bit of a regroupement general, pardon the French.
We asked
Neil Stephens whether he thought there would be any collaboration between the
two SA teams? "I think it's only natural there is some. When you're up against
all these European pros, you need to work for a common interest."
We spoke with Jono Clarke this morning, and he didn't seem intimidated at all
by the Europeans professionals - he sounded like he was ready to take them on.
Stephens: "You can't aspire to beat someone if you're in awe of them. You need
to have your due respect, though.
12:07 CST 38km/110km to go
In the lead group
of 23, we have:
Aaron Kemps (Liberty Seguros), Ivan Santos (Liberty
Seguros), Simon Gerrans (Ag2r - Prevoyance), Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r - Prevoyance),
Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto), Cadel Evans (Davitamon Lotto), Giovanni Visconti
(Milram), Elia Rigotto (Milram), Eros Capecchi (Liquigas), Alexandre Pichot
(Bouygues Telecom), Glenn d'Hollander (Chocolade Jacques), Ben Brooks (Navigators
Insurance), Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance), Simon Clarke (South Australia.com
- AIS), James Meadley (South Australia.com - AIS), Shaun Higgerson (South Australia.com
- AIS), Gene Bates (UniSA), Rob McLachlan (UniSA), Sean Sullivan (UniSA), Chris
Jongewaard (UniSA), Russell Van Hout (UniSA), Ben Day (United Water), Matthew
Hayman (United Water).
UniSA are very well represented, as are SA.com.
The group is 30 seconds clear of the bunch with 2 km to go to the first KOM
sprint in Gawler. Huge crowds have come out to cheer the race through their
town.
12:08 CST 41km/107km to go
The time gap is 44
seconds after 40.9 km were covered in the first hour of racing. That's pretty
quick, considering the climb and the heat.
12:15 CST 45km/103km to go
The gap has stabilised
at around 40 seconds, as Daniele Colli (Liquigas) and Will Walker (United Water)
are chasing the lead group at 100m.
12:18 CST
The results of the first mountain
sprint: 1. Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r - Prevoyance), 2. Cadel Evans (Davitamon Lotto),
3. Gene Bates (Uni SA - Australia), 4. Robert McLachlan (Uni SA - Australia)
and 5. Russell Van Hout (Uni SA - Australia).
Walker and Colli have
joined the leaders, to make it 25 in front.
12:22 CST 50km/98km to go
The full composition
of the group in front:
Aaron Kemps, Ivan Santos (Liberty Seguros),
Simon Gerrans, Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r - Prevoyance), Robbie McEwen, Cadel Evans
(Davitamon Lotto), Giovanni Visconti, Elia Rigotto (Milram), Eros Capecchi,
Daniele Colli (Liquigas), Alexandre Pichot (Bouygues Telecom), Glenn d'Hollander
(Chocolade Jacques), Ben Brooks, Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance), Simon
Clarke, James Meadley, Shaun Higgerson (South Australia.com - AIS), Gene Bates,
Robert McLachlan, Sean Sullivan, Chris Jongewaard , Russell Van Hout (Uni SA
- Australia), William Walker, David Tanner, Mitch Docker (United Water - Australia
U/23).
12:26 CST 51km/97km to go
The gap goes up to
1'10 now as this large break of 25 gets established. The riders are taking on
lots of fluids as the temps rise to the mid-30s. It's really hard racing in
this type of heat, but the Aussies and the Spanish seem to like it.
12:30 CST 55km/93km to go
It ain't over yet though,
as Credit Agricole, which has missed the break completely, has got on the front
of the peloton and brought the gap down to 30 seconds.
We spoke with
a couple of CA riders this morning, including Kiwi sprinter Julian Dean. "Yeah
I'm feeling good. It was hard and fast last night. First race of the year, it's
a little different, it's a little bit harder. I think today will be a real indication
of where it's at. Mark [Renshaw] was happy with the work that the guys did for
him last night but he's a little bit disappointed not to get up for the win.
"I hope it comes together this week. We've got a good structure to make things
happen."
12:34 CST 57km/91km to go
Luis Sanchez (Liberty)
and Julian Dean (CA) are riding across to the leaders now, as the gap comes
down to 20 seconds. The race is passing through Lyndoch, and we're nearing the
first intermediate sprint of the day.
Chocolade Jacques is helping
to drive the peloton in pursuit of the big break.
Yuriy Krivtsov
(Ag2r) punctures, but is back chasing now.
12:39 CST 62km/86km to go
With 1 km from the
first sprint at Jacob's Creek, the lead group is still 25 seconds ahead of the
main peloton, which is being driven by Choc. Jacques and Credit Agricole.
12:43 CST
Rider 114, Sam Lee (United Water)
has abandoned.
12:44 CST 64km/84km to go
The first sprint at
km 63 is taken out by Russell Van Hout (UniSA), ahead of Gene Bates (Uni SA
- Australia) and Daniele Colli (Liquigas). The UniSA boys are really strong
in this break.
12:50 CST 68km/80km to go
We spoke to Credit
Agricole's Mark Renshaw, who finished sixth in the Jacob's Creek Down Under
Classic last night. "Last night we went a bit early and Thor [Hushovd] was left
on the front in the final two kilometres. I missed the jump when Milram went
and ended up fighting with Liquigas for a wheel.
"It could split
up today right from the start. We'll see who we can get in it if it goes."
At the 68 km mark, the gap to the lead group of 25 has gone back up to 1'22.
This is looking like the crucial split, but there are enough teams in the bunch
to chase.
12:54 CST 71km/77km to go
Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty
Seguros) and Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) (not Julian Dean) have joined the
break, which now numbers 27. With this extra horsepower, that could be it for
the bunch.
Richard Moffatt (United Water - Australia U/23) has been
dropped from the peloton.
The leaders are riding towards Seppeltsfield
now.
12:58 CST
Wim Vansevenant (Davitamon Lotto)
and Sebastien Chavanel (Bouygues Telecom) have mounted a belated chase and are
38 seconds behind the lead group of 27. The rest of the bunch is at 2'20, and
it could be all over for them.
13:13 CST 83km/65km to go
The break has passed
through the feed zone in Seppeltsfield as the peloton falls back to 5'15 behind.
It's all over for them. The riders are taking on plenty of fluids now due to
the heat.
Vansevenant and Chavanel have bridged to the lead group,
where McEwen and d'Hollander have attacked. The group splits in half.
Rob McLachlan is chasing now after a wheel change.
A minor correction:
It's Shaun Higgerson, not Sean. Apparently, according to former teammate Troy
Glennan, he's got the nickname "baby white elephant".
13:16 CST 87km/61km to go
McLachlan has blown
up...umm, figuratively. He can't rejoin the lead group and will probably end
up back with the peloton.
13:21 CST 90km/58km to go
The lead group has
split into two, with Simon Gerrans (Ag2r - Prevoyance), Robbie McEwen (Davitamon
Lotto), Giovanni Visconti (Milram), Eros Capecchi (Liquigas), Sebastien Chavanel
(Bouygues Telecom), Glenn d'Hollander (Chocolade Jacques), Ben Brooks (Navigators
Insurance), Simon Clarke (South Australia.com - AIS), Gene Bates , Chris Jongewaard
, Russell Van Hout (Uni SA - Australia), William Walker (United Water - Australia
U/23) in the front group. UniSA is still very well represented here.
McLachlan has rejoined the second group, courtesy of the race caravan.
13:28 CST 94km/54km to go
The lead group has
grown to 20 with 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) in
front.
They are being chased by Aaron Kemps (Liberty Seguros), Thor
Hushovd (Credit Agricole), Cadel Evans, Wim Vansevenant (Davitamon Lotto), Elia
Rigotto (Milram), Alexandre Pichot (Bouygues Telecom), James Meadley (South
Australia.com - AIS), Rob McLachlan (Uni SA - Australia), David Tanner (United
Water - Australia U/23)
The second sprint in Nuriootpa is won by
Simon Gerrans (Ag2r - Prevoyance) from Daniele Colli (Liquigas) and Gene Bates
(Uni SA - Australia).
13:36 CST 97km/51km to go
It's still heating
up as the wind picks up a bit, slowing the race down. The remaining 20 leaders
will probably fight it out for the stage win, with Robbie McEwen and Will Walker
among the favourites. Importantly, Luis Sanchez has made it, as has Simon Gerrans.
These two riders in particular could challenge for the final general classification.
13:42 CST 100km/48km to go
The lead 20 riders
head past the finish line in Angaston for the first time, with a commanding
2'30 advantage over the chasing nine. The peloton? Way back at 12'45.
There's now an attack from the team captains: Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty Seguros)
Simon Gerrans (Ag2r - Prevoyance), Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto) and William
Walker (United Water - Australia U/23). That could be serious.
13:48 CST 104km/44km to go
The four leaders,
Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty), Simon Gerrans (Ag2r), Robbie McEwen (Davitamon
Lotto), and William Walker (United Water) have about 12 seconds on the remaining
16 riders, with UniSA working hard to bring them back. You can't let guys of
this calibre get away.
13:51 CST 109km/39km to go
The chase is splitting
up even more as Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r - Prevoyance), Giovanni Visconti (Milram),
Sebastien Chavanel (Bouygues Telecom), Simon Clarke (South Australia.com - AIS),
Gene Bates, Chris Jongewaard (Uni SA - Australia) and
Mitch Docker (United
Water - Australia U/23) follow at 150 metres.
13:59 CST 117km/31km to go
The leading four power
through Tanunda with a 33 second gap over the nearest chasers. The remnants
of this once big break are scattered down the road behind the lead quartet.
It's an impressive break, with any one of these guys capable of winning the
stage. McEwen has the best sprint, but Walker can beat him on his day. And Gerro
and Sanchez can get away.
14:05 CST 120km/28km to go
Here's a rough picture
of what's going on at the moment, to the best of our knowledge.
There's
a lead break of four with Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty), Simon Gerrans (Ag2r),
Robbie McEwen (Davitamon Lotto), William Walker (United Water) out in front.
They have 33 seconds on a group with Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r - Prevoyance), Giovanni
Visconti (Milram), Sebastien Chavanel (Bouygues Telecom), Simon Clarke (South
Australia.com - AIS), Gene Bates, Chris Jongewaard (Uni SA - Australia) and
Mitch Docker (United Water - Australia U/23).
Then, at 1'30 are Ivan
Santos (Liberty Seguros), Eros Capecchi, Daniele Colli (Liquigas), Glenn d'Hollander
(Chocolade Jacques), Ben Brooks, Sergey Lagutin (Navigators Insurance), Shaun
Higgerson (South Australia.com - AIS), Sean Sullivan, and Russell Van Hout (Uni
SA - Australia) at 1'30.
Following them at an indeterminate distance
are Aaron Kemps (Liberty Seguros), Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), Cadel Evans,
Wim Vansevenant (Davitamon Lotto), Elia Rigotto (Milram), Alexandre Pichot (Bouygues
Telecom), James Meadley (South Australia.com - AIS), Rob McLachlan (Uni SA -
Australia), David Tanner (United Water - Australia U/23).
And last,
but not least, the main peloton is some 15 minutes behind, give or take a minute
or three.
14:10 CST 123km/25km to go
The four leaders continue
to cooperate on the second lap around past Seppeltsfield. They've done 123 km
in three hours, averaging around 41 km/h all day. They should stay away as they
have 55 seconds on the nearest chasers, but it's not over yet.
One
rider who missed out completely today was Alby Davis (Liberty Seguros). We spoke
to him this morning, and he commented on last night's stage: "Yeah I feel I'm
a bit ahead of where I thought I'd be. I felt quite strong although it was only
50 kilometres. I'm not sure how I'd go at the end of 150 but I'm happy.
"I'm happy with the teamwork from the guys. I didn't have to do anything - they
just got on the front and worked well."
14:14 CST 125km/23km to go
The seven chasers
peg it back to 50 seconds, but Mitch Docker (United Water - Australia U/23)
crashes, so that's going to hurt them. And him.
14:20 CST 128km/20km to go
We're not 100 percent
sure if Docker crashed out of the chasing group or he was merely dropped. But
the outcome is that there are only six chasing four now: Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r
- Prevoyance), Giovanni Visconti (Milram), Sebastien Chavanel (Bouygues Telecom),
Simon Clarke (South Australia.com - AIS), Gene Bates, and Chris Jongewaard (Uni
SA - Australia).
14:23 CST 130km/18km to go
The wind is tough
around the back of the circuit, and combined with the intense heat is making
it difficult for everyone in the race. The lead four seem to have stabilised
their advantage over the nearest chasers to 55 seconds. That'll give them enough
to play with in the closing stages. Sanchez and Gerrans will not really want
it to come down to a sprint, but McEwen and Walker probably do. Well, Walker
can win solo as well, as he has already shown in the Australian championships.
14:27 CST 132km/16km to go
From the chase group,
Gene Bates (Uni SA - Australia) and Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2r - Prevoyance) have
attacked, but they're now 1'15 behind the four leaders.
Mitch Docker
did indeed crash out of the chase, and is on his own in 11th position on the
road.
14:30 CST 134km/14km to go
The two chasers, Bates
and Dumoulin, have taken about 10 seconds out of the leaders with 14 km to go,
but it's still over a minute. However, it could be important for the later stages.
14:34 CST 138km/10km to go
Bates and Dumoulin
have made great inroads into the lead quartet - they're at 35 seconds and closing.
McEwen, Sanchez, Walker and Gerro had better get a wriggle on, or they'll be
fighting it out among six instead of four.
10 clicks to go in the
first stage.
14:36 CST 143km/5km to go
Gerrans has attacked
with 5 km to go! (which means we're getting closer to real time updates from
the road)
14:40 CST 144km/4km to go
Gerrans has 10 seconds
with 4 km left. This could be it...
14:41 CST 146km/2km to go
At 2 km to go, Simon
Gerrans still has 200m. He must win from here. Surely. The chasers are not making
an impact.
14:43 CST 147km/1km to go
Gerro is leading by
30 seconds with 1km to go. He will do it!!!
14:46 CST 148km/0km to go
And it is indeed Simon
Gerrans (Ag2r) who wins the first stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under
with a fantastic solo attack in the final five kilometres. Luis Sanchez managed
to get away to take second, ahead of Robbie McEwen and Will Walker.
That was a superb stage, very aggressive and hard all day long.
14:58 CST
Well, you couldn't have asked for
a much better first stage than that. It was hot, it was hard, and it was aggressive
from the beginning. Once the lead group of 23 formed after around 30 km, it
was a race of attrition until the four best guys were left. But then Bates and
Dumoulin trying to bridge up to them in the closing kilometres, setting things
up for an interesting next few stages.
At the end of it, Gerrans
has the leader's jersey and Dumoulin has the mountains jersey. Not sure of the
sprints jersey, maybe Daniele Colli (Liquigas), who placed second in both sprints
today. We'll confirm that later.
That will be all from us here in
the virtual commentary room. We'll be back tomorrow with more live action from
the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under!
Results
Provisional 1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r - Prevoyance 2 Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Liberty Seguros 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) Uni SA - Australia 1.39 6 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2r - Prevoyance 7 Chris Jongewaard (Aus) Uni SA - Australia 3.10 8 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com - AIS 9 Sebastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.32 10 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Milram 4.09 General classification after stage 1 1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r 2 Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Liberty Seguros 0.07 3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon Lotto 0.18 4 William Walker (Aus) United Water
