11th Tour Down Under - ProT

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, January 18-25, 2009

Photography

Stage 6 - January 25: Adelaide City Council Circuit, 90 km

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

• Lance Armstrong (Astana) warms up.
• The riders await they start of the last stage.
• Jonus Ljungblad (Silence-Lotto) gets under way.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) whisks by.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) rides on a lovely Adelaide afternoon.
• The break working together.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) rounds the top corner.
• Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne) during stage six.
• The peloton against Adelaide city for a back drop.
• Wesley Sulzberger (Française de Jeux) leads the break.
• The peloton ride down King William Street.
• The break about to be caught.
• Quick Step were on the front of the main group to ensure Davis kept his lead.
• With two laps to go the pace became quicker.
• Robbie McEwen (Katusha) and Graeme Brown (Rabobank) collide during the sprint.
• McEwen and Brown avoid crashing but it causes Brown to step out of his pedal.
• Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas) takes advantage of the incident and takes the win.
• Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas) celebrates over the line.
• Wesley Sulzberger (FDJ) and Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) congratulate Allan Davis (Quick Step).
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) has time to celebrate after the finish.
• José Joaquín Rojas (Caisse d'Epargne) took out the Young Riders overall winner.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) in the sprinters jersey.
• Markel Irizar (Euskaltel-Euskadi) was the King of the Mountains.
• Française des Jeux took the teams catégorie.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) on the podium.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) is this years Tour Down Under champion.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) lets the champagne fly.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) gives the thumbs up.
• Cheers boys.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) does a bit of crowd surfing.

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• The final stage of the 2009 Tour Down Under.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) rides in the Tour Down Under.
• The sprint approaches the line in stage six of the Tour Down Under.
• Italy's Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas) wins the sprint in stage six of the Tour Down Under.
• Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas) sprints and wins stage six.

Stage 5 - January 24: Snapper Point - Willunga, 148 km

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

• The sign on at Snapper Point.
• That's a bunch of helmets.
• Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) gets some advise from Neil Stevens before the race start.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) checks his radio before the start.
• Stage five was one of the more scenic stages of the Tour Down Under.
• The break make their way through Maclaren Vale.
• Quick Step were quick to get to the front when the break formed.
• The break head out from Aldinga Beach.
• Quick Step were quick out front with the sea behind.
• The pace was on today.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) stayed close to his team mates on the flatter parts.
• The peloton head up a small climb.
• The race was in wine country for stage five.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) during the stage.
• George Hincapie (Columbia) makes a quick wheel change.
• Sergey Klimov (Katusha) leads Jack Bobridge (Uni-SA) up the climb.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) on Willunga Hill for the first time.
• Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne) on the climb.
• Graeme Brown (Rabobank) with his team mates on the climb.
• Martin Elmiger (AG2R) is in fourth place after todays stage.
• Riders make their way up the climb.
• Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) on the attack the second time round.
• Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) with David Moncoutié (Cofidis) together and in front.
• Quick Step were quick were still out the front working for Davis.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) takes another great win, and virtually secures the overall win.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) takes in the applause from the crowd.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) gives two thumbs up.
• José Joaquín Rojas (Caisse d'Epargne) retains the Young Rider jersey.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) in the sprinters jersey.
• Andoni Lafuente (Euskaltel-Euskadi) in the KOM jersey.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step), stoked with where he is at the moment.

Images by Jean-Francois Quenet

• Stage winner Allan Davis salutes the crowd in Willunga.
• Another great day for Jack Bobridge.
• Wesley Sulzberger and Matt Lloyd commented on their combined attack after the finish in Willunga.
• Jussi Veikkanen talks to reporters about the weather in Finland.
• Mikael Chérel was accredited for top 10
• Rein Taraamae relaxes before the start.

Stage 4 - January 23: Burnside Village - Angaston, 143 km

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

• Part of the pre race festivities.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) is always popular with the fans in Adelaide.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) looked to be in good spirits this morning.
• Oscar Pereiro (Caisse D'Epargne) waiting to sign on.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) signs autographs for his fans.
• Jack Bobridge (Uni-SA) leads an early attack.
• The race was held on rolling terrain for the early part of the stage.
• Andoni Lafuente (Euskaltel-Euskadi) leads the first break.
• The peloton ride under some grand old trees.
• Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) rides along side Lance Armstrong (Astana).
• Katusha worked hard to reel back the break.
• KOM jersey wearer Andoni Lafuente (Euskaltel-Euskadi) in the bunch.
• Travis Meyer (Uni-SA) and Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R) out the front up Menglers Hill Road.
• The peloton with a great view behind.
• Katusha out front.
• Katusha worked for everyone today.
• Riding in wine country.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) stayed safe in the peloton for the most.
• Yoann Offredo (FDJ) on the attack.
• Their were several attacks in the final kilometres.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) lunges for the line.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) celebrates his win.
• Vladimir Efimkin (AG2R) was the most aggressive today.
• Jose Rojas (Caisse D'Epargne) in the Young Riders Jersey.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) in the Sprinters Jersey.
• Andoni Lafuente (Euskaltel-Euskadi) in the KOM jersey.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) loving being in Ochre.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) signs more autographs after the stage.

Stage 3 - January 22: Unley - Victor Harbor, 136 km

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Armstrong pulled hard in the break and showed his comeback is working according to plan.
• Hincapie was never far from Armstrong when they were teammates and things haven't changed much.
• O'Grady does what he likes best and that is pulling at high speeds.
• Brown takes the stage over Allan Davis.
• Graeme Brown took the win with a sprint won in decisive fashion.

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

• Lance Armstrong (Astana) was running late but in good spirits all the same.
• The peloton during the neutral zone.
• Pablo Lastras (Caisse d'Epargne) attacked early on the first KOM.
• Michael Rogers (Columbia) leads on the first climb of the day.
• The scene at the top of the first KOM of the day.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) did his fair share of the work in the break.
• The peloton makes its way through an avenue of gum trees.
• Rabobank pushing the pace as the sprint arrived.
• Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) out the front of the break.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) along with everyone else had a tough day with the wind.
• Glenn D'Hollander (Silence-Lotto) with Adam Hansen (Columbia) and Wesley Sulzberger (FDJ) had a counter attack when the break was pulled in.
• Cameron Meyer (Garmin-Slipstream) went out alone approaching the second KOM.
• Glenn D'Hollander (Silence-Lotto) was also on his own after Meyer.
• The peloton with 15km to go.
• Caisse D'Epargne took charge on the lower slopes of the second KOM.
• Matthew Loyd (Silence-Lotto) attacked on the KOM after the two lone riders up front.
• The main group with George Hincapie (Columbia) out in front.
• David Moncoutié (Cofidis) on the climb.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) did well today despite crashing earlier.
• The Aussie boys talk tactics with six km to go.
• With Victor Harbour approaching the lead group was giving it the best effort.
• Saxo Bank was looking for a win.
• Graeme Brown (Rabobank) takes the win in front of Davis and O'Grady.
• Graeme Brown (Rabobank) cools down.
• Graeme Brown (Rabobank) looks out to the large crowd on the podium.
• Cameron Meyer (Garmin-Slipstream) took the most aggressive rider award for the day.
• Jose Rojas (Caisse d'Epargne) in the young rider jersey.
• Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) in the sprinter's jersey.
• Markel Irizar (Euskaltel-Euskadi) remains the KOM leader.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) in the leader's jersey and tied on time with Graeme Brown (Rabobank).

Images by AFP Photo

• Lance Armstrong during the tough stage 3
• Allan Davis found this the toughest stage in the tour's 11-year history.
• Brownie takes the win
• Brown celebrates as he beat Davis to the line.
• Armstrong pedals across the line safely in the bunch.
• Armstrong stayed in the first part of the peloton with about 50 riders, some half a minute ahead of the rest.
• Graeme. Brown all smiles after his sprint win.
• Armstrong at his post-race duties.
• He's back! Armstrong rode impressively in stage 3.
• The Texan made the break royale and pulled hard.
• He said racing is the best training and so he trains – or races...
• Armstrong is not targeting the Tour Down Under but the Tour de France.
• This leaves him plenty of time to train which is scary enough for man of his competitors.
• Armstrong lets someone else handle the pacemaking for a while.
• Armstrong pulls in the break and the others were watching him closely.
• Armstrong smoothly moves through the paceline.
• At last a little show of strain or was it just the Alpe d'Huez face?

Images by Les Clarke

• The Astana riders looked calm ahead of today's stage.
• Jack Bobridge (UniSA) has become somewhat of a local hero this week.
• Cameron Meyer (Garmin-Slipstream) is nursing a sore shoulder today.
• Graeme Brown (Rabobank) is searching for a sprint win again today.
• Lance Armstrong has brought lots of media attention to this year's race.

Images by Jean-Francois Quenet

• Cameron Meyer's bandage after the crash on stage 2 didn't prevent him from riding aggressively in stage 3.
• Jérémy Roy's customized cycling shoes!
• Rémy Di Gregorio was relaxed with Jérémy Roy before the start. He'd be forced to pull out later.
• Mathieu Drujon enjoys life down under.
• Mate, in Australia you have to go this way; Mark Renshaw instructed Bernhard Eisel.
• Still big media attention

Stage 2 - January 21: Hahndorf - Stirling, 145 km

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Armstrong is greeted by a kangaroo before the start.
• Allan Davis wins the stage and takes the GC – he's back at the top.
• The peloton on another hot day in the Australian country side.
• Allan Davis took over the lead in the general classification.

Images by Les Clarke

• David Moncoutié (Cofidis) signs on for Stage 2.
• The crowd was huge at the start in Hahndorf.
• Everyone wanted to get a photo of Lance Armstrong.
• Mathieu Perget (Caisse d'Epargne) checks in.
• Julien El Fares (Cofidis) also signs on for the stage.

Images by Jean-Francois Quenet

• Neo-pro Guillaume Blot shows the efforts of his long break today.

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

• Michael Rogers (Columbia) awaits the start in the teams area.
• Frank Hoj (Saxo Bank) meets one of the locals.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) made a mate in Hahndorf this morning.
• André Greipel (Columbia) looked relaxed in the leader's jersey before the start of racing.
• Greg Henderson (Columbia) chats with Jack Bobridge (Uni-SA) at the start line.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) looking pretty slick on his flash new bike.
• Robbie McEwen (Katusha) all bandaged up after yesterday's incident.
• The early break had about five minutes at one stage.
• Previous TDU winner Martin Elmiger (AG2R La Mondiale) in the bunch.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) in the bunch during stage 2.
• Guillaume Blot (Cofidis) leads the break at the base of the KOM.
• Bernhard Eisel (Columbia) leads the main group up the KOM.
• André Greipel (Columbia) gets some refreshment near the top of the climb.
• The race was held under blue skies once again.
• Bernhard Eisel (Columbia) was on the front a lot during the first half of the stage.
• Aaron Kemps (Uni-SA) leads the break on the first circuit near Stirling.
• Julian Dean (Garmin-Slipstream) made a solo
• The peloton in Stirling at the end of the first lap.
• The group of five riders that attempted their own move, but to no avail.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) with the bunch.
• Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) and Co on the move.
• Columbia was active out the front in the later part of the stage.
• There were plenty of attacks as the race neared the end.
• Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto) led another attempt with 10km to go.
• The crowd waited in anticipation for the finish.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) took a brave win attacking at the base of the finishing climb.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) is exhausted after his win.
• Olivier Kaisen (Silence-Lotto) in the sprinter's jersey.
• Andoni Lafuente (Euskaltel-Euskadi) leads the mountains classification.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) tries on the leader's jersey for size.
• Allan Davis (Quick Step) leads by three seconds after stage 2.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) makes the Tour Down Under also a forum for his cancer campaign.

Stage 1 - January 20: Norwood - Mawson Lakes, 140 km

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

• Lance Armstrong (Astana) signs autographs at the sign on area.
• Matteo Bona (Lampre) at the sign on area.
• Robbie McEwen (Katusha) is always popular with the fans.
• Robbie McEwen (Katusha) relaxes before the start after a great win in the Classic on Sunday night.
• The peloton makes its way through typical South Australian country side.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) has a drink early on, with temperatures in the low 40s.
• Olivier Kaisen (Silence-Lotto) and Andoni Lafuente (Euskaltel-Euskadi) made the break of the day.
• Jack Bobridge (Uni-SA) leads a group of four attempting to bridge the gap to the escape.
• Will Walker (Fuji-Servetto) had an attempt as well to reach the leaders.
• Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) leads the peloton with Armstrong just behind him.
• The peloton speed past some onlookers.
• Andoni Lafuente (Euskaltel-Euskadi) leads Olivier Kaisen (Silence-Lotto) up the sharp climb of Checker Hill.
• Lance Armstrong (Astana) stayed close to his teammates, but looked pretty comfortable.
• Michael Rogers (Columbia) rides in the bunch.
• The peloton riding under clear skies.
• Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) is looking fit early this season.
• Jack Bobridge (Uni-SA) makes an effort in the final kilometres.
• The finishing straight was lined with hundreds of fans.
• Is Robbie McEwen (Katusha) checking the time? No, he actually bruised his forearm in the sprint.
• André Greipel (Columbia) is back to his winning ways in the Tour Down Under.
• André Greipel (Columbia) gets a winning handshake.
• André Greipel (Columbia) and teammate Bernhard Eisel were looking pretty happy with the win.
• Bernhard Eisel and Adam Hansen (Columbia) head back to their team car.
• André Greipel (Columbia) makes his way to the podium.
• André Greipel (Columbia) standing tall on the podium
• Jacopo Guanieri (Liquigas) wears the Young Riders Jersey.
• Olivier Kaisen (Silence-Lotto) in the sprinter's jersey.
• André Greipel (Columbia) was presented the ochre jersey by the Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd.

Images by AFP Photo

• Astana races its first kilometres in 2009.
• The anticipated comeback ride of Lance Armstrong.
• Armstrong is out of the saddle in Australia.
• Armstrong rides in the Astana paceline.
• Watch out for those kangaroos crossing the road.
• Katusha leads the bunch.
• The early part of the race was rather restful.
• Armstrong enjoyed the Australian sun to work on his tan.
• Armstrong is happy to be back in the bunch.
• The racing started to get tougher as the kilometres ticked away.
• Armstrong had his first intense race workout for the year.
• It was Armstrong's first race in the Astana outfit.
• A smiling Armstrong is back in the peloton.
• Armstrong signs in and makes his return official.
• The media was quite interested in Armstrong.
• Armstrong chats with Hilton Clarke before the race.
• Lance Armstrong with Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd after the stage.

Images by Jean-François Quénet/Cyclingnews.com

• Former engineer student Mikael Chérel had no problem answering in English to Tour Down Under announcer.
• Tim Gudsell's family flew from New Zealand to see him racing at the Tour Down Under.
• French rookie Guillaume Blot of Cofidis at the start of his first race as a professional.
• Olivier Kaisen (Silence-Lotto) before the start.

Prologue - January 18: Cancer Council Classic, 51 km

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

• Lance Armstrong just before the race.
• The peloton racing in Adelaide for many their first race of the season.
• Lance Armstrong concentrating early on in the crit.
• Mark Renshaw (Columbia-High Road) out the front.
• Jack Bobridge (UniSA) and Maciej Bodnar (Liquigas) out on their own during the break attempt.
• Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank), always a crowd favourite at the Tour Down Under.
• Ag2R La Mondiale on the front.
• The peloton were never too far away from the break.
• André Greipel (Columbia) looking ready to pounce.
• Tim Gudsel (Française des Jeux) had a go on his own, and took a sprint and €500.
• The peloton round the bend at the end of the finishing straight.
• The Katusha boys took their turn on the front.
• Saxo Bank were prominent on the front as the race finish came closer.
• Columbia were looking strong and were keen for the win.
• With one lap remaining Katusha and Columbia were on the front.
• An elated Robbie McEwen (Katusha) takes the win.
• Robbie McEwen (Katusha) speaks to the waiting media after his victory lap.
• Robbie McEwen (Katusha) on his way to the podium.
• Jack Bobridge (UniSA) had a great evening taking two sprint cheques.
• Robbie McEwen (Katusha) celebrates his win with the large crowd on hand.

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Lance Armstrong salutes the crowd prior to the Cancer Council Classic.
• Lance Armstrong rides comfortably in the field.
• Robbie McEwen (Katusha) is elated with his victory.
• Robbie McEwen (Katusha) wins the Cancer Council Classic.

Preview

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Shane Goss/www.licoricegallery.com

• Columbia's Andre Greipel returns as defending champion at the Tour Down Under.

Images by AFP Photo

• Lance Armstrong makes his first visit to Australia to compete in the Tour Down Under. And the fans love it.

Images by Gerry McManus/www.gerrymcmanus.co.uk

• Tough Tasmanian Matt Goss (Saxo Bank) is due for a big stage race win - will the Tour Down Under be that race?