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5th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.3

Australia, January 21-26, 2003

Home    Live report    Results    Next stage

Stage 1: Tuesday Jan 21, Adelaide street race, 50km

Cookie wins but Brown pooed off

By Anthony Tan in Adelaide

Baden Cooke
Photo: © Tom Balks
Click for larger image

In the first stage of what South Australian Premier Mike Rann described as "the biggest bike race in the world outside Europe", Baden Cooke (FDJeux.com) won stage one of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, ahead of Robbie McEwen (Lotto-Domo) and Luca Paolini (Quickstep-Davitamon).

Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) was initially thought to have won the 50 kilometre criterium, but ten minutes after crossing the line in first position, Brown was relegated to the back of the pack in 94th place after officials declared he had deviated from his line in the final sprint to the line.

"I think he [McEwen] rode stupid," said Brown, clearly annoyed at the final decision of the commissaires. "There was less than one metre on the left, but 20 on the right. But no matter - I can beat him tomorrow and the next day and the next day." Brownie's ego may have been damaged but his confidence certainly was not.

At 7:30pm, Adelaide's city centre was buzzing: a packed crowd estimated at 55,000 lined themselves three deep around the two kilometre course, muttering their preferences for the stage win to any who would listen.

The breakaway
Photo: © Tom Balks
Click for larger image

After less than ten minutes, a break of seven formed, spearheaded by Fabio Sacchi (Saeco) and Spanish rider Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE Eroski). With Andrea Tafi (CSC), Igor Astarloa (Saeco), Matt Wilson (FDJeux.com), Mark Scanlon (Ag2R), Nick Gates (Lotto-Domo) joining the group moments later, all began working in unison and soon forged a healthy lead of 20 seconds with 17 laps to go.

The break was driven largely by the Italian trio of Tafi, Sacchi and Astarloa, as well as Irish road champion Scanlon. As the laps progressed, the gap widened to 30, then 40 seconds and with less than 10 laps to go, the break looked as firm as the tanned legs of the podium girls who were preparing themselves for the presentations to come.

In the closing stages, however, elements of frustration began to creep in; Sacchi and Astarloa were particularly vocal towards Robbie McEwen's teammate in the break, Nick Gates, for missing out on one too many turns. One rider unaware of all the goings-on was Jackie Durand (FDJeux.com), clearly enjoying himself at the back of the main field. Dudu even had time to practice his cornering skills... while still on the main straight.

The source of frustration coming from the northern Europeans was not unfounded; in the space of five kilometres, the gap was whittled down to a little over ten seconds. Sacchi foresaw the inevitable, hurling himself off the front in a desperate attempt for a solo win, but as the bell rang to signal the penultimate lap, the race was headed for a massive bunch gallop.

With 300 to go, McEwen was lying in third wheel, his Lotto-Domo boys doing their job well. And with Cooke and Brown also at the head of affairs, the stage was set for an all-Aussie showdown.

The throw
Photo: © Tom Balks
Click for larger image

Depending on how you saw things, Brown did appear to have deviated from his line, squeezing the pocket-rocket McEwen out of first place as he tried in vain to come through a small gap on the left hand barrier. Cooke misjudged his throw to the line, possibly due to the fading light, finishing a close second from the fast finishing Panaria Fiordo rider.

However, what virtually everyone misjudged - apart from the commissaires - were the final placings. Brown was quite literally sent to the back of the pack, fined 200 Swiss francs and awarded a 30 second penalty, along with the loss of eight points as if Brown had not contested the sprint at all - leaving Brown in a particularly uncompromising position by the night's end. Meanwhile, the Cookie Monster chomped his way to the highest step of the podium.

Said the stunned but diplomatic Cooke afterwards, "I thought the break was gone. There was certainly some irregular riding around the corners, but in the sprint, I threw my bike too early which I thought cost me the race."

So how are the McEwen-Brown relations now?

"As far as I'm concerned, the officials did their job," said McEwen, disappointed with second, but clearly preferring to see Cooke rather than Brown in the leader's yellow jersey. "I would have liked to have won and I think I would have won, but I had my sprint impeded."

Round 2 starts tomorrow.

Photography

Images by www.tombalks.com

Images by Gerard Knapp

  • Saeco-Longoni Sport's Fabio Sacchi (left) looking cool on the start line of stage 1 of the 2003 Jacob's Creek Tour Down under, his first race of the season.
  • Another season begins. They're off in stage 1 of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, the first major race of the season for most of the field.
  • FDjeux.com's Matt Wilson throws his bike across the line in front of CSC's Andrea Tafi to take out the first intermediate sprint in stage 1 of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - the first of more to come for the Australian contingent on this French team?
  • Saeco - Longoni Sport's Fabio Sacchi in front of Irish rider Mark Scanlon, in his first outing for AG2R Prevoyance. both riders were major drivers in the break of seven which threatened to take out the stage, but was eventually overhauled by the peloton in the final lap
  • Graeme Brown tells the assembled media how he won the stage.
  • Then the media learn he has been relegated and a scrum forms to get his comments.
  • FDjeux.com's Baden Cooke prepares to walk on stage as the winner of the first stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under.
  • FDjeux's Baden Cooke prepares to throw the flowers into the crowd - the young Australian was surprised yet delighted to take the stage and leader's jersey.
  • CSC's Andrea Tafi's efforts driving the break were rewarded with the jersey for Most Aggressive Rider after stage 1.
  • FDjeux.com's Matt Wilson won the sprinter's jersey after his efforts in the break in stage 1 of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under. It is the second jersey to be worn by the French team.
  • Telekom's Dirk Reichl has the jersey for best young rider after stage 1.
  • Cadel Evans gets on stage in his first outing in Telekom colours. Although there were no mountain points in the opening stage, he is given the King of the Mountains jersey as he won the mountains classification in last year's JCTDU.

Results

1 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com                      1.02.20 (48.1 km/h)
2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Domo
3 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quickstep-Davitamon
4 Julian Dean (NZl) CSC
5 Allan Davis (Aus) ONCE Eroski
6 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
7 Dirk Reichl (Ger) Telekom
8 Brett Aitken (Aus) UniSA
9 Mark Renshaw (Aus) United Water
10 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
11 Ashley Hutchinson (Aus) United Water
12 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est)  Ag2R
13 Mickael Pichon (Fra) FDJeux.com
14 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep-Davitamon
15 Nicola Gavazzi (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
16 Ruben Bongiorno (Arg) Panaria Fiordo
17 Angel Vicioso (Spa) ONCE Eroski
18 Peter Dawson (Aus) United Water
19 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Ag2R
20 Andy Flickinger (Fra) Ag2R
21 Erki Putsep (Est) Ag2R
22 Cedric Herve (Fra) Credit Agricole
23 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) ONCE Eroski
24 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quickstep-Davitamon
25 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Ag2R
26 Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den) CSC
27 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Panaria Fiordo
28 Brendan Cato (Aus) United Water
29 Matt Wilson (Aus) FDJeux.com
30 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA
31 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Saeco-Longoni Sport
32 Stefen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom
33 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
34 Andrea Tafi (Ita) CSC
35 Stefan Schumacher (Ger)  Telekom
36 Christian Pepoli (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
37 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) CSC
38 Xavier Florencio (Spa) ONCE Eroski
39 Geert Van Bondt (Bel) CSC
40 Joerg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco-Longoni Sport
41 Juan Fuentes (Spa) Saeco-Longoni Sport
42 Regis Lhuillier (Fra) FDJeux.com
43 David Canada (Spa) Quickstep-Davitamon
44 Luke Roberts (Aus) UniSA
45 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Ag2R
46 Dario Pieri (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
47 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Telekom
48 Arvis Piziks (Lat) CSC
49 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger)  Telekom
50 Steve Cunningham (Aus) UniSA
51 Corey Sweet (Aus) Credit Agricole
52 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE Eroski
53 Christian Werner (Ger)  Telekom
54 Bobby Julich (USA)  Telekom
55 Lennie Kristensen (Den) CSC
56 Cadel Evans (Aus) Telekom
57 Alvaro Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) ONCE Eroski
58 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA
59 Filippo Perfetto (Ita) Panaria Fiordo
60 Mark Scanlon (Irl) Ag2R
61 Glen d'Hollander (Bel) Lotto Domo
62 Inigo Chaurreau (Spa) Ag2R
63 Aaron Kemps (Aus) United Water
64 Hans De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Domo
65 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto Domo
66 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) United Water
67 Sergey Matveyev (Ukr) Panaria Fiordo
68 Lilian Jegou (Fra) Credit Agricole
69 Christopher Jenner (NZl) Credit Agricole
70 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Credit Agricole
71 Kurt Van De Wouwer (Bel) Quickstep-Davitamon
72 Adrian Laidler (Aus) UniSA
73 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) FDJeux.com
74 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole
75 Jakob Piil (Den) CSC
76 Jens Voigt (Ger) Credit Agricole
77 Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) ONCE Eroski
78 Scott Davis (Aus) Panaria Fiordo
79 Patrick Jonker (Aus) UniSA
80 Davide Bramati (Ita) Quickstep-Davitamon
81 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quickstep-Davitamon
82 Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex) Panaria Fiordo
83 Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJeux.com
84 Brad McGee (Aus) FDJeux.com
85 Lee Godfrey (Aus) United Water
86 David Betts (Aus) United Water
87 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Lotto Domo
89 Paolo Lanfranchi (Ita) Panaria Fiordo
90 Jacky Durand (Fra) FDJeux.com
91 Nick Gates (Aus) Lotto Domo
92 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Lotto Domo
93 Jay Sweet (Aus) UniSA
94 Graeme Brown (Aus) Panaria Fiordo
DNS Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon
DNS David Arroyo (Spa) ONCE Eroski
 
Sprints
 
Lap 10 - 20 km
 
1 Matt Wilson (Aus) FDJeux.com                            6 pts
2 Andrea Tafi (Ita) CSC                                   4
3 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport                  2
 
Lap 20 - 40 km
 
1 Andrea Tafi (Ita) CSC                                   6 pts
2 Matt Wilson (Aus) FDJeux.com                            4
3 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport                  2
 
Lap 25 - 50 km
 
1 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com                            8 pts
2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Domo                          6
3 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quickstep-Davitamon                  4
 
General classification after stage 1
 
1 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com                      1.02.20
2 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Domo
3 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quickstep-Davitamon
4 Julian Dean (NZl) CSC
5 Allan Davis (Aus) ONCE Eroski
6 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Credit Agricole
7 Dirk Reichl (Ger) Telekom
8 Brett Aitken (Aus) UniSA
9 Mark Renshaw (Aus) United Water
10 Stefano Zanini (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
11 Ashley Hutchinson (Aus) United Water
12 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est)  Ag2R
13 Mickael Pichon (Fra) FDJeux.com
14 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep-Davitamon
15 Nicola Gavazzi (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
16 Ruben Bongiorno (Arg) Panaria Fiordo
17 Angel Vicioso (Spa) ONCE Eroski
18 Peter Dawson (Aus) United Water
19 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Ag2R
20 Andy Flickinger (Fra) Ag2R
21 Erki Putsep (Est) Ag2R
22 Cedric Herve (Fra) Credit Agricole
23 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) ONCE Eroski
24 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quickstep-Davitamon
25 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Ag2R
26 Thomas Bruun Eriksen (Den) CSC
27 Brett Lancaster (Aus) Panaria Fiordo
28 Brendan Cato (Aus) United Water
29 Matt Wilson (Aus) FDJeux.com
30 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA
31 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Saeco-Longoni Sport
32 Stefen Wesemann (Ger) Telekom
33 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
34 Andrea Tafi (Ita) CSC
35 Stefan Schumacher (Ger)  Telekom
36 Christian Pepoli (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
37 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) CSC
38 Xavier Florencio (Spa) ONCE Eroski
39 Geert Van Bondt (Bel) CSC
40 Joerg Ludewig (Ger) Saeco-Longoni Sport
41 Juan Fuentes (Spa) Saeco-Longoni Sport
42 Regis Lhuillier (Fra) FDJeux.com
43 David Canada (Spa) Quickstep-Davitamon
44 Luke Roberts (Aus) UniSA
45 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Ag2R
46 Dario Pieri (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport
47 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Telekom
48 Arvis Piziks (Lat) CSC
49 Kai Hundertmarck (Ger)  Telekom
50 Steve Cunningham (Aus) UniSA
51 Corey Sweet (Aus) Credit Agricole
52 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE Eroski
53 Christian Werner (Ger)  Telekom
54 Bobby Julich (USA)  Telekom
55 Lennie Kristensen (Den) CSC
56 Cadel Evans (Aus) Telekom
57 Alvaro Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) ONCE Eroski
58 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA
59 Filippo Perfetto (Ita) Panaria Fiordo
60 Mark Scanlon (Irl) Ag2R
61 Glen d'Hollander (Bel) Lotto Domo
62 Inigo Chaurreau (Spa) Ag2R
63 Aaron Kemps (Aus) United Water
64 Hans De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Domo
65 Thierry Marichal (Bel) Lotto Domo
66 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) United Water
67 Sergey Matveyev (Ukr) Panaria Fiordo
68 Lilian Jegou (Fra) Credit Agricole
69 Christopher Jenner (NZl) Credit Agricole
70 Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) Credit Agricole
71 Kurt Van De Wouwer (Bel) Quickstep-Davitamon
72 Adrian Laidler (Aus) UniSA
73 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) FDJeux.com
74 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole
75 Jakob Piil (Den) CSC
76 Jens Voigt (Ger) Credit Agricole
77 Igor Gonzalez De Galdeano (Spa) ONCE Eroski
78 Scott Davis (Aus) Panaria Fiordo
79 Patrick Jonker (Aus) UniSA
80 Davide Bramati (Ita) Quickstep-Davitamon
81 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quickstep-Davitamon
82 Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex) Panaria Fiordo
83 Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJeux.com
84 Brad McGee (Aus) FDJeux.com
85 Lee Godfrey (Aus) United Water
86 David Betts (Aus) United Water
87 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Lotto Domo
88 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Lotto Domo
89 Paolo Lanfranchi (Ita) Panaria Fiordo
90 Jacky Durand (Fra) FDJeux.com
91 Nick Gates (Aus) Lotto Domo
92 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Lotto Domo
93 Jay Sweet (Aus) UniSA
94 Graeme Brown (Aus) Panaria Fiordo                    0.30
 
Note: Graeme Brown was relegated to last position for
irregular sprinting, fined SFR200 and penalised 8 points on
the sprints classification and 30 seconds on the general
classification.

Sprints classification
 
1 Matt Wilson (Aus) FDJeux.com                           10 pts
2 Andrea Tafi (Ita) CSC                                  10
3 Baden Cooke (Aus) FDJeux.com                            8
4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Lotto Domo                          6
5 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quickstep-Davitamon                  4
6 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Saeco-Longoni Sport                  4
 
U23 classification
 
1 Dirk Reichl (Ger) Telekom                         1.02.20
2 Mark Renshaw (Aus) United Water
3 Peter Dawson (Aus) United Water
4 Brendan Cato (Aus) United Water
5 Stefan Schumacher (Ger)  Telekom
6 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA
7 Aaron Kemps (Aus) United Water
8 Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) United Water
9 Adrian Laidler (Aus) UniSA
10 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) FDJeux.com
11 Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJeux.com
12 Lee Godfrey (Aus) United Water
13 David Betts (Aus) United Water
14 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Lotto-Domo
 
Teams classification
 
1 United Water                                      3.07.00
2 Ag2r Prevoyance
3 ONCE-Eroski
4 Quick Step-Davitamon
5 FDJeux.com
6 Saeco-Longoni Sport
7 Team CSC
8 Team Telekom
9 UniSA
10 Credit Agricole
11 Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo
12 Lotto-Domo