CRITERIUM ACTION
Where on Earth? Where on Earth? PJ O'Brien's Irish Pub and the Jacobs Creek logos on its balcony....
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O'Loughlin corners below the PJ O'Brien's balcony
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With new Aussie U23 RR Champion and Rabobank pro, Will Walker
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The huge screen at the end of the hairpin provides a great backdrop
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STAGE 1
David O'Louhghlin rides through Angaston on a lap of the area prior to the finish
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AG2R's Aussie, Simon Gerrans takes the stage and the race lead
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The bunch coasts in over 30 minutes down on the winner
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STAGE 2
Race leader, Simon Gerrans (AG2R) corners in the heat
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David O'Loughlin in action on Stage 2
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The main bunch heads up the main street in the small town of Hahndorf
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Allan Davis takes his first win in the Tour Down Under, having ridden every edition of the race which started in 1999
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STAGE 4
Some images from today's race. Unfortunately, David O'Loughlin retired from the race with 40km to go - suffering from the heat, which topped out at 46.5'C.
Fans try to catch gifts from the Caravan vehicles
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Snapper Point (Aldinga Beach) was packed with fans enjoying the racing
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This SA.com / AIS team member cools off before the climb of Willunga Hill
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Simon Gerrans finished in the ocre-coloured Leader's jersey, but he'd had a hard day.....
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STAGE 5
2005 winner, Luis Sanchez corners the hairpin bend on the circuit
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AG2R - team of overall winner (and only rider ever to have worn the ocre leader's jersey), Simon Gerrans
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Robbie McEwen is hugely popular with Aussie fans
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The race rolls out - McEwen and Gerrans share a joke with Will Walker (left)
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Not the smoothest feed - UNI SA are still learning!?
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King of the Mountains, Cadel Evans
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Tour Down Under Final Stage, Allan Davies (centre) takes the sprint from McEwen (right)
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Photos © CJ Farquharson www.VeloPhoto.net
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GERRANS SNATCHES LEAD ON STAGE ONE OF JACOB'S CREEK TOUR DOWN UNDER
Report by Gennie Sheer, January 18
Victorian Simon Gerrans has claimed the stage and overall lead of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under after an aggressive day of racing through South Australia's Barossa Valley wine growing region.
Gerrans completed the stage in a time of 3hr38min33sec, two seconds clear of defending Tour champion, Luis Leon Sanchez of Spain (Liberty Seguros - Wurth) with Davitamon-Lotto rider, Robbie McEwen (AUS) third a further nine seconds back. Gerrans was ecstatic with the victory which came in the wake of his disappointment in last Saturday's Australian Open Road Championships where a crash put paid to his hopes of victory.
"I was disappointed with how I went at the nationals, so to come up and win today, I was just over the moon," Gerrans said. "It's going to be tough to defend the overall lead for the rest of the week, but I've got a really strong team here.
"They're a great bunch of guys and I'm sure they'll support me all the way,"said the 25 year old Victorian who last year made his Tour de France debut and not only finished the gruelling three week odyssey but claimed a third place on the seventeenth stage. He returned to Australia in October to take out overall honours in the Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
Gerran's AG2R-Prevoyance team, which was recently awarded a ProTour licence by the International Cycling Union, has a good track record in the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under having won it twice before with French rider Gilles Maignan winning in 2000 and Spaniard Mikel Astaloza in 2003.
The race action was as hot as the searing mid-30's temperatures endured by the world class field and the 85 thousand fans who turned out along the 148km route from Mawson Lakes, a northern Adelaide suburb, to the town of Angaston.
Australian riders initiated the action as Barcelona Olympian Robbie McLachlan launched the first assault taking South Australia.com - AIS team rider and recently crowned U23 national time trial champion, Shaun Higgerson with him. The pair were then joined by a chasing group of 21 riders with all teams repr esented in the lead group except the French registered Credit Agricole line up.
By the 85 km mark of the 148 kilometre stage 29 riders had established a decisive lead with the main field more than 12 minutes behind. The leader's included Robbie McEwen, defending champion Luis Sanchez, William Walker, Cadel Evans and Gene Bates.
But as the race approached Angaston for the first time at the 99 kilometre mark the front group was under attack from within as McEwen, Gerrans, Walker and then Sanchez joined forces to form the group to decide the placings.
With master sprinter McEwen in the quartet Gerrans opted not to hang around and wait to take him on at the line and chose instead to attack solo which proved to be the right decision as he sailed across the line solo with arms raised in celebration.
Gerrans now wears the Jacob's Creek leader's ochre jersey with a seven second overall lead to Sanchez with McEwen third overall at 18sec. Gerrans also leads the SA Lotteries sprint classification. His AG2R-Prevoyance team mate, Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) leads the Laubman and Pank King of the Mountain after winning the climb at Gawler. Will Walker, (United Water-U23 Australia) is the top ranked U23 rider in fourth place and will wear the Share the Road best young rider jersey. Sanchez was named the Century 21
Most Aggressive rider for the day.
Tomorrow the race heads in and around the Adelaide Hills with a 146km route from Stirling to Hahndorf.
Stage 1 - January 18: Mawson Lakes to Angaston, 148km
Stage 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
Irish
79 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 23.54
Jacob's Creek 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
Irish
79 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 23.54
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(TDU STAGE 2) DAVIS BREAKS DOWN UNDER DUCK
Report by Gennie Sheer, January 19
(19 January, 2006) Bundaberg cyclist Allan Davis has broken an eight year duck to claim victory in the second stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, raced over 146km in the Adelaide Hills. Davis was one of only two riders to have raced in all eight Jacob's Creek Tours Down Under and not won a stage; Estonian champion Jaan Kirsipuu (Credit Agricole) is the other.
But that changed today when Davis unleashed a winning sprint across the line in Hahndorf ahead of UniSA-Australia rider Paul Crake with Davis' Liberty Seguros-Wurth team mate Eladio Sanchez coming home third 38 seconds later.
Davis kissed the wedding band on his left hand as he crossed the line in tribute to his wife Andrea, four year old daughter Brooklyn and newborn son, Harrison who was born five weeks ago and might not have helped his Dad with his race preparation in terms of letting him sleep but certainly helped his motivation today.
"I can't describe how hungry I was for a win this year," said Davis. "It's better late than never and I'd just like to thank my team mates, not only this year, but over all the years, we've tried 110 percent and I'm just rapt to get a win today.
"It was sensational feeling, I've had a few wins overseas but this is my first one in Australia for a long time."
The 146km stage from Stirling to Hahndorf began with a climb at the 17km mark. AG2R-Prevoyance rider Samuel Dumoulin (FRA) went over the Echunga hill first to increase his lead in the Laubman and Pank King of the Mountain classification.
Not long after the climb Davis was one of a group of eleven riders which established a lead on the rest of the field and with no-one in the group who posed a threat to the top four ranked riders overall the bunch opted to let them stay away.
Through the first intermediate SA Lotteries Sprint at Woodside at 51km Australian Hilton Clarke of the Navigators team took out the maximum points and he did it again on the same line for the second intermediate sprint at the 92km mark.
As the race approached Hahndorf for the third and final time, it was five time Empire State Building stair climbing champion, Paul Crake, (UniSA-Australia) who launched the attack with Davis joining him soon after to set up a two man battle for stage honours.
Davis' played his superior sprint skills perfectly to slingshot off Crake's wheel in the final 200 metres for an easy win across the line.
"We were the only team with two men in the break and you have to make the most of that advantage," said Davis, who benefited from the support of Eladio Sanchez throughout the day. "I knew I had strong legs today so I went across to the lead group by myself early in the race and thought, 'I'm going to have a go - if I'm going down, I'm going down boxing.'
"So I had a go and I won," he said. "Full credit to Crakey as well cause he had a go and it's a great result for both of us."
Overall Victorian Simon Gerrans (AG2R-Prevoyance) leads the race by seven seconds to defending champion Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty Seguros-Wurth) with the world class field of 92 riders facing another hot day in the saddle tomorrow when they contest Stage 3 from Strathalbyn to Yankalilla. Today temperatures hit the 40 degree mark and tomorrow is expected to be just as warm.
"Everyone struggles with the heat, not just my team, so it's an even playing field (because) it's not cooler for anyone else," said Gerrans, whose team rode just hard enough today to protect their race leader. "It would have been really silly to race flat out today (because) tomorrow and the next day, Saturday, are going to be the real test."
The Century 21 Most Aggressive Rider jersey will be worn by Crake, the SA Lotteries Sprint classification is being led by Gerrans on 14 points, but will be worn by Davis who is second placed on a countback with Clarke, who also has 12 points. The Share the Road Best Young Rider jersey remains on the shoulders of Will Walker of the United Water - U23 Australian team. UniSA continues to lead the Panasonic team classification but Liberty Seguros - Wurth has moved to second, just over five minutes behind and South Australia.com-AIS is now third almost 13 minutes in arrears of the leaders.
Stage 2 - January 19: Stirling to Hahndorf 146km
Stage 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
Irish
77 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 7.10
Jacob's Creek 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
Irish
78 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 23.54
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(TDU STAGE 3) LIBERTY DOES IT AGAIN
Report by Gennie Sheer, January 20
January 20 - Stage Three 154km Strathalbyn to Yankalilla (along the Fleruieu Peninsula)
The Liberty Seguros - Wurth team has scored another victory this time through Spaniard Carlos Barredo who was unstoppable in the final kilometres of the 154km stage three from Strathalbyn to Yankalilla on South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula a day after his team mate Allan Davis claimed a stage victory in Hahndorf.
"I was disappointed after the first day when I was out of the general classification because I came here with that in mind as werll of course to help Luis (Leon Sanchez) defend his title," Barredo said. "So besides looking at overall with Luis we've been taking it stage by stage and trying to get in the winning move each day which I did today so I am very happy to win.
"The victory of today's stage is conpensation for all the hard work I have done during the off-season," he said. "I made a lot of sacrifices through training and watching my diet to get himself into shape for today so this victory compensates for those sacrifices.
"The reason we (Liberty Seguros-Wurth team) are going so well is because it is well known our Director, Manolo Saiz, gets his guys training very hard throughout the off-season," he explained. "I hope this form will continue from here so I can have a good Classics campaign which is my main objective for 2006."
24 year old Barredo won in a time of 3hr51min03sec, 32 seconds clear of second placed Sydney Olympic teams pursuit gold medallist Daniel Becke (GER) of the Milram team. Becke's efforts earned him the lead in the SA Lotteries Sprint Classification after he won both intermediate sprints of the day, the first at Goolwa at the 61.4km mark and the second at Port Elliott at 73.1km.
Davitamon-Lotto rider, Victorian Cadel Evans was third on the stage just behind Becke but his climbing skills early in the day saw him secure the lead in the Laubman and Pank King of the Mountain Classification when he won the battle over Newland Hill at the 85.6km mark.
The trio were part of an 11 man break that established in the first ten kilometres of today's race which set off in 38 degree temperatures. The attack suited race leader Simon Gerrans perfectly with his AG2R-Prevoyance team mates riding tempo on the front of the main field to keep the leaders under control but not reeling them in.
The leaders worked well together to maintain their advantage and as they hit the coastline the temperatures eased to 30 degrees which provided some relief. At the 105km mark the action hotted up when Matthew Hayman (UniSA-Australia) laid down the challenge. Barredo answered immediately but unfortunately for the Spaniard he dropped the chain on his bike and was forced to pull over for running repairs.
In the meantime Alexandre Botcharov (RUS - Credit Agricole) and Vincent Jerome (FRA - Bouygues Telecom) bridged the gap to Hayman. Barredo put in a superhuman effort to recover from the setback and rejoin the leaders while Becke, Evans, and Serge Pauwels (BEL - Chocolade Jacques) also joined the move.
But Barredo looked at the group and didn't like what he saw so he went it alone rocketing away to a solo lead which at one stage was more than a minute. Despite a chase by his rivals Barredo wasn't caught and he crossed the line overjoyed with his victory. Barredo was also awarded the Century 21 Most Aggressive Rider of the day jersey.
Overall Victorian Simon Gerrans (AG2R-Prevoyance) still leads the race by seven second from defending champion Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty Seguros-Wurth) who is expected to launch his attack on the lead tomorrow on the penultiumate stage a 127km race which starts and finishes in Willunga and sees the riders do battle in and around the McClaren Vale coastal wine growing region.
"That's right we knew from day one that Saturday was going to be the big decider so we're in a good position," said Gerrans. "I'm still seven seconds up and I reckon that's better than being seven seconds behind so we're in a good spot."
Recently crowned Australian U23 road champion, Will Walker remains in the lead of the Share the Road Best Young Rider classification and the UniSA-Australia team leads the Panasonic Teams Classification.
TOUR DOWN UNDER: FRIDAY 20 JANUARY
Stage 3 - January 20: Strathalbyn to Yankalilla, 154km
Stage Results
1 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 3.51.03 (40.0 km/h)
2 Daniel Becke (Ger) Team Milram 1.32
3 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
4 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-T Interim
5 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.38
Irish
87 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 7.34
Jacob's Creek General classification after stage 3
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2r Prevoyance 11.11.32
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
Irish
80 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 23.54
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(TDU STAGE 4) UniSA-Australia scores the quinella
Report by Gennie Sheer, January 21
January 21 - Stage Four 147km Willunga to Willunga (along the Fleurieu Peninsula and McLaren Vale wine growing region)
South Australian Russel Van Hout and his UniSA-Australia team mate Paul Crake stole the show today to claim the quinella on stage four of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under raced in stifling conditions.
"You know it's a dream come true in front of all my fans and family, all the people who have helped me all the way," said Van Hout. "It was a hard day the whole day in that breakaway and to have a team mate to finish with one-two what more could you ask for."
The air temperature topped the 40 degrees celsius mark but it was even hotter for the international field of cyclists who also battled hot northerly winds and the reflected heat from the melting bitumen. But it didn't phase the riders who still averaged 41km/h for the 147km stage.
The main contenders for overall race honours allowed a group of 20 riders to form early on after an aggressive start to the racing. 16 riders attacked initially established a lead and were later joined by four others with the 20 strong group at one stage having a lead of almost nine minutes which technically put Chocolade Jacques rider Glenn D'Hollander in the race lead.
"That's what we planned to do and it came off perfectly," said race leader Simon Gerrans of the AG2R Prevoyance team. "We thought we'd let a group go with some riders at about four minutes to put some pressure on Liberty to give us a hand.
"My guys were getting a little bit tired (because) they've just done an awesome job all week and I just couldn't thank them enough - they've really won this Tour for me."
In the second of the three laps along the coastal strip the main field got organised with AG2R-Prevoyance, Liberty Seguros-Wurth team mates of second placed Luis Sanchez began the chase. But up with the front group Van Hout and Crake launched an attack on the climb up Old Willunga Hill and went on with it for the 20 kilometres to the finish with Frenchman Rony Martias of the Bouygues Telecom team riding home 1min03sec later for third place.
Sanchez launched his own attack on Gerrans on the climb but the AG2R team support came to the fore.
"When he first dropped me about 400m from the top of the climb, I panicked a little bit and I sort of blew up, but I had Sylvain Calzati waiting there for me and he kept his cool," said Gerrans. "He rode an early tempo so I could hang onto his wheel and then we caught Jose Arrieta and he started working as well - the two of them just towed
me back up to Sanchez.
"I was really relieved when I caught him, I just sat on his wheel," said Gerrans. "With about 5km to go I started cramping like a bastard - both my quads locked up and my calves. I was getting water from whoever I could and put
ting it on my legs - I could hardly pedal across the line."
Gerrans goes into the final stage with the same seven second lead over defending champion Luis Leon Sanchez (Liberty Seguros-Wurth) that he has held since the first day while Queensland's Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) remains in third place at 18 seconds.
"It's going to be fantastic wearing the jersey tomorrow and I've got to get through the final 90 kilometres yet," said Gerrans who has worn the jersey since winning the opening stage on Wednesday. "It's not often a race is lost on the last day but I guess theoretically it's possible.
"But again I'll be watching Sanchez pretty closely."
Recently crowned Australian U23 road champion, Will Walker remains in the lead of the Share the Road Best Young Rider classification and the UniSA-Australia team leads the Panasonic Teams Classification.
Van Hout's efforts today also saw him take over the lead in the SA Lotteries Sprint competition while Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) still holds the lead in the Laubman and Pank King of the Mountain classification. Crake was awarded the Century 21 Most Aggressive Rider jersey for the day. Tomorrow's final stage will be 20 laps of a 4.5km Adelaide Circuit.
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(TDU STAGE 5)
GERRANS CROWNED 2006 CHAMPION AS DAVIS DOES IT AGAIN
Report by Gennie Sheer, January 22
Victorian Simon Gerrans was today crowned the 2006 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under champion becoming the first rider in the eight year history of the race to claim the lead on the first stage and hold it until the finish.
An estimated 435 thousand fans turned out during the five days of the race to support the world class field despite a record heatwave that saw temperatures soar past the 40 degree celsius mark.
At the completion of 676 kilometres of racing Gerrans finished the Tour in first place in a total race time for the journey of 16hr36min54sec, seven seconds clear of 2005 race champion Spaniard Luis Sanchez of Liberty Seguros with Queensland's Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto), 14 seconds behind Gerrans.
25 year old Gerrans, who rides with the French registered AG2R-Prevoyance team that has been newly promoted to the ProTour status, was overjoyed with his win which puts him on track for an impressive 2006 season after 2005 credits which included a third place on stage 17 in his debut Tour de France and his overall victory in the Jayco Herald Sun Tour in Victoria.
"I'm just absolutely rapt, I can't believe that I've had the lead from the first stage right through to today," said Gerrans after crossing the line safely in the main field on the final stage. "It's just an incredible feeling.
"My team mates rode a fantastic race, they backed me since the first day and protected me on every stage and there's no way I could have done it without them."
The final stage panned out well for Gerrans with a small break away group getting away early but containing noone who posed a threat to the overall rankings. But he still took care to avoid any trouble.
"I didn't take any risks," said Gerrans. "I just did what I had to do and crossed the line.
"I've given myself a bit of a surprise this week... if someone had told me I would lead the Tour from start to finish last week I wouldn't have believed it at all," Gerrans said. "I guess I've shown something to myself as well as everybody else thi week and this should do my Commonwealth Games selection chances a lot of good."
Gerrans flies out to Europe tomorrow to start the season with a solid race program scheduled for the next six weeks.
Meantime the final stage, 81km raced today over 18 laps of the Adelaide City Circuit, gave Bundaberg's Allan Davis (Liberty Seguros) his second stage win of the Tour when he narrowly edged out 11 time Tour Down Under stage winner, McEwen with Simone Cadamuro (ITA - Milram) third in a frantic final sprint for stage honours.
Davis broke an eight year duck to claim victory on the second stage into Hahndorf on Thursday after being one of only two riders to have raced in all eight Jacob's Creek Tour Down Unders and not won a stage. Now he has two under his belt.
"I got on Robbie's (McEwen) wheel and just went from there," said Davis whose parents were trackside to cheer him on. "He gave me a good run into the finish. I've gradually progressed every year and maybe things are starting to pay off."
His Liberty Seguros-Wurth team was happy with Davis' second stage win, which also put him on top of the SA Lotteries Sprint Classification for the race but a little disappointed they weren't able to secure a back-to-back win for defending Tour champion, Luis Sanchez.
"I tried everything I could yesterday, as did the team, to help Luis - we basically laid it on the line for him," said Davis. "But Simon and the AG2R guys were too good. We have no excuses and we still came away with three stage wins (Carlos Barredo won Stage 3) and second overall."
The Century 21 Most Aggressive Rider jersey for stage five was awarded to Italian Luca Paolini of the Liquigas-Bianchi team who was very active in the early breakaway group. Victorian Cadel Evans hung onto the Laubman and Pank King of the Mountain title and the UniSA-Australia line up took out the Panasonic Winning Team title.
Gene Bates was the recipient of the Tanya Denver Award as the highest placed South Australian overall. He finished fifth 1min48sec behind Gerrans.
The 'Share the Road' Best Young Rider (U23) went to William Walker who finished fourth overall, 46 seconds off the pace of the Tour champion.
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Official website: www.tourdownunder.com.au
IMAGES Courtesy of CJ Farquharson
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