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Tour Down Under, Australia
Stage 1, Mawson Lakes - Angaston, 148K
18 January
Gerrans Tops Day of GC Gains
![Map](javascript:ImagePopup("../../map/2006/DownUnder1.gif", 673, 244, "Stage Map");){kind=link}
![Gerrans and Podium Girls](javascript:ImagePopup("../../photo/2006/DownUnder/1/jtduGerransPodium.jpg", 500, 332, "Gerrans and Podium Girls"); "Gerrans and Podium Girls, photo: Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under")
Gerrans and Podium Girls, photo: Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under
Simon Gerrans (Ag2R Prévoyance) polished off the day with an attack from his escape group at 5K to go. He was part of a group of 25 that 30K into affairs went clear to form the day's move and gain massive time, essentially forming the final GC. By the end of the hot day it was the young Aussie (26) who preempted the sprint from a group that contain Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto), and took the race leader's jersey.
Another sunny and warm day (30°C) in the land Down Under greeted the riders for their 148K trek to Angaston. The peloton was torn to shreds on the first rise at 20K into the race. Soon after there was a mega lead group to form, containing 25 riders and enough team representation to shut down the chase from behind.
The group: Aaron Kemps, Ivan Santos (Liberty), Simon Gerrans, Samuel Dumoulin (Ag2R Prévoyance), 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), Simon Clarke, James Meadley, Shaun Higgerson (South Australia.com-AIS), Gene Bates, Robert McLachlan, Sean Sullivan, Chris Jongewaard, Russell Van Hout (UniSA), William Walker, David Tanner, Mitch Docker (United Water). Later the gruppo was made 27 by the chase of last year's GC winner, Luis León Sánchez, and Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole).
![Four Forms](javascript:ImagePopup("../../photo/2006/DownUnder/1/jtduGerransSanchezMcEwen.jpg", 500, 332, "Four Forms"); "Four Forms, photo: Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under")
Four Forms, photo: Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under
The main peloton continued to lose time to the leading group and by the first passage of Angaston (48K to go) the gap was up to 12'45". Shortly after a power group of four formed, the group contained McEwen, Walker, Gerrans and Sánchez. They worked in harmony and built up an advantage of one minute. The harmony fell apart after 10K, when at 5K remaining Gerrans launched the winning attack. The move worked out brilliantly because behind no one wanted to help McEwen back up to the front for another possible sprint win.
The Aussie took an amazing win and also put himself in the leader's GC jersey. More importantly the GC was seriously shaken up today, there were riders who lost huge chunks of time, who will now ride for stage wins or training kilometers. The next few days should prove to be very interesting, especially if the racing continues in this same aggressive manner.
Results: 3:38'33", 40.6 K/h
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2R Prévoyance
2 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Seguros-Würth 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
6 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
7 Chris Jongerwaard (Aus) UniSA-Australia 3.10
8 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
9 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.32
10 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Milram 4.09
11 Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 4.31
12 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 4.40
13 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas
14 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS 4.51
15 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators 5.15
16 Sean Sullivan (Aus) UniSA-Australia
17 Ben Brooks (Aus) Navigators 6.14
18 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas
19 Ivan Santos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 9.16
20 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth 12.05
21 James Meadley (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
22 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
23 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia
24 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
25 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
26 David Tanner (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
27 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
28 Elia Rigotto (Ita) Milram
29 Mitchell Docker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
30 Steven Caethoven (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 23.45
31 Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
32 Michele Gobbi (Ita) Milram
33 Marco Righetto (Ita) Liquigas
34 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators
35 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators
36 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas
37 Nicola Loda (Ita) Liquigas
38 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Crédit Agricole
39 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
40 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2R Prévoyance
41 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas
42 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas
43 Daniel Becke (Ger) Milram
44 Walter Bénéteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
45 Pierre Drancourt (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
46 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
47 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
48 José Joaquín Rojas (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth
49 Eladio Sánchez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth
50 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
51 Cyril Dessel (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
52 Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Milram
53 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole
54 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole
55 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Milram
56 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
57 Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Milram
58 Dennis Haueisen (Ger) Milram
59 Jens Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
60 Joshua Wilson (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
61 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas
62 Matthew Rex (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
63 Peter Dawson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
64 Koen De Kort (Ned) Liberty Seguros-Würth
65 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia
66 Henk Vogels (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
67 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
68 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
69 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Crédit Agricole
70 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
71 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
72 Matthew Hayman (Aus) UniSA-Australia
73 Frederik Willems (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
74 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Crédit Agricole
75 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
76 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth
77 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators
78 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance
79 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators
80 Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
81 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
82 Ben Day (Aus) UniSA-Australia
83 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
84 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
85 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
86 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
87 Wesley Van Der Linden (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
88 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators
89 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth
90 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators
91 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Ag2R Prévoyance
92 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
DNF Richard Moffatt (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
DNF Samuel Lee (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
DNS Nicolas Sanderson (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
Points
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2R Prévoyance 8
2 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 6
3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 4
Mountains
Calton Rd - 41.7 K
1 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance 16
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 12
3 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 8
4 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia 6
5 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 4
Sprints
Jacobs Creek - 63.3 K
1 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 6
2 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 4
3 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas 2
Murray Street - 92.7 K
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2R Prévoyance 6
2 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas 4
3 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 2
GC:
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2R Prévoyance 3:38'24"
2 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 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 Prévoyance 1.48
7 Chris Jongerwaard (Aus) UniSA-Australia 3.19
8 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
9 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.41
10 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Milram 4.18
11 Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 4.40
12 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 4.46
13 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas 4.49
14 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS 5.00
15 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators 5.24
16 Sean Sullivan (Aus) UniSA-Australia
17 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas 6.20
18 Ben Brooks (Aus) Navigators 6.23
19 Ivan Santos (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 9.25
20 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth 12.14
21 James Meadley (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
22 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
23 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia
24 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
25 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
26 David Tanner (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
27 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
28 Elia Rigotto (Ita) Milram
29 Mitchell Docker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
30 Steven Caethoven (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 23.54
31 Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
32 Michele Gobbi (Ita) Milram
33 Marco Righetto (Ita) Liquigas
34 Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators
35 Vassili Davidenko (Rus) Navigators
36 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas
37 Nicola Loda (Ita) Liquigas
38 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Crédit Agricole
39 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
40 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2R Prévoyance
41 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas
42 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas
43 Daniel Becke (Ger) Milram
44 Walter Bénéteau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
45 Pierre Drancourt (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
46 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
47 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
48 José Joaquín Rojas (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth
49 Eladio Sánchez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth
50 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
51 Cyril Dessel (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
52 Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Milram
53 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole
54 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole
55 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Milram
56 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
57 Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Milram
58 Dennis Haueisen (Ger) Milram
59 Jens Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
60 Joshua Wilson (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
61 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas
62 Matthew Rex (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
63 Peter Dawson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
64 Koen De Kort (Ned) Liberty Seguros-Würth
65 Paul Crake (Aus) UniSA-Australia
66 Henk Vogels (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
67 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
68 Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
69 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Crédit Agricole
70 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
71 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
72 Matthew Hayman (Aus) UniSA-Australia
73 Frederik Willems (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
74 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Crédit Agricole
75 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
76 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth
77 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators
78 José Luis Arrieta (Spa) Ag2R Prévoyance
79 David O'Loughlin (Irl) Navigators
80 Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
81 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
82 Ben Day (Aus) UniSA-Australia
83 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
84 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
85 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
86 Dimitri De Fauw (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
87 Wesley Van Der Linden (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
88 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators
89 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros-Würth
90 Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators
91 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Ag2R Prévoyance
92 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
Points
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2R Prévoyance 14
2 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 6
3 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 6
4 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 6
5 Daniele Colli (Ita) Liquigas 6
6 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 4
Mountains
1 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance 16
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 12
3 Gene Bates (Aus) UniSA-Australia 8
4 Robert McLachlan (Aus) UniSA-Australia 6
5 Russell Van Hout (Aus) UniSA-Australia 4
U23
1 William Walker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23 3:39'10"
2 Simon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS 2.33
3 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas 4.03
4 Shaun Higgerson (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS 4.14
5 James Meadley (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS 11.28
6 David Tanner (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
7 Mitchell Docker (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
8 José Joaquín Rojas (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 23.08
9 Eladio Sánchez (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth
10 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Milram
11 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
12 Joshua Wilson (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
13 Matthew Rex (Aus) United Water-Australia U/23
14 Jonathon Clarke (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
15 Matthew Goss (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
16 Vincent Jerome (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
17 Daniel McConnell (Aus) South Australia.com-AIS
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