Tour Down Under 2009 [R]

[Dead Fingers]

18-25 January 2009

http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/2009/

Vs. will be doing recaps.
http://www.versus.com/nw/article/view/75280/?UserDef=true&catID=76

[Dead Fingers]

In the prelude Crit race, the Cancer Council Classic of the TDU, Robbie McEwen took the win for his new team Katusha. (Results do NOT count for the overall)

1 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 1.04.32
2 Willem Stroetinga (Ned) Team Milram
3 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
4 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia-High Road
5 Jose Rojas (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne
6 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
7 Baden Cooke (Aus) UniSA
8 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas
9 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Fuji-Servetto 0.01
10 Chris Sutton (Aus) Garmin-Slipstream

Lance Armstrong finished 64th, 23 seconds behind.

[Dead Fingers]

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/7506/3206348014ac97fb2fdaoho3.jpg

[Dead Fingers]

Columbia-High Road’s André Greipel takes the first stage.


1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia - High Road 3.45.27
2 Baden Cooke (Aus) UniSA
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
4 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha
5 Jacopo Guanieri (Ita) Liquigas
6 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
7 Willem Stroetinga (Ned) Team Milram
8 Timothy Gudsell (NZl) Francaise Des Jeux
9 Luca Barla (Ita) Team Milram
10 Andrea Grendene (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C

[Dead Fingers]

http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/2009/?q=node/251

Queensland's Allan Davis (Quickstep) has taken over the lead in the 2009 Tour Down Under after winning the 145km second stage from Hahndorf through the Adelaide Hills to Stirling. Davis is riding in his eleventh Tour Down Under the only rider to have contested the event every year since its inception.

1 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step 3.46.25 (38,424 km/h)
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
3 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale 0.02
4 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
5 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - High Road 0.04
6 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne
7 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C
8 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank
9 Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis
10 André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia - High Road

--------------

General classification after stage 2
1 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step 7.31.42
2 André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia - High Road 0.03
3 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank 0.04
4 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0.08
5 Baden Cooke (Aus) UniSA
6 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
7 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C 0.14
8 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse D'Epargne
9 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux
10 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Slipstream

[Dead Fingers]

Greipel is now out of the race, due to a crash and what looks to be a dislocated shoulder. He was taken to the hospital.

[Dead Fingers]

Graeme Brown (Rabobank) wins the 3rd stage.

[Dead Fingers]

1 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank 3.15.35 (41,721 km/h)
2 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
4 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - High Road
5 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
6 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
7 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
8 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
9 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C
10 Mickaël Chérel (Fra) Française Des Jeux



----------------------------


General classification after stage 3
1 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step 10.47.11
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0.05
4 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale 0.14
5 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road 0.18
6 Matthew Wilson (Aus) UniSA 0.19
7 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C 0.20
8 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
9 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Slipstream
10 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux



For all you LA fans, he is currently 39th, 29 seconds behind the leader

[malby]

You're so lonely in here!!

How is Roche doing?

[Dead Fingers]

You're so lonely in here!!

How is Roche doing?

Well, you know, it's one of the early races of the season. Kind of a glorified "stretching out" tour.

Roche is currently 15th

[el-capitano]

Some of the media coverage here......

CARNAGE, crashes and the iron fist seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong used to order off a television helicopter that flew too close to the race combined to produce one of the most dramatic stages in Tour Down Under history yesterday.

"We have lost more riders in this one stage than we have lost in the 10-year history of the race," race director Mike Turtur said later.

Winds reached gusts of 85kmh and nine riders were forced out of the race with injuries after crashing. Yet Australian Allan Davis (Quick Step), one of the main crash victims, still finished second on the 136-kilometre third stage and kept his ochre race leader's jersey on a count-back. Astonishing.

The winner of the stage from Unley to Victor Harbor was Sydney rider Graeme Brown (Rabobank), who outsprinted Davis, South Australian Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) and 45 other riders.

Brown, who was second to Davis on stage two, is now second overall but with the same time as the Queenslander. Two-time Tour Down Under champion O'Grady is third overall at five seconds.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/carnage-crashes-and-choppers/2009/01/22/1232471496438.html

There's lots of related coverage links in the article if you want to brush up on your reading! ;)

[Dead Fingers]

Highlights from yesterday

YouTube - Tour Down Under 2009 Stage 3 Race Highlights

[Dead Fingers]

Davis gets another stage

1 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step 3.29.35
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
3 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
4 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
5 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road
6 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank
7 Davide Viganò (Ita) Fuji-Servetto
8 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux
9 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha
10 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale


------------------

General Classification after Stage 4
1 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step 14.16.36
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank 0.04
3 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0.15
4 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale 0.24
5 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.26
6 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road 0.28
7 Matthew Wilson (Aus) UniSA 0.29
8 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C 0.30
9 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux
10 Mickaël Chérel (Fra) Française Des Jeux
11 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Slipstream
12 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - High Road
13 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank
14 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Française Des Jeux
15 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0.34
16 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
17 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram
18 Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne
19 Vincent Jérôme (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
20 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto
21 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0.37
22 William Walker (Aus) Fuji-Servetto 0.38
23 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0.39
24 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux
25 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
26 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank
27 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Team Milram
28 Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
29 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
30 Christian Meier (Can) Garmin-Slipstream
31 Javier Megías Leal (Spa) Fuji-Servetto
32 Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Liquigas
33 Simon Clarke (Aus) UniSA
34 Trent Lowe (Aus) Garmin-Slipstream
35 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
36 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank
37 Jesus Hernandez (Spa) Astana
38 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana

[Dead Fingers]

Davis wins Tour Down Under, Chicchi takes final stage (http://www.velonews.com/article/86864/davis-wins-tour-down-under-chicchi-takes-final-stage)


General classification
1 Allan Davis (Aus) Quick Step 19.26.59
2 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0.25
3 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.30
4 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
5 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Française Des Jeux 0.37
6 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road 0.38
7 Matthew Wilson (Aus) UniSA 0.39
8 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C 0.40
9 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux
10 Mickaël Chérel (Fra) Française Des Jeux
11 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Slipstream
12 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
13 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - High Road
14 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0.44
15 Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne
16 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto
17 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank 0.45
18 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0.46
19 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Team Milram 0.49
20 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux
21 Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
22 Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Liquigas
23 Simon Clarke (Aus) UniSA
24 Javier Megías Leal (Spa) Fuji-Servetto
25 Christian Meier (Can) Garmin-Slipstream
26 Trent Lowe (Aus) Garmin-Slipstream
27 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
28 Jesus Hernandez (Spa) Astana
29 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
30 Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1.41
31 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank 2.04
32 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 2.34
33 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram 2.38
34 Vincent Jérôme (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
35 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2.39
36 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 2.43
37 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
38 David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis 2.53
39 Francesco Reda (Ita) Quick Step 3.00
40 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 3.23
41 Glenn d'Hollander (Bel) Silence - Lotto 3.29
42 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 3.32
43 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 3.54
44 Steve Morabito (Swi) Astana
45 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road 5.12
46 Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas 5.35
47 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank 7.49
48 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank 11.34
49 Tom Stubbe (Bel) Silence - Lotto 15.00
50 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick Step 18.42
51 Mathieu Drujon (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 19.50
52 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 20.55
53 Julien El Farès (Fra) Cofidis 22.38
54 Mario Aerts (Bel) Silence - Lotto
55 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 23.45
56 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 24.00
57 Mickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis 24.23
58 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana 24.24
59 Iñaki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 24.27
60 Yoann Offredo (Fra) Française Des Jeux 24.32
61 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 24.33
62 Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda) AG2R La Mondiale 24.44
63 René Mandri (Est) AG2R La Mondiale 25.05
64 Rick Flens (Ned) Rabobank 25.08
65 Jack Bobridge (Aus) UniSA 25.20
66 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas 25.43
67 Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank 26.09
68 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C 26.11
69 Serguei Klimov (Rus) Team Katusha 27.24
70 Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quick Step 27.39
71 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Team Katusha 29.27
72 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Team Columbia - High Road 29.57
73 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre - N.G.C 30.01
74 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Garmin-Slipstream 30.18
75 Martin Müller (Ger) Team Milram 30.25
76 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana 30.29
77 Travis Meyer (Aus) UniSA 31.15
78 Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank 31.37
79 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 34.29
80 Davide Viganò (Ita) Fuji-Servetto 35.09
81 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Fuji-Servetto 35.33
82 Luca Barla (Ita) Team Milram 36.00
83 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Cofidis 36.35
84 Rony Martias (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom
85 Josu Agirre Aseginolaza (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 36.59
86 Ronny Scholz (Ger) Team Milram 37.33
87 Kurt Hovelijnck (Bel) Quick Step 37.36
88 Frank Hoj (Den) Team Saxo Bank 38.11
89 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 38.52
90 Joan Horrach Rippoll (Spa) Team Katusha 39.16
91 Timmy Duggan (USA) Garmin-Slipstream 39.17
92 Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Team Katusha 40.15
93 Hubert Schwab (Swi) Quick Step 40.38
94 Vitaliy Buts (Ukr) Lampre - N.G.C 41.05
95 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis 41.07
96 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Liquigas 41.18
97 Gianni Da Ros (Ita) Liquigas 41.45
98 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana 42.32
99 Jacopo Guanieri (Ita) Liquigas 43.22
100 Volodymyr Zagorodniy (Ukr) Lampre - N.G.C 43.36
101 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia - High Road 43.43
102 Andrea Grendene (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C 44.12
103 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Silence - Lotto 44.49
104 Emanuele Bindi (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C 46.20
105 Jonas Ljungblad (Swe) Silence - Lotto 46.37
106 Chris Sutton (Aus) Garmin-Slipstream 48.03
107 Scott Davis (Aus) UniSA 48.04
108 Aaron Kemps (Aus) UniSA 50.13
109 Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 50.59
110 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 53.29
111 Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin-Slipstream 53.39
112 Willem Stroetinga (Ned) Team Milram 54.33
113 Kenny De Haes (Bel) Team Katusha 55.01
114 Markus Eichler (Ger) Team Milram 56.13
115 Guillaume Blot (Fra) Cofidis 58.51
116 Florent Brard (Fra) Cofidis 59.44
117 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1.01.26
118 Sergio De Lis (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1.02.22
119 Pablo Urtasun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1.02.46
120 Andoni Lafuente (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 1.02.50
121 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia - High Road 1.04.26
122 Ivan Dominquez (Cub) Fuji-Servetto 1.23.14

[el-capitano]

LANCE ARMSTRONG lauded the Tour Down Under with the ultimate accolade by rating the atmosphere on the most decisive climb, Old Willunga Hill, as "Tour de France-esque".

The ambience that the seven-times Tour champion was talking about was on the top-billing climb in Saturday's fifth stage from Snapper Point to Willunga.

But it continued right up to the end in Adelaide yesterday for the sixth stage before a crowd of 144,000.

Never before have I seen such an atmosphere at an Australian bike race and after covering 20 Tours de France, I can vouch that Armstrong's words were on the money.

There was no question Armstrong drew in the record attendances, with the total figures reaching an astonishing 743,000. But credit also must go to the level of competitive fire shown by the peloton to race as hard as it did, even if every stage was settled in a sprint.

For Australian cycling, the event - from Armstrong's entry, the success of the Australians led by Allan Davis who won overall, to the crowds - was a historic landmark.


http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/down-unders-a-tour-de-force/2009/01/25/1232818248780.html