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Rabobank - Clockwork "Oranje" | Tour Down Under (4/6)
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| Dankan |
Posted on 19-06-2008 23:03
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 Tour Down Under (2.PT) - Preview
For the first time ever since he was first hosted in 1999, the Tour Down Under has become part of the ProTour calendar, as a new event outside Europe (that never happened yet). The race's route is quite the same as last year's, with an extra stage (up to a total of 6) and the traditional flat "parcours" towards the Willunga Hill on the penultimate day (January 26th).
To be on the level such a race requests, we're sending a quite powerful team as Thomas Dekker will make his debut (58). Graeme Brown (65) and Tom Leezer (64) will be aiming to get good spots within the best 10 sprinters of the race, while Will Walker (64) will be our main contender for the GC. The team is completed by: Michiel Elijzen (56), Matthew Hayman (58, with no spot of his chute at the Aussie champs), Dimitri Kozontchuk (51) and Gerben Löwik (65).
The starting field is full of world-class riders: Tom Boonen, Erik Zabel and Daniele Bennati make a dream trio for the mass sprints while Fabian Cancellara, José Iván Gutiérrez, Juanjo Cobo or George Hincapie make the race shine as never before. The 4 CT spots for the race were given to: Slipstream, Health Net, Toyota and the local riders from Drapac Porsche.
(22/01) Tour Down Under - Stage 1: Mawson Lakes > Angaston
No place for foreigners: Brown stands on "grown land"
Considering the amount of top sprinters who came to South Australia to take part on ProTour's first round, none would have expected an Aussie to win, even when Robbie NcEwen declined to take part on the race for the first time since its foundation. Nevertheless, Rabobank's Graeme Brown made the day of all spectators at the final straight on Angaston by outsprinting - not without any suspense - Erik Zabel (Team Milram) and Tom Boonen (Quick·Step) to claim his first win of the season and take the leadership of the 2008 Tour Down Under.
Brown's win was the result of a huge team strategy over the entire stage. Netherlands's Gerben Löwik was Graeme's "bodyguard" for the first half of the stage, where a KOM climb plus loads of uphill and downhill slopes could break the rhythm on weaker sprinters' legs. Plus, young leadout man Tom Leezer did an amazing work to put the Australian into the right way to the victory. Brown came early from Aaron Kemps and Erik Zabel, while Boonen and Italy's Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) came too late to overcome the home rider.
Long before, the 129km short first stage of the race gave some toungsters a good chance to get some prominence as pro's, especially for young Australian rider from Drapac Porsche, Daniel Braunsteins. The XC-athlete got into a 7-man break made out some of the contenders for the KOM-jersey: 1997 Paris - Roubaix winner Frédéric Guesdon (Française des Jeux) and America's pro rider Roman Kilun (Health Net) were some of the ones who showed the team's colurs on the early break of the day. Attacks into the group led to no order within the escapers, who got chased 25km before the finish line. Liquigas and Quick·Step worked hard to chase the leaders, while Milram make its own to bring Zabel into a good position. A great leadout by Tom Leezer did the rest for Sánchez's squad.
Photo gallery
- Frédéric Guesdon (Française des Jeux) leads Thomas Voeckler (Bougues Télécom) towards the first KOM sprint of this year's TDU
- The early escapers make their pace across thin country routes
- As well Quick·Step as Liquigas made their best to control the "tempo" on the peloton after the break was created
- Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) is proudly wearing his country's colours on the jersey - he'll do it for the rest of the season
- Italian Daniele Righì (Lampre) has some complaint to the neutral car as it's getting to close to his way on the road
- Team Gerolsteiner is also preparing themselves for a good result by youngster Heinrich Haussler
- The sprint: Dutch Tom Leezer (Rabobank) gives Brown a "green light" to launch his final rush, with Kemps and Zabel already up-front...
- ... but he goes ...
- ... and goes ...
- and outsprints Zabel and Boonen for the win at Angaston; the former World Champion made a close call
- Graeme Brown (Rabobank) looks rude and serious as he raises his arms over the line
Official results:
1. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) 2'59'16''
2. Erik Zabel (Team Milram) s.t.
3. Tom Boonen (Quick·Step) s.t.
4. Aaron Kemps (Astana) s.t.
5. Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) s.t.
6. Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) s.t.
7. Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
8. Vicente Reynès (Team High Road) s.t.
9. Tom Leezer (Rabobank) s.t.
10. René Haselbacher (Astana) s.t.
GC:
1. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) 2h59'10''
2. Erik Zabel (Team Milram) +2
3. Daniele Righì (Lampre) s.t.
4. Arnaud Coyot (Caisse d'Epargne) +3
5. Daniel Braunsteins (Drapac Porsche) s.t.
Points: Graeme Brown (Rabobank)
Mountain: Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Télécom)
Young: Daniel Braunsteins (Drapac Porsche) |
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| Liquigas manager |
Posted on 19-06-2008 23:03
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Amateur
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Nice screenshot!
What graphic card doe you have? |
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| Dankan |
Posted on 19-06-2008 23:08
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1065
Joined: 29-10-2006
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Liquigas manager wrote:
Nice screenshot!
What graphic card doe you have?
A poor Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT, taken almost free on a computer shop I found by chance at Madrid's downtown a couple of weeks ago. Probably not the best one, but CHEEEEAP (20 €).
@ Addy: Thx a lot; don't worry on your post's situation, I had to re-post the 5th issue to correct some errors- |
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| Liquigas manager |
Posted on 19-06-2008 23:13
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Amateur
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Dankan wrote:
Liquigas manager wrote:
Nice screenshot!
What graphic card doe you have?
A poor Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT, taken almost free on a computer shop I found by chance at Madrid's downtown a couple of weeks ago. Probably not the best one, but CHEEEEAP (20 €).
@ Addy: Thx a lot; don't worry on your post's situation, I had to re-post the 5th issue to correct some errors-
And still nice, nice!
Ojee, screenshot i meen screenshots.
On the story: you didn't mis the season start. Keep it up!  |
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| Ak4 |
Posted on 20-06-2008 09:14
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Stagiare
Posts: 226
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Awesome  |
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| alex153 |
Posted on 20-06-2008 09:17
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Very nice start |
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| TheGooseIsCooked |
Posted on 20-06-2008 13:47
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Amateur
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You have got to give this guy credit because he is actually on hard unlike the other noobs who are on easy/normal where yo can ride off the front on 10% effort! I salute you sir! |
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| Dankan |
Posted on 20-06-2008 14:05
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Protected Rider
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A point against myself: I tested the game for 2 1/2 months  |
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| Halvor |
Posted on 20-06-2008 14:07
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Sprinter
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Joined: 18-09-2007
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Very Nice! The results are very impressive! |
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| Dankan |
Posted on 20-06-2008 15:52
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Protected Rider
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(23/01) Tour Down Under - Stage 2: Stirling > Hahndorf
Stuart O'Grady sneaks it away on the tables; Brown remains on the lead
A heat wave, which is making his way through the South Australia region during the start of the summer at the Southern hemisphere, might seem to be affecting Graeme Brown's sense. The leading sprinter of the Rabobank squad thought he had won the second stage into the little village of Hahndorf, but, surprisingly, national champion Stuart O'Grady took it from his hands to grant his first victory in yellow-green colours for the 2008 season. Brown will remain on the first place in the 2008 Tour Down Under though.
Graeme's lose against his countryman might perfectly seem a lack of attention towards the contest on the sprint. The Aussie rider from Rabobank did not think so; "I was being clearly the strongest and, when I saw the 300-meter barrier at the side of the road and none trying to overcome from any sides, I thought it was done. I simply didn't expect that last strike from Stuart [O'Grady]", Brown told to the media while waiting for his turn on the podium ceremony to come.
Previously, the peloton showed no interesting for any fight before the sprint, probably because of the hot temperatures reigning over South Oz all over the day. An early break featuring leader's teammate Gerben Löwik (Rabobank), local star Chris Sutton (Slipstream - Chipotle) and Martin Müller (Team Milram) gained some gap over the peloton, mainly controlled by the Lampre and Quick·Step squads. Saronni's riders appeared to be working for Alessandro Ballan, even though last year's winner of the Ronde van Vlaanderen wasn't a real sprinter.
After a late attempt by Dutch youngster Thomas Dekker (Rabobank), cracked down shortly after the attack at the 10km mark, the peloton messed up in order to guarantee a confusing sprint, with several rush slipstreams going over the final straight at Hahndorf. Tom Leezer did again a great job for his leader, but Brown could not succeed on the way he did the day before. Another chance will come for everyone tomorrow, on a new opportunity for the fastest men.
Photo gallery
- Chris Sutton (Slipstream) talks to Basque neo-pro Josu Agirre (Euskaltel - Euskadi); will they be planning some trick?
- Riding like MotoGP bikes; the early break gets close to the first intermediate sprint as they negotiate a right turn
- The country looks after the three brave riders going across the way to Hahndorf in today's hard stage; not because of the profile, but the heat!
- Race leader Graeme Brown (Rabobank) is used to this kind of competition as he sits on the center of the peloton, waiting for his time to come
- Gorik Gardeyn (Silence - Lotto) leads a calm peloton through an empty road; the spectators are conscious and don't leave the fresh ambiance on their houses while they see the race on TV
- Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) tries it, in some sort of attack to test how their legs are for the season to come; still three months for the Ardennes!
- Addy Engels (Quick·Step) and Michael Blaudzun (Team CSC) come across the red triangle; that's the way to take a turn, guys!
- Graeme Brown (Rabobank) leads the real sprint line; too much riders fighting for a big one today!
- Graeme Brown (Rabobank) looks to his left; he does not realize the "tri-color arrow" coming at the other side!
- Graeme Brown (Rabobank) thinks he's won again, so does Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC)...
- ... but the helicopter take does not leave place for doubts: O'Grady won!
Official results:
1. Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) 3h41'13''
2. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) s.t.
3. Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
4. Greg van Avermaet (Silence - Lotto) s.t.
5. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Team CSC) s.t.
6. Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) s.t.
7. Erik Zabel (Team Milram) s.t.
8. Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) s.t.
9. Aaron Kemps (Astana) s.t.
10. Tom Leezer (Rabobank) s.t.
GC:
1. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) 6h40'19''
2. Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) +4
3. Erik Zabel (Team Milram) +6
4. Daniele Righì (Lampre) s.t.
5. Marcel Sieberg (Team High Road) +7
Points: Graeme Brown (Rabobank)
Mountain: Thomas Dekker (Rabobank)
Young: Daniel Braunsteins (Drapac Porsche) |
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| issoisso |
Posted on 20-06-2008 16:22
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 22918
Joined: 08-02-2007
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Wait, because you celebrated, O'Grady didn't celebrate?
If that does happen on purpose , it's pretty cool
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| Hasselinhoo |
Posted on 20-06-2008 16:27
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Stagiare
Posts: 215
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nice |
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| Smitho |
Posted on 20-06-2008 17:14
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 270
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Just wondering how far out you can sprint from on the new pcm as it looks like it is 1.5-2km out tat makes it alot closer unlike 3km out where you cannot overtake the computer on hard unless you have alot better sprinter or similar stats. |
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| issoisso |
Posted on 20-06-2008 17:22
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 22918
Joined: 08-02-2007
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Smitho wrote:
Just wondering how far out you can sprint from on the new pcm as it looks like it is 1.5-2km out tat makes it alot closer unlike 3km out where you cannot overtake the computer on hard unless you have alot better sprinter or similar stats.
it's just like the previous PCM: you can sprint from any place, but if you "just go", you're out in the wind and probably won't win
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
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| Dankan |
Posted on 20-06-2008 18:32
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issoisso wrote:
Wait, because you celebrated, O'Grady didn't celebrate?
If that does happen on purpose , it's pretty cool
Probably it was simply a coincidence |
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| Mads_0 |
Posted on 20-06-2008 19:08
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Domestique
Posts: 614
Joined: 14-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice results Dankan, go Brown! |
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| Ak4 |
Posted on 20-06-2008 19:17
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Stagiare
Posts: 226
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Haha, close |
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| Dankan |
Posted on 20-06-2008 19:17
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Protected Rider
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(24/01) Tour Down Under - Stage 3: Unley > Victor Harbor
Nervousness shakes the peloton; Rabobank wins again
A last bump of wind made Dutch neo-pro Tom Leezer reach his first win as a ProTour rider as he took the victory on a thrilling stage, the third on the 2008 Tour Down Under. The 23-year sprinter came through a bunch of Milram riders, led by former Alessandro Petacchi's launcher Marco Velo, to triumph on the flat portion between Unley and Victor Harbor. Graeme Brown came into the 40-man group on the lead to keep the yellow jersey. No time gaps were taken into account for a second, 60-man group, a minute behind the leaders at the finish, and thus the general classification may not vary apart from the bonification seconds.
Leezer explained, in perfect English-speaking, how much the wind did affect on the stage's outcome: "At the start of the stage, Sánchez told us to mind the gaps on the group and not to leave any of our teammates to get stucked on the back, since the wind was being really gusty from the start. After Hammond was finally chased, I could see, just a couple of meters behind me, how [David] Millar and [Domi]Nique Rollin were falling and making a second group to get formed. Fortunately, we missed that crash and I could lead Graeme to sprint, he somehow could not follow me though, so I went for myself and got the win after the Milrams had to go to the right side when the wind hitted us," Leezer said.
Hammond's breakaway was the only notable attack on a stage where escapers could simply not go further than a few meters, lacking the peloton's protection against the win. High Road's former British champion went away for more than forty kilometers, reaching a biggest gap on 1'35'' seconds, and being finally caught only 3 miles to the finish on Victor Harbor. A little group including Kjell Carlström (Liquigas), Jimmy Engoulvent (Crédit Agricole) and French rising timetriallist Jérôme Coppel (Française des Jeux) also stayed away for a few k's before getting reached by the peloton.
The fast pace by the Zabel's domestiques from Team Milram made the peloton break apart, 30km before the finish. Several riders tried to jump into the first group, such as Thomas Dekker (Rabobank), currently wearing the KOM jersey. Some k's on, a massive fall involved ITT World Champion Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) and Brit champion David Millar (Slipstream). The only injured rider was Irish TT champion Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole), whose fifth rib got broken. His withdrawal is the second one of the race: Estonian Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis) also abandoned on Stage 1.
Photo gallery
- The peloton knows which his destiny through the stage is: echelons are about to happen
- Half the Drapac Porsche squad gets cut of the group: Angus Morton, the revelation of the Aussie champs, is also there...
- Roger Hammond (Team High Road) goes by himself without attacking; there's still 50kms left...
- A 4-man group is also trying to break away; unfortunately, his attempt won't last more than a few clicks...
- Caution, echelons! Silence - Lotto and Team Milram are pushing up-front
- Thomas Dekker (Rabobank) is fighting not to get out of the 1st group...
- Chute by David Millar (Slipstream)! Canada's Dominique Rollin (Toyota) is also there!
- A bunch of riders try to recover themselves from a terrifying fall...
- It looks like a confusing sprint as two Milrams stay at front
- Tom Leezer (Rabobank) is coming from the left to take the win...!
- And the photo-finish shows he really does! Excellent!
Official results:
1. Tom Leezer (Rabobank) 2h58'48''
2. Marco Velo (Team Milram) s.t.
3. Peter Wrölich (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
4. Brett Lancaster (Team Milram) s.t.
5. Alberto Ongarato (Team Milram) s.t.
6. Paolo Bossoni (Lampre) s.t.
7. Enrico Poitschke (Team Milram) s.t.
8. Guido Trenti (Liquigas) s.t.
9. Martin Müller (Team Milram) s.t.
10. Marcus Ljungqvist (Team CSC) s.t.
GC:
1. Graeme Brown (Rabobank) 9h38'57''
2. Tom Leezer (Rabobank) +3
3. Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) +4
4. Marco Velo (Team Milram) +6
5. Erik Zabel (Team Milram) +6
Points: Graeme Brown (Rabobank)
Mountain: Thomas Dekker (Rabobank)
Young: Tom Leezer (Rabobank) |
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| Mads_0 |
Posted on 20-06-2008 20:46
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Domestique
Posts: 614
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PCM$: 200.00
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You are dominating the TDU Dankan. Great stuff! |
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| Ak4 |
Posted on 20-06-2008 20:50
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Stagiare
Posts: 226
Joined: 15-04-2008
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Another good victory |
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