The Jonker report - Columbia machine the one to watch
January 20
2009
There is no doubt about it - you can see tradition in a team like
Columbia - High Road. The way they race, their aura on the track,
the dominant sense of team that emanates from the yellow and black
jerseys on the road. This racing machine has a proud tradition from
its roots back in 1991 as Team Telekom. And with names like the
phenomenal Bjarne Riis as part of that tradition (who was a special
guest at Tour Down Under in recent years), they are something to be
reckoned with.
This year they line up with a champion field – Andre Greipel
(affectionately known as Andre the Giant here in Adelaide because of
his success over the years at the TDU), US superstar and rider of
vast experience, George Hincappie, New Zealander Greg Henderson, and
Australia’s own champs Michael Rogers, Mark Renshaw and Adam Hansen
and Australian coach Alan Peiper.
Although it is too early to be predicting anything about who will
win the tour, keep your eyes on the bright yellow jerseys with the
sinister ribcage design at the front. They are the team to beat - aggressive, determined and well-oiled.
And for a team like UniSA-Australia, which by its nature has come
together for the first time in Adelaide for this event only - it is
always difficult to develop the team unison that gives power in a
six-day event like this one.
Which is all the more reason to afford "respect" to our riders and
their coach - they did really well today.
The plan for the week will be to keep at least one rider in where the
action is at all times. From that staging ground the team can propel
Baden Cooke into any final sprint finish as they did today.
Cooke missed out to Greipel by seconds. We can only hope that at
some point we can break through for a stage win in a field packed
with solid sprinters and a whole lot of complex team tactics going
on across the field.
The big news is that Robbie McEwen has taken an injury to his arm –
being clipped by someone at the side of the road. He may be out - a
tragic outcome for Robbie who started the event on such a high as
winner of the Classic on Sunday night. We will have to wait to see
what unfolds.
A special mention to Team UniSA’s Jack Bobridge for today’s effort –
he is a feisty rider and has a happy combination of super talent,
diligence and a winning instinct – his break away in the last 20 kms
was a great effort for the team paving the way for Cooke at the
finish. The whole team rode well in very hot conditions.
Tomorrow will be a test for the whole field – it will be hot, hilly
and pretty relentless undulating terrain.
Patrick Jonker