The Jonker report - Still anybody's race
January 21
2009
As things stand today the Tour is still anybody's race.
The big four - all million dollar teams - Quick Step (Belgium), Saxo
Bank (Denmark), Rabobank (Netherlands), and Columbia-High Road (US)
are represented by riders only seconds apart. In fact only four
seconds separate the GC leader Allan Davis from Stuart O'Grady in
4th place. Our own Baden Cooke representing UniSA and Australia
stands only four seconds outside of that.
In the Teams Classifications there are only six seconds between the
lead team Rabobank and Team UniSA-Australia .
Things are finely balanced, but as the history of this race shows,
it is often when the big climbs get into the mix that we see things
shake up a bit.
Tomorrow on the ride out to Victor Harbor it will be wind and
weather that will have an impact but I don't expect much change in
this mix on this leg. We can expect temperatures to drop a little in
Adelaide so as the locals know, that could mean it will be quite
cool in Victor and with winds blowing south west conditions on the
ride down could be troubling for the riders.
I think we can expect another bunched sprint finish and the same
teams will be vying for a win.
The business end of the tour is almost always at Willunga Hill - and
this year riders will face that climb twice which could be a real
challenge for the sprinters in race conditions.
Another little spanner will be Menglers Hill on Friday. This Barossa
Valley climb has not been part of the race circuit since 2003 and
from memory it was always one to offer a challenge and even a
potential blowup for some riders.
Team UniSA-Australia looked good on the road today and if
determination, team work, energy and positivity have anything to do
with the outcomes - the boys are very definitely still in the mix.
A stage win at Victor Harbor would be just the extra boost they need
to make what is possible, believable.
Baden Cooke will be keen to take out this stage and the way the boys
are using their experience and youth on the track so far is a great
sign.
It is hard to pick stand outs from today's race - they all played a
part and took on the hard work when it was needed most. Aaron Kemps
worked like a trojan at the start of the race but each rider took on
some of the load across the day.
This is how teams win races - strategy and team work - it is also
how individual riders win glory, with a great team behind them.
Victory is not out of their grasp and they all know it.
Patrick Jonker