Tour Down Under
Team UniSA-Australia Supporters' Club
Team UniSA-Australia Supporters' Club
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Stage One - East End Circuit
Russell
van Hout’s Tour Down Under campaign had an auspicious start,
with the champion climber being handed the King of the Mountain jersey
after the first stage on Tuesday night.
With no hills to climb in the first stage (held at Adelaide’s East End) Van Hout was given the jersey for being the highest KOM-ranked racer present at the 2004 tour.
Van Hout said he was looking forward to the tour after a good race at the Australian Championships in Ballarat on Sunday.
"It’s good to be on the podium so early in the tour – hopefully it will motivate me to make it up there a few more times before the tour is over," he said.
Despite a minor knee injury in Ballarat, Van Hout said he was feeling in top form.
"I hurt my knee in the time trials on Sunday, but the swelling’s gone down now and in fact I think I’m in better form than last year."
Team UniSA coach Michele Primaro said the team’s best chance was to pace itself and choose its battles. With the loss of Brett Aitken the team was without a specialist sprinter – and the first stage was basically one sprint after another.
"I told the team we can’t really afford to go too hard tonight. Three of the world’s best sprinters are out there on the track and we’ve got to save something for the later stages which are more suited to our teams’ talents."
"I’m just happy for them to go out there and not have any crashes and Russel to start the tour with the King of the Mountain jersey."
PS: Stage One was won by Robbie McEwin
