Tour Down Under
Team UniSA-Australia Supporters Club
Team UniSA-Australia Supporters Club
Wednesday, January 18, 2005
Stage 2 - Salisbury to
Tanunda (150km)
Amidst hot, humid and blustery conditions, and despite mechanical
hitches, Team UniSA held their own in Stage Two of the 2005 Jacobs Creek
Tour Down Under.
With several technical hiccups in the first 50 kilometres, including a
puncture that set back sprint jersey-wearing Gene Bates for a couple of
minutes, it was perhaps not an ideal start for the 2004 champions on the
150km route from Salisbury to Tanunda.
But teamwork and a wily support crew helped Team UniSA put in a strong
performance in spite of tough conditions.
After a quick rear wheel change in Gawler, Bates fought back, coming
fifth out of a field of 118 riders in the King of the Mountain, and
ended the race still ranked up with the Tour’s top sprinters.
Matthew Rex, recovering from an unlucky fall in the first stage, put on
a strong show, finishing Stage Two placed high amongst the Tour’s young
riders.
Team manager Michele Primaro said Stage Two had been less defining than
in previous years – while Davitamon-Lotto’s Robbie McEwin held his lead
established the night before, it was still anyone’s Tour leading into
the third stage on Thursday.
“Every year the second stage has been very decisive, but it looks like
this year for a change nothing that defining happened,” he said.
“I think tomorrow will be the deciding stage, where the leaders will
break out from the bunch.”
“I’m telling the riders to be aggressive when they can, hold back when
necessary, and keep up Team UniSA’s good reputation.”
Tour Down Under - Team UniSA home
