Tour Down Under
Team UniSA-Australia Supporters Club
Team UniSA-Australia Supporters Club
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Stage 5 – Willunga to
Willunga (147km)
by Emma Masters
The morning of the fifth stage of the Tour Down Under was full of anticipation as the riders readied themselves for what was to be a real deciding stage of the 2005 Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under.
With Gene Bates still holding the King of the Mountain jersey after yesterday's race, all the Team UniSA riders knew that they had to look after him today to make sure he held onto it. Steve Cunningham (Ritchie) and Chris Jongewaard were all wired up, providing for communication between themselves and the team car, and they were fired up to give the Willunga to Willunga stage their all.
Filling their jersey pockets with snacks, such as energy bars, lollies and glucose gel, some of the riders said the day would be a tough one. With a forecast of 29 degrees, it was destined to be a hot ride on the road but the race turned out to be fast paced amongst the 90 riders, with a lot of breakaway groups that would then be caught by the peloton, only to set up another break.
James Hannam was involved in the first attack, which happened in the early minutes of the ride, but the group was caught by the peloton not long after.
Fuelled by a tailwind (seeing them reach speeds of up to 60km/hour) and the desire to win, the 90 riders were running 10 minutes ahead of time coming into Willunga at the end of the first lap, picking up bottles of water in the feed station before crossing the line.
Following the second sprint at Aldinga's Snapper Point, Gene Bates and Adrian Laidler formed part of a new breakaway that saw them cross the Willunga line right up there at the front, giving much hope and inspiration to the thousands that were there supporting the South Australian born and bred team.
The last lap involving the King of the Mountain stage climbing Willunga Hill saw Russel van Hout pass a group of riders, setting himself up to come in seventh overall for the stage.
And while Chris Jongewaard had moved up the ranks toward the end of the stage, a tyre puncture meant he lost the precious time he had gained across the day.
The team supported Bates well during the race which separated into three to four groups by the finish line.
At the end of the race, it was a close counting of points that saw Gene keep his King of the Mountain jersey – and the smile on his face said it all.
Now all he has to do is hold onto it for one more race, and he's the overall 2005 Tour Down Under mountain king! Go Team UniSA, go!
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