Team work wins
Stage 5 - 22 January 2006
by
Emma Masters
Team UniSA-Australia win the overall team's classification jersey |
A team approach has landed Team UniSA-Australia the overall team’s classification jersey for the 2006 Jacob’s Creek Tour Down Under.
Going into the race with a seven minute advantage over the other teams, it was important the boys worked together to maintain their strong lead.
“We were probably a bit stronger team this year, given we were more of a national team, but having better riders means there’s a risk on whether everyone is going to ride as a team,” veteran UniSA rider Russell van Hout said.
“But everyone rode well together. Everything went like a team should and went pretty much to plan… everyday we pretty much achieved what we set out to do.
“Because we started off well, everyone wanted to do well and that really helped because the more we continued to do well, the more we bonded as a team.”
The team manager Dave Sanders says the team is the best he’s ever worked with in terms of their commitment to each other.
“This year they’ve been just a great bunch of guys,” Sanders said.
“The best team I’ve ever been with as far as bonding together, taking advice, listening to instructions and in their commitment to each other. Everyday we had someone up at the front, and they were different guys everyday – not just the same guys. They really worked together as a team.
“It really has been inspirational to work with them – and we also had a lot of fun together. Because it really important everyone has fun as well as works hard.”
In the 18 laps around the city circuit of King William Rd and Montefiore Hill, the UniSA team took an aggressive approach and made an early break by the first lap with Paul Crake, Mathew Hayman, Sean Sullivan and Chris Jongewaard dominating the small group.
By the fifth lap Sullivan and Hayman powered ahead and continued to hold the break for much of the race – really setting the pace and putting the pressure on the other riders with around 40-50 seconds lead on the peloton. They took first and second respectively for the first sprint. And while the peloton eventually caught the break by the last few laps, it was a mammoth effort by Sullivan and Hayman.
There were some other tactics also being played out in the race. It was important for Gene Bates to keep his top five individual placing and for van Hout try and hold the sprint jersey that he held from yesterday’s stage at Willunga.
“I’m really pleased to have gained top five for this tour,” Bates said.
“Each year I try to come back and do better than the year before. To place fifth, and get the best SA Rider has been wonderful. Next year I’d love to get a stage win or even get higher in the scores – perhaps even win.”
Gene Bates was the recipient of the Tanya Denver Award as the highest placed South Australian overall.
And van Hout said he was still pleased to get second in the overall sprint, after such a great tour in 2006.
“Everything was perfect for it - we had a chance to try to keep me in the sprint jersey,” van Hout said.
“Allan Davis had to win the stage to win the sprint jersey – and he did that today– so I can’t complain. If he can do what he did, he deserves it.”
“I’ve had an enormous joy with doing so well this year. Winning a stage, coming second in the sprint with a good chance I could have taken it out today, then taking the team’s class and coming seventh overall – it’s just been fantastic.”
So the boys say they are going to enjoy a few days of well-earned rest before each taking off on their respective careers.
“Most of them have big agendas – at least a couple in the Commonwealth Games in cycling, and Chris Jongewaard is in the Games for mountain biker riding as well,” team manager Sanders said.
“They’ve all got contracts to go to so you’ll see their names throughout the year, especially in the European racing circuit.”
“And we also want to say a big thank-you to UniSA and the supporters.
“We’re just over the moon with the reception from the UniSA supporters… the riders love the support, seeing the signs. They love it, it really gees them up.
“Thank-you to everyone – it’s been just great. We
all look forward to returning in 2007.”
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