Youth and experience a winning combo
15 December 2006
by
Michele Nardelli
Team UniSA-Australia was announced this week and while we had heard
rumours about who might be making up the green and gold team, we
were not sure we would get such a dynamic mix of youth and
experience. Patrick Jonker believes this is the year Team UniSA has
come of age.
"In the past Team UniSA has been a bit of an underdog. The team composition has centred on young local hopefuls or emerging talents, rather than a force of internationally experienced riders.
But this year is different. On paper at least we have the strongest team ever to wear the UniSA jersey. Personally I have very high hopes for the team – it is great blend of experience and toughness with energy and enthusiasm.
The team includes sprinter and Commonwealth Games medallist, Allan Davis, who’s TDU experience includes winning two stages and being a starter for every one of the eight years the event has run. Davis will be our main man.
We will welcome back the experience and class of Australian National Series Champion, Robert McLachlan (Drapac Porsche), 2006 Elite Open Road Champion and local hero, Russell Van Hout (Savings & Loans) and of course the multi-talented 2005 Australian cross country mountain bike champion, Chris Jongewaard (Savings & Loans).
Also a former TDU stage winner and super workhorse Matt White has been granted permission by his Discovery Channel team to start in Adelaide wearing the green and gold.
And in a return to Team UniSA, Olympian Brett Aitken will be fronting up with a passion to prove his gold class status. Gold medal winner for the Madison at the Sydney Olympics, Aitken has devoted the last few years to business and family so this will be a chance to get back into the thick of the competition and one he will relish. Celebrating his 36th birthday the day before the TDU starts, we hope he will have a lot to celebrate over the week.
In his prime, Karl Menzies (Health Net) and young gun 21-year-old Mitchell Docker (Drapac Porsche) complete the team. Menzies notched up six wins this season with his American registered pro team while Docker is one of Australia's up and coming stars having already won a World Championship in 2004 as a junior on the track.
We should also acknowledge the significant role that will be played by team manager Dave Sanders. Sanders is a steady and inspiring manager and coach who proved last year just how well he could bring together a group of riders and make them operate like a real team. The notion of team is one of the most important aspects of road racing. Sanders is a master at bringing out that spirit in his riders.
It promises to be an exciting Tour Down Under and winning a few stages or even the whole event is not out of the question."