Team UniSA's classic start
January 21 2008
Team
UniSA-Australia made its presence felt last night at the Tour Down Under
Classic, the 50km criterium curtain raiser to the UCI ProTour main
event.
Acclaimed sprinter Team UniSA-Australia's Allan Davis finished fourth, robbed by a split-second of third place by local hero Silence-Lotto's Robbie McEwen. Fellow Australian Mark Renshaw (Credit Agricole) finished second behind German Andre Greipel riding for Team High Road.
It was a blistering finish to a tightly contested race that saw Team UniSA's Wesley Sulzberger, Simon Clarke and Matthew Wilson getting into the thick of things, cheered on by the enthusiastic crowd that lined the Glenelg circuit.
On lap two Tasmanian youngster Sulzberger was part of an aggressive chase to catch Rabobank's Bram de Groot.
Another
Team UniSA youngster, Simon Clarke (pictured right) pushed hard to
finish in front well ahead of the peloton on lap four in a super quick
time of 2:41.
The cool and sometimes blustery conditions did not stop Matt Wilson, who at 30 is one of Team UniSA's most experienced riders, make a ferocious attack on lap 10. He was second across the line on lap 24 and led the last lap before dropping back in the final assault.
The performance of Team UniSA's younger riders would not have come as a surprise to team manager Dave Sanders. At the team launch earlier in the day, he told Team UniSA supporters to expect some gutsy performances over the next nine days.
"We have a very good team across the board," Sanders said. "And history tells us that the young Aussies can take it to the best of them.
"Don't underestimate these kids – this is a genuine national team and every young guy in Australia wants to be in this team."
While keeping his cards close to his chest, Sanders said the final outcome of the Tour Down Under is usually decided in the way the teams position themselves in the first one or two stages.
"I have done nine Tours, and I've never gone home empty-handed," Sanders said. "I don't expect that to change this year."
Today is a rest day for the riders. They begin the Tour proper tomorrow, Tuesday January 22, with Stage 1, leaving Mawson Lakes at 11am and heading to Angaston.
Visit our photo gallery for images of the team presentation and race.