Tough day on the road
Stage
3 of the Tour Down Under presented a tough day on the road for Team
UniSA-Australia.
Almost half the team was involved in crashes, with Baden Cooke now out of the Tour after a nasty tumble at speeds of 60 to 70 km/h.
Team UniSA-Australia coach Dave Sanders said it was not a good day for UniSA, with some bad luck in difficult conditions, with winds up to 55km/h.
“We lost our major sprinter today as Baden is now out of the race,” Sanders said.
“With Jack Bobridge and Aaron Kemps another also involved in crashes (they finished the race), things didn’t go our way – but that’s what happens in this sport.”
Despite the tough day out, two UniSA riders finished in the top 20 – with Simon Clarke in 16th position and Matthew Wilson 18th. Matthew Wilson also won the first intermediate sprint at Meadows.
“Those guys rode really strong today,” Sanders said.
“There were certainly enough positives in the day to know we’ll be in there on the tough days. And tomorrow’s another day.”
Jack Bobridge received medical treatment for cuts and abrasions at the finish line in Victor Harbor after he was involved in a crash during the descent of the first King of the Mountain sprint at Wickham Hill.
“Someone fell coming down the hill and at speeds of 60 to 70 km/h … when one goes down you can’t stop at that speed … we all just went over the top,” Bobridge said.
Bobridge was a crowd favourite at the finish line at Victor Harbour,
signing numerous hats, notepads and other items for eager fans soon
after emerging from the medical tent. He also greeted family waiting
nearby.
“It was pretty tough out there today, but we’ll get up tomorrow and give it a good crack,” he said.
Australia claimed first, second and third placings in today’s stage, with Graeme Brown (Rabobank) coming in first, followed by Allan Davis (Quick Step) and Stuart O’Grady (Team Saxo Bank). Davis and Brown are now equal on time, which means Davis retains the Ochre Jersey going into the fourth stage tomorrow, with O’Grady just five seconds behind.
Stage 1 winner Andre Greipel’s (Columbia) defense came to a sudden halt early in Stage 3. The German rider dislocated his shoulder in a crash and was taken to hospital for treatment.