Down Under Classic 

Andre Greipel of Team High Road (you might remember them as T-Mobile) claims the first victory of the 2008 Pro Tour, taking the win at the Down Under Classic. High Road played tactical games with the boys from Rabobank, waiting for them to tire out before placing Greipel in place for the final sprint.

The Down Under Classic is a 25 lap race through the streets of Adelaide. Rabobank was strong from the start, with Bram De Groot taking an early lead at the completion of the first lap. However, with the packing rolling along at 32 mph, no one stayed out front for long. To add to the drama, there were 4 intermediate sprints. Young Aussie Simon Clarke tried to go out for the first sprint, but Christophe Mengin (Francaise Des Jeux) wanted it more, narrowly edging out Erki Putsep (Bouygues Telecom) and Australian Adam Hansen (Team High Road).

German rider Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) took the second sprint and then fell back into the peloton. Shortly thereafter, Xavier Florencio Cabre (Bouygues Telecom) and Nicolas Portal (Caisse D’Epargne) broke away. Bram de Groot went off as well, catching them easily, but it wasn’t long before the main peloton reeled the three riders in.

Jose Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Caisse D’Epargne) won the third sprint over Igor Astarloa Ascasibar (Team Milram) and Allan Johansen (Team CSC). Rabobank took the chance to move all its riders to the front of the field, likely trying to set up sprinter Graeme Brown for the win.

Rabobank mostly held control of the race for the final 20 km. With five km to go they backed off a little as Greipel took the 4th sprint from Jose Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Caisse D’Epargne) and Marcus Burghardt (Team High Road). After that some of the world’s best sprinters (McEwen, David and Renshaw) started to make their way up to the sharp point of the peloton to go for the final sprint, but in the end, it was Greipel that made it first across the line, with Renshaw and McEwen in tow.

Stage 1

Mark Renshaw’s close finish on Sunday must have made him hungrier for a stage win. Tuesday’s stage from Mawston Lakes to Angaston saw him cross the line for first place in the race, and in the Pro Tour.

The race saw the peloton start hanging out together at a steady pace for almost the first 40 km. It was then that a small group of three riders went off the front, including Dimitri Champion (Bouygues Telecom), Mickael Buffaz (Cofidis) and Australian wildcard Ritchie Porte (UniSA). With the peloton taking a nature break, their lead quickly rocketed to over three minutes. The leaders worked well together, eventually taking their lead to six miunutes.

However, as well all know, nothing good lasts forever, and with 15 km to go, Rabobank, Caisse de Espagne, Credit Agricole and the rest all started to move up their sprinters. With just over ten kilometers remaining they had just 40 seconds.

With three kilometers remaining, the peloton had cranked up the speed and the leaders were captured. Even though the finish was slightly uphill, Renshaw started his sprint early and managed to hang on all the way to the line. Spaniard Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Cassie D’Epargne) took second place and Sydney’s Graeme Brown (Rabobank) was in third.

Results:

1. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                    3.13.33
2. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse D’Epargne
3. Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank

General Classification after Stage 1

1. Mark Renshaw (Aus) Credit Agricole                    3.13.23
2. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse D’Epragne         0.04
3. Mickael Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis
4. Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank                                  0.06
5. Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bouyges Telecom