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The waiting over, the Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team launched the eagerly anticipated 2000 season with the first stage of the Tour Down Under in South Australia on Tuesday evening.
40,000 people lined the 3 km circuit around closed roads in downtown Adelaide, and they were treated to a superb evening's entertainment. Linda McCartney's star man was a resurgent David McKenzie, the team's best rider last year, who returned to his home country to record a gritty fifth place.
Australia's TV viewers were treated to the sight of 90 or so of the world's best cyclists rocketing immediately away from the start line. Linda McCartney's Bjornar Vestol put in a sterling turn on the front of the bunch to reel in an early break, then last year's winner Stuart O'Grady conspired with some Aussie compatriots to launch a blistering counter attack.
David McKenzie was in the thick of the break, and the handful of riders quickly forged a sizeable lead. With all the big players represented, with Telekom the notable exceptions, it became clear that this would be the break to decide the relatively short 52km stage. Roared on by the partisan crowd, McKenzie went on a lone attack, but his efforts were thwarted by the gusty headwind and the determination of his opponents.
Drama followed, as a split unexpectedly developed in the break. McKenzie found himself distanced by a smaller group of leaders, including O'Grady, Jay Sweet and new Australian champion Jamie Drew.
"Somebody a few places in front of me in the line let the wheel ahead of them go, next thing I knew we'd been dropped," explained McKenzie. Still feeling the effects of his earlier attack, he hurled himself into an all-or-nothing pursuit. Just when he looked to be within touching distance he ran out of steam, and without any help available, he dropped back, his race seemingly over.
However, over the remaining few laps, he slowly ground down the distance separating him from the front of the race, until he completed the job as the race went through the bell. By then though, Koos Moerenhout of Farm Frites had flown the coup, and had done enough to stay away for a well-earned win. He had foiled the home riders who raced in behind him: O'Grady, Sweet, McKenzie, Scott Sunderland, Brett Aitken and Graham Brown.
McKenzie sprinted home in 5th, a result that pleased his manager.
"Macca really dug in tonight," said Sean Yates. "The team performed well. We placed riders in every move, and were always to the fore." It was good to see the new yellow and blue colours gain so much TV time on their very first outing.
Linda McCartney have been the focus of much media attention here, and the round of TV appearances, radio interviews and press articles are set to continue unabated, as the race heads out of Adelaide and into the beautiful wine growing valleys behind the city.
Report by John Deering
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