The Linda McCartney-Jacob's Creek cycling team are slipping on their new green and gold strip for the first time in earnest, as they take the start line for the first event of 2001.

The Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under begins with an hour-long dash around the pretty seaside streets of Glenelg in South Australia tomorrow night. The first stage promises to be a spectacular affair, as this race has been decided by a matter of seconds in each of the previous editions, so there will be plenty of incentive to take the first yellow jersey. Set against the backdrop of the setting sun dropping into the Southern Ocean (as they call it in these parts), the McCartney octet of Max Sciandri, Tayeb Braikia, Juan Carlos Dominguez, Marcel Gono, David McKenzie, Miguel Martin Perdiguero, Ciaran Power and John Tanner will look to make an early impact in the twilight.

David McKenzie was given a hero's welcome at today's official presentation, as compere Phil Liggett recounted the man from Melbourne's exploits at the Tour of Italy last May. "It's great to get a chance to race in front of home crowds," said Macca, "especially now we've got Jacob's Creek as a new sponsor. The pressure's on!"

Marcel Gono and Pete Rogers were alongside Macca to make up a three-man Linda McCartney-Jacob's Creek team at yesterday's Australian National Championship, but the winner was not destined to be a vegetarian. The unheralded Steve Williams escaped in a break within the first five minutes to catch the big guns napping. While they were busy catching up with old friends and getting the happynewyears out of the way, Williams and his compadres sealed a race winning lead. McKenzie chased hard with O'Grady, Gono and others, but they were unable to reel in the brilliant opportunist who will wear the jersey of champion with pride for the next twelve months.