Stage 6: Beginnings By Simon Cadzow

                                                                                                                Matt white Manager Garmin-Cervelo

“Raaaaabobank! Raaaaaaaaaaaaabobank! Where are you?”

                                                                                Graeme Brown Rabobank attempting to find his team van

‘Standing at the finish line I look down the straight.

The crowd were cheering and along came a figure running; Phil Liggett. He strode across the line and deftly leapt the barrier. The race was nearing its end. This was stage 4, the end of which would be absolutely pivotal to the final outcome of the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under.’

The stage 6 90.5km Adelaide City Council Street Circuit was completed with an average speed of 47.7kph.

When the smoke had cleared, 23 yr old Cam Meyer Garmin-Cervelo would win the overall classification by a margin of just 2 sec to Matt Goss HTC. Ben Swift would catapult into 3^rd place overall.

The day would have 2 intermediate sprints (lap 8 and 12) as well as 2 KOM points’ opportunities (lap 10 and 15); each would play an important role.

For the first time a stage started in the afternoon and I for one was glad of the sleep in. Riders casually biked down from the hotel to the start line for sign on: Less than 1km from your bed to your team village to the start line; only at the Tour Down Under.

Mathematically it was possible for all 5 jerseys to change hands today and that along with the desire to not leave the TDU without results meant that all teams were highly motivated. It showed in the riders faces. What also showed was the drain from the week. Yesterday Rabobank and Uni SA had ridden back from Willunga following the stage hoping to gain some much needed recovery. Recovery was something everyone needed, but for the moment would have to wait.

In the first 5 laps a break formed. Matt Wilson from Garmin-Cervelo set off; a small group of 5 forming.  Stuey O’Grady Leopard-Trek was there as well providing a local feel and it wasn’t long before Luke Durbridge Uni SA bridged the gap.

By lap 7 Stuey realized that HTC presence on the front meant the group would be caught just before the 1^st intermediate sprint so the pedal went to the metal and he went solo over Montefiore Hill.

No avail, he was swept up.

Immediately a counter-attack; Travis Meyer Garmin-Cervelo leapt off the front. HTC pulled him back.

Another counter; Brett Lancaster Garmin-Cervelo – are you detecting a pattern? Again, pulled back at the last moment.

The sprint: Michael Matthews Rabobank wearing the Young Riders Jersey for Cam Meyer crosses first with Goss HTC 2^nd and Andre Greipel OPL 3^rd.  Precious sec, and Goss (now at 6 sec) and Matthews (now at 9 sec) move closer.

The peloton have been lapping at 5:40, now they slow to 5:50 but the next attack comes immediately. Points are up for the KOM in 2 lap’s time on lap 10.

Attacking on the climb Luke Roberts Uni SA takes the 1^st offering, 16 points in the bag taking him to 60. All he has to do is finish the race and the KOM jersey, resting on his shoulders the past 5 days, stays with him. Bruno Pires Leopard-Trek 2^nd, Juan Horrach Katusha 3^rd, Alfredo Balloni Lampre 4^th (nice of them to put in an appearance) and David Tanner Saxobank Sungard 5^th.

Once again things came back together for the 2^nd intermediate sprint on lap 12, but not as quickly as one might think with Rabobank and HTC both working hard; HTC so hard in fact that their train didn’t appear to quite have it and Matt finished 4^th behind a fast finishing Allan Davis Astana 3^rd and Rabobank’s Tom Leezer 2^nd and Jos van Emdem 1^st.

One more KOM to go on lap 15, being a dead rubber really, although that didn’t stop 7 guys attacking, O’Grady again amongst it. Mitch Docker Uni SA led them over the top, Francesco Reda Quickstep 2^nd (nice of them to show up too), Juan Horrach appeared again – strong effort Juan for 3^rd, David Tanner 4^th improved on prior by one place and 5^th was the Danish Road champion Nikki Sorenson Saxobank Sungard (I like this guy and did I mention his favourite Kit in the peloton is that of the Danish national champion?)

Time for the HTC and Rabobank boys to reappear, and reappear they do one last time to chase down these guys and hopefully set up the finish.

This is bike racing. These guys are exhausted but are giving it their all.

4 laps to go 23 sec gap.

3 laps to go 14 sec gap.  Stuey attacks again; Nikki Sorenson with him; Simon Zahner BMC too.

2 laps to go 7 sec gap.

All back together.

Everyone who can, wants the win. Robbie, Andre, Alby they’re all there and the jostling begins.

And as it was in the Cancer Council Classic, Sky appear from no-where with Greg Henderson, the man who fell on the last bend 7 days ago, bringing Ben Swift to a 2^nd stage win. Henderson holds for 2^nd and Goss crosses in 3^rd. He gains 4 sec to put him overall 2 sec behind Cam Meyer. So close.

Ben Swift Sky is ecstatic, praising his teammates. “Throughout the race they supported me. They made sure I was not on the outside or in the wind the whole day. It really was just unbelievable.”

Cam Meyer Garmin-Cervelo is ecstatic but in an understated way, praising his teammates.

“Right from the word go, Matt Wilson was incredible. Then Jack, Travis they all rode so strong and well. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.” He turned 23 last week? This kid’s got some great parents, speaking of which, “I brought them here this year, its’ their first TDU.” Nice. And when he gets to the podium he breaks protocol and brings his team with him. The crowd love it.

At the podium Ben Swift wins the stage. Cam Meyer takes overall and Best Young Rider. Matt Goss is the Sprint King and Luke Roberts has held on for the KOM. Movistar is the best team.

There are a lot of different perspectives provided at the end.

The HTC team area is full of tired people; disappointed expressions with frustration thrown in. They look like they don’t want to be interrupted. I can understand.

(I confess I’m partial to this team having spoken with riders and management this week. In the dictionary under TEAM you’ll find a picture of them.)

Matt Goss HTC holder of the Jayco Sprinters Jersey "Two seconds off it ... Renshaw was doing the perfect job, he has all week, I just went on the opposite side, I didn't want to take the risk of getting shut on the barrier again, it didn't work out unfortunately.”...” The team did everything for me, they were awesome. I can't thank those guys enough.”

"Unfortunately a couple of days of bad luck - a puncture at a bad time, getting caught up in a crash in stage two, maybe it was never meant to happen. It just didn't really work out this year, but I will come back next year, I have a few years left here.” He’s only 24yrs old, a few years left?

"I'm obviously frustrated, I felt really good all week, and I felt really good again today. I tried everything and the team did everything for me, but I just missed it in the end.”

Bernard Eisel HTC lies down on a conveniently provided esky. Horizontal definitely feeling good, but then fans in the crowd want some photos and an autograph. Even exhausted he’s obliging.

Andre Greipel OPL last year’s winner, got taken out by some ‘jostling’. He’s “not a judge so no more comment from him”...“Besides now it’s all over.” A smile gracing his face he walks away.

Matt White Manager Garmin-Cervelo is a happy man and off to the studio for a TV interview. “It was a nail biter!” (For the record my nails are intact but I am sunburnt)

Luke Roberts Uni SA holder of Skoda King of the Mountains “This is my favourite race. I was pretty happy with the whole week” He has ridden smart all week with a team to match; his grin could be the new ambassador of the TDU. He looks younger than Cam, well maybe not Cam, he looks pretty young.

And finally, Hayden Roulsten HTC after riding his heart out “How the F*&k am I going to find my mum in this crowd.”

The race has been great. Not since 2001 have we seen this many stage winners, the first 5 all being different teams, the last day having all jerseys up for grabs. The first UCI Pro Tour race has come and gone, the season has started, and the year is unfolding.

Oh, and along the way someone called Lance left the building.

To quote “SBS 6 billion stories and counting...”

“All stories, even the ones we love, must eventually come to an end and when they do, it's only an opportunity for another story to begin.”

Eric Applebaum Hat Collector Mr Magoriums’ Wonder Emporium