Stage 2: Ben’d in the Road By Simon Cadzow

Robbie McEwan Radioshack prior to the start of Stage 2 of the Santos Tour Down Under 2011

The longest stage in the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under began and ultimately ended with a ben’d. 

Tailem Bend was first. The Bend in the Road made a crucial appearance just before the end. And finally there was the ‘Ben’ on the finish line. Ben Swift of Sky that is. Stage Winner.

Stage 2 was for the most part pretty easy going...Par for the course racing.

“Defend the jersey? Absolutely! Whether it stays with Luke or not we’ll try and keep it within the team.” Luke Durbridge Uni SA

Uni SA did just that. More points for Luke and another Jersey to pull on at the finish in Mannum.

Other jerseys however, changed hands.

It all started at a bend in the road.

4km to go all looking good for the standard sprint finish with teams lining up, and then in case anyone needed reminding, a left hand on the approach to Mannum spoke up to say anything can happen in bike racing.

Ouch! Down go Cavendish, Griepel and Goss. Whoa! This isn’t the right script. Cavendish ended up the worst and didn’t get back, finishing 4 min after Ben.

Check the pictures/video. You can feel him screaming ‘Adrienne!’ a-la Rocky Balboa.

Earlier in the day, looking at the finish, I commented on the left hand bend with, and I kid you not, 150m to go. Hmmmmm.

At this bend the 2^nd crash came and in the words of Ben Swift Sky stage winner it was “carnage”.

"I was on the wheel of Matt Hayman Sky and he knows how to avoid the crashes, so I felt so comfortable to follow him...It's the biggest win of my career, without a doubt, but it all felt a bit unreal to be honest because our plan changed three times in the final four kilometres," said Swift. "Fortunately we were all able to think on our feet though and everything turned out brilliantly."

Robbie McEwan Roadioshack confirmed again his outstanding bike handling ability shown throughout his career by coming through a strong second. Now in the leader’s jersey on a countback, (Goss, McEwan and Swift are all tied for time) Robbie noted that he’s had a 3^rd now a 2^nd, the logical progression is....

 Graeme Brown Rabobank at 31, (7 years behind Robbie for the record) is still as spring a chicken as anyone, and roared home in 3^rd although somewhat disappointed. "I felt really good today so I'm a little bit disappointed as I hesitated a bit in the final 200m"

Others were disappointed for various reasons.

For the record: Bernie Sulzberger Uni SA – hospital fractured collarbone, Pieter Weening Rabobank, CJ Sutton Sky, Cam and Travis Meyer Garmin-Cervelo, Gerraint Thomas Sky, David Tanner SaxoBank Sungard – all have road rash and skin abrasions and Mark Cavendish HTC – Road rash, skin abrasions and the Rocky cut above the left eye.

The crashes were essentially due to gravel on the road. Something no-one could have foreseen but all acknowledge is “just part of bike racing”. However this is “Not something we like to see at all” to quote Phil Liggett walking through the aftermath in the team area, noting each injured rider with concern. In case anyone is wondering this guy speaks well because he cares.   

So Robbie is in Ochre, Matt Goss Best young Rider, Luke Roberts KOM, Frenchman Yuriy Krivtsov AG2R la Mondiale Hindmarsh Most Aggressive Rider and Aussie Mitch Docker of Uni SA wears the Sprinters jersey. Best team so far – Sky.

Other commendations for the day go to:

·         Tim Roe BMC for attacking with 30km to go - nice – gutsy to take on the trains of HTC, Sky and Omega Pharma-Lotto

·         Luke Roberts Uni SA - gaining points to keep the KOM jersey by attacking from the peloton on the climb – 4^th place over the KOM line AND his great throw of the podium flowers to a little girl sitting on top of daddy’s shoulders. Great catch too – Aussie cricket pay attention

·         Everyone who crashed for getting back on the bike and finishing. Whether you’re paid to do it or not this is pride we’re seeing. It’s written in their faces.

Stage 3 Unley to Stirling is tomorrow; Fast, hard, tight circuit to finish. No predictions for this one, although whoever wins is going to be strong and a fast finisher.

 Oh and in case you were wondering on the topic of lycra in the peloton...Straight from Mr McEwan himself.

“.. I do like the Movistar kit, 2^nd best to Radioshack of course.”